When It Pours, It Really Pours

For many, the summer months bring the only opportunity to travel away from home. For Vietnam, they bring monsoon season. The optimistic, though, will find these tropical storms to be magnificent displays of nature’s power and welcome breaks from the heat.

In the Mekong, almost every day of the summer sees torrential rain. The pattern begins with an intensifying, oppressive heat, after which the sky clouds over and a warm wind sweeps in. Then, with startling suddenness, the skies collapse in an awe-inspiring downpour. Systematically, motorbike traffic disappears and locals rush out of the rain to wait stoically under tents, ponchos, umbrellas, or doorways.

After about half an hour, the rain stops almost as quickly as it began. The roaring slackens to a static fuzz and the air feels miraculously cooler. Motorbikes reappear, and within minutes life picks up as if there had been no interruption at all. For the Vietnamese, it is all very routine.

Foreign travelers to Vietnam, however, must take a few extra steps to survive the wet season. Bring an extra pair of shoes, carry your poncho everywhere, and budget extra time to wait out the rain. Most importantly, check the dates of the rainy season, as they differ between regions. In the meantime, don’t forget to sit back and enjoy the waterworks.