Vietnam in September 2025 shined with renewed spirit and diversity. From the proud celebrations of the 80th Vietnam National Day in Hanoi to the golden rice terraces rippling across the northern highlands, the country beautifully blended tradition and transformation. Despite passing storms, all major destinations remain safe and welcoming. New luxury products like SJourney’s scenic train routes and immersive tours through Mai Chau, Pu Luong, and Ha Giang invite travellers to explore deeper. Meanwhile, eco-partners such as Panhou Retreat and Six Senses Con Dao highlight the nation’s sustainable progress, with Travel Sense Asia leading the way toward a responsible travel future.
Highlights of Vietnam in September 2025
Products: Vietnam’s first luxury train, SJourney, expands its network with two new scenic routes, while Travel Sense Asia introduces an extended Beyond Ha Giang Loop adventure.
Hotels: Panhou Retreat wins Asia’s Leading Green Resort 2025 by the World Travel Awards, and Six Senses Con Dao marks the return of its iconic turtle nesting season.
Destination News: Hanoi celebrates the 80th Anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, northern Vietnam enters its most picturesque rice harvest season, and the country recovers swiftly after brief storms, welcoming autumn travel in full beauty.
Sustainability: Travel Sense Asia launches its first company-wide Sustainability in Tourism training with Travelife, establishing a shared foundation for responsible travel and setting the roadmap towards official certification.
>> Discover now: Best time to visit Vietnam: specific months or year-round?
Product Updates
SJourney launches new scenic routes
Vietnam’s first luxury train, SJourney, has captured attention with its 8-day / 7-night Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route across iconic sites. To cater to demand for shorter, high-impact itineraries, SJourney is now adding two new shorter routes:
- Hanoi → Sapa → Halong
- Ho Chi Minh → Phan Thiet → Phu Yen → Quang Nam
These new routes fuse the romantic appeal of rail travel with Vietnam’s north and south highlights.
Beyond Ha Giang Loop: A deeper northern adventure
We are thrilled to roll out a new extension to our classic Ha Giang Loop journey, which threads together Ha Giang and Bac Kan in 10 days.
Expect winding mountain passes, hidden emerald valleys, the peaceful Ba Be Lake and border villages where ethnic life unfolds in harmony with nature. This extended loop invites you to linger longer in the majestic far north and uncover the raw, authentic beauty of Vietnam that few have seen.
Mai Chau & Pu Luong: The authentic charm of rural Vietnam
A new highlight in northern Vietnam, this journey reveals the serene beauty of Mai Chau Valley and the untouched landscapes of Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
You can enjoy cycling through rice paddies, meeting local Thai and Muong communities, and staying in boutique ecolodges surrounded by mountains and fields. Perfect for those seeking tranquillity, cultural immersion, and sustainable travel experiences in Vietnam’s green heart.
Destination News
Hanoi celebrates the 80th Vietnam National Day
On 2 September 2025, Hanoi commemorated 80 years of Vietnam’s Independence with a spectacular military parade, flyover, and street performances at Ba Dinh Square and throughout the city centre. Locals and visitors alike shared in the proud, festive atmosphere. Thanks to proactive traffic management from local authorities and detailed coordination from Travel Sense Asia’s team, all of our tours and transfers in Hanoi and northern destinations ran smoothly despite the crowds.
Northern Vietnam’s golden rice season
September marks one of the most enchanting times to visit the northern mountains, as vast rice terraces turn into a sea of shimmering gold. Destinations like Mu Cang Chai, Hoang Su Phi, and Sapa welcome travellers eager to witness the harvest season, when valleys glow under soft sunlight and ethnic communities prepare for festive gatherings. It’s a photographer’s paradise and a celebration of Vietnam’s agricultural spirit, offering travellers the chance to experience authentic rural life at its most beautiful.
Typhoon updates and recovery in Northern & Central Vietnam
In late September and early October, Northern and Central Vietnam experienced a string of storms, notably Typhoon Ragasa (Storm No. 9) and Typhoon Bualoi (Storm No. 10), Typhoon Matmo (Storm No.11) which brought heavy rains, flooding, and strong winds across many provinces. However, thanks to swift protocols from local authorities and clear disaster-preparedness plans, major tourist hubs remained secure, and no widespread disruptions to major attractions have been reported. Some mountainous zones in the North are now in recovery phases and preparing to welcome visitors by year-end.
80th National Day in Hanoi
Harvest season in Hoang Su Phi
Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
Culinary Highlight of September
Cốm – Hanoi’s autumn delicacy
As autumn sets in, cốm (young green rice flakes) reclaims its place among Hanoi’s beloved seasonal snacks. Harvested in early autumn from unmatured green rice, cốm carries a fresh, nutty aroma and soft chewiness.
Cốm is best enjoyed fresh from Vong Village or wrapped in banana leaves as bánh cốm. This seasonal delicacy perfectly pairs with lotus tea, offering travellers a genuine taste of Hanoi’s heritage.
Hotel Updates
Panhou Retreat named “Asia’s Leading Green Resort 2025”
Our eco-retreat sister brand, Panhou Retreat in Hoang Su Phi (now under Tuyen Quang), has just been named Asia’s Leading Green Resort 2025 at the World Travel Awards. This distinction recognizes two decades of sustainable operations: zero plastic policy, energy minimization, local community engagement, and respect for indigenous culture.
Turtle nesting season returns to Six Senses Con Dao
From July to November, Six Senses Con Dao becomes a must-visit for nature lovers. Guests are invited to witness sea turtle nesting and the emergence of baby turtles digging their way to the sea, in collaboration with Con Dao National Park’s conservation programs. This seasonal highlight makes Con Dao an added gem for coastal escapes and eco-conscious travellers.
Sustainability
Travel Sense Asia kicks off Travelife sustainability training
In September, we at Travel Sense Asia launched our first company-wide Sustainability in Tourism training session with a certified coach from Travelife. Travelife, founded in 2007 and accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), provides a trusted framework for responsible tour operations and will serve as the guiding partner shaping our sustainable development roadmap.
- This marks the first unified program introducing sustainable tourism practices across all departments at Travel Sense Asia.
- Our members now have access to a comprehensive e-learning package of Travelife, including online modules, practical examples, and final exams. Successful candidates will get a personal certificate of sustainability.
- Travel Sense Asia is also shaping a comprehensive strategy towards Travelife certification: strengthening internal management and compliance, protecting the environment, empowering local communities, and building a responsible supply chain.
Our path to certification may be long and challenging, but that’s the essence of sustainability: meeting today’s needs while creating opportunities for the future. For Travel Sense Asia, it’s not only about the certificate, it’s about truly living sustainable tourism every day and inspiring our communities, partners, and travellers to do the same.
Travelife Workshop at Travel Sense Asia
