Hot Air Balloon Rides
Majestic silence and best view on Vietnamese landscapes
What it is and why
Flight on hot air balloon in Vietnam is premium adventure for those, who value aesthetics. Unlike noisy helicopter excursions, flight on balloon passes in absolute silence, allowing fully immerse into contemplation: endless patchwork blankets of rice fields, bends of rivers and tops of karst rocks.
Most often flights conducted at dawn, when air maximally stable, and light — most photogenic. This ideal time to see, how wake up local villages and start work farmers. Routes carefully planned so, that even at small wind you flew over most iconic locations of country.
Where to do it in Vietnam
Points on the map are real places where this activity can be done. Numbers in the list match the markers.
- Ninh Binh / Tam CocNinh Binh
Flights over "land Halong Bay". Best view on rice fields and limestone peaks.
- Mu Cang ChaiYen Bai
Flights over golden rice terraces, included in number of heritage objects.
- Mui Ne / Phan ThietBinh Thuan
Flight over sand dunes and coast of South China Sea.
Tips
- Always choose morning departures — wind in morning weaker, flight softer, and lighting for photo — ideal.
- Dress in layers: on ground can be hot, but at height 300-500 meters temperature noticeably lower.
- Take camera with strap on neck: make selfie in basket beautifully, but drop phone at maneuver — offensive.
- Come to place beforehand. Process of inflating balloon by burners — this separate show, worth to see.
Caution
- Flights strongly depend on weather. In case of slightest doubts in safety or strong gusty wind operator will cancel flight — this normal practice.
- People with strong fear of height worth beforehand warn pilot or reconsider choice of activity.
- Avoid season of typhoons (September–October in north and in center) — sky too unstable.