Hanoi Foliage
Nov 14, 2015 | 9:41 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
Hanoi doesn't really get cold enough for leaves to turn and fall. I've been there in mid-Dec, and it's only been in the low 60's F. It gets much colder in the Highlands - the Sapa area in mid-winter can even get some rare snow.
Nov 14, 2015 | 10:53 am
#3
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
So what is the best time to see that in Hanoi?
Nov 21, 2015 | 9:33 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB PLT again afater a decade as plebian
Posts: 22,946
You pretty much need frost and sustained freezing temperatures to force a good number of species of "hardwood" trees to shed their leaves at the same time (chlorophyll - the green stuff which is soluble - is reabsorbed into the tree while the yellows (lignin IIRC) and reds (anthocyanins) cannot which gives you the colours). It just doesn't get (anywhere near) that cold in Hanoi. The other factor that causes trees to shed their leaves is drought but that is nowhere near as spectacular.
Nov 22, 2015 | 10:03 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
I think being able to forward-guess exactly when Hanoi's leaves might be turning is impossible. It depends on what the weather patterns are doing both temperature and rain-wise. And in some years, might not really have much of a colorful presentation at all, will go from green to brown then fall quickly. I've been in Hanoi in October and November during relatively cold years, and my experience was the latter--very little color. It's not like trying to time the leaves in Vermont, which is fairly predictable.