Things to keep in mind when traveling in winter.

Skin

You should bring gloves, a scarf, a wool hat (preferably with ear flaps), warm clothes, socks, etc. A scarf is essential because if you don't keep your neck warm, you'll easily catch a cold.

- Warm clothing is essential in your travel luggage: Wear a close-fitting long-sleeved t-shirt to retain heat, and layer it with a sweater and a leather jacket or windbreaker/coat to protect against rain. Dark-colored clothing is recommended to avoid getting dirty and to help absorb more body heat.

Girls, in particular, should limit wearing short skirts. Clothing should be dark-colored to avoid getting dirty and to help absorb more body heat.

- Shoes: You should choose soft, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking a lot. Avoid high heels as they can easily cause foot pain and slippage. Bringing about two pairs of shoes is ideal: one waterproof pair for rainy days and one breathable pair for walking on sunny days.

You should wear high-top shoes, at least covering your ankles, with a warm lining inside. The soles should be non-slip.

- Avoid wearing too many socks, as this will constrict your feet and restrict movement. It's best to choose thick, fluffy wool socks designed for winter, with extra padding in the soles. High-ankle socks are essential, ideally reaching the knee.

- Don't forget a warm scarf and a warm hat that covers your ears.

For women, a scarf offers many benefits: it can be used as a warm scarf during the day, as a stylish shawl like a jacket when dining, as a belt, or wrapped in various ways to keep warm and look fashionable.

Wearing a face mask is also a way to keep your nose and mouth warm.

Included accessories

Traveling in cold weather is different from summer, so it's best to pack light, the less luggage the better. Avoid bringing valuables or expensive jewelry as they may be unnecessary and easily lost.

When traveling, you should leave unnecessary items like suitcases and clothes at the hotel or guesthouse. Only bring money and a few other essentials in your backpack.

You should bring some medications such as cold medicine, fever reducers, flu medicine, headache medicine, pain relief balm, ginger oil, etc. Add a few bags of ginger tea and don't forget to bring water.

Cold winter weather often comes with rain. Therefore, you should also prepare an umbrella or rain gear to protect yourself from sudden downpours.

Note that you should not apply oil when outdoors to avoid the risk of rapid body heat loss. In case of catching a cold, use a warm towel to wipe your face, neck, hands, and feet. Make sure to bring any medications you are currently taking as prescribed by your doctor.

When you arrive in a very cold place, you shouldn't drink cold water as it will lower your body temperature quickly. If possible, buy a lightweight, insulated travel water bottle that keeps water hot for longer. Furthermore, after a long, tiring day in the cold, you should soak your feet in warm water for about 10 minutes to improve blood circulation and make you feel more comfortable.

- Cold, dry weather makes your skin very prone to dryness and cracking, causing discomfort, especially on the lips. Therefore, women should apply hand and body lotion before going out. Also, apply facial moisturizer and keep your skin hydrated before applying makeup, and use lip balm to protect your lips from cracking...

Transportation, means of transport

There are three main modes of transportation people use to travel to the northern mountainous regions: cars, trains, and motorbikes. Of these, motorbikes are a favorite among young people because they are cost-effective, mobile, and allow for easy stops to take photos along the way.

However, winter in Northern Vietnam is often very cold, with dense fog and even ice and snow. Therefore, traveling long distances by motorbike is quite dangerous. To ensure safety, you should choose cars and trains. If traveling close to Tet (Lunar New Year) or during holidays, you should book train or bus tickets in advance to avoid them selling out.

Other notes

It's perfectly understandable for tourists to explore and try local specialties when discovering a new place. However, you should also choose foods that are easy to digest and provide plenty of energy. Avoid cold foods to prevent food poisoning or diarrhea.

Always eat foods that are warm in flavor. A little chili, pepper, or garlic in your meals helps with digestion, increases body temperature, and can prevent diarrhea when using different water sources or eating unfamiliar foods. Note that you should avoid eating too much cold, raw, or chilled food. Eat at regular times to avoid upseting your stomach.

- When it's cold, you shouldn't shower or wash your hair with water that's too hot, as this will dry out your scalp.

In the bedroom, keep a glass or bowl of water nearby to increase humidity and prevent nosebleeds upon waking, which can occur when the heating system dries out the air. When walking outdoors, carry a small backpack containing essential items instead of a handbag, keeping your hands free and preventing you from forgetting or dropping things. If using a shoulder bag, wear it diagonally across your body and always keep it in front of you.

When traveling in cold weather, you should choose spicy dishes or those seasoned with spices like ginger, chili, pepper, and garlic, which generate heat in the body and help prevent colds.

If seafood is unavailable in mountainous areas, you can choose fresh, warming vegetables such as mint, carrots, houttuynia cordata, Centella asiatica, onions, shallots, lemon balm, basil, perilla, coriander, mugwort, turmeric, Vietnamese coriander, lemongrass, perilla leaves, and leeks, which also help increase body temperature.