What should I (65M) wear in Vietnam in October?

Are you going a year from now, or is this for the next 3 weeks? We’re leaving at the end of this month, and will be in Vietnam for most of this November. My husband’s 64 (close enough?), and apparently October is the end of the rainy season, while November is the start of the drier season. I don’t know whether late October and early November would have remarkably different conditions from each other, and it sounds like hot and humid will exist, either way. Our tour is a mix of big cities and more rural destinations.

Anyway, this will be our first trip there, so without direct experience, here’s what he’s planning on wearing, for better or worse. We’ve watched Vietnam You Tube travel videos made by a lot of younger (20’s - 30’s) visitors, many just in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. In temples, that’s seriously disrespectful, even if practical in terms of temperature and humidity … although the sandals in a crowded city, or pedaling a bike or going up rocky steps doesn’t seem practical at all. That’s all a bit too casual for him. He’s planning on mostly button-up short sleeve shirts, a couple of polo shirts, and maybe one long-sleeve cotton shirt for a slightly more formal occasion, ready to roll up the sleeves. He’s got some Hawaiian shirts, too, which may have a flashier pattern than would be ideal and might excessively stick out, so those might stay home.

Shoes: waterproof, subtly-colored low-top light hiking/trail running shoes (Scarpa brand) and oiled leather shoes (Merrill brand) - durable and not spit-polished dressy, but not like he’s at the gym. Pants: full-length nylon pants from Kühl and Prana, designed for hiking or taking to Vietnam. Hat: He’s taken a very wide-brimmed fishing/hiking hat on trips elsewhere for sun and rain protection (mostly for hiking), and/or an English-style flat driving cap - has never brought a baseball cap on a trip to Europe or anywhere else, nor owns a Panama hat. The Panama would certainly be stylish, and I wouldn’t think it too ostentatious. Flashy jewelry is discouraged, but a Panama hat isn’t exactly a royal crown. It would certainly mark you as a non-local, but my guess is that you’ll be an obvious visitor regardless of your headwear, or lack thereof. But then, if it’s hot in October, do you want a hat? It sounds like an umbrella (he’s bringing a fold-up travel umbrella) is common there for both sun and rain protection. Or would you maybe buy some kind of hat over there, if you determine you need one?

We’re planning on being less casual than the t-shirt, shorts, and sandals crowd, but not dressing up a lot, due to the climactic conditions.

No one will care. Dress for comfort. You will be noticeable as a non Asian certainly, excepting that you won’t really be noticed because no one will care. In Asia as an older person you will find a bit more respect than at home. A hat would be good for the sake of the sun. Don’t over think it.

We were there in October of last year. It was hot and humid, but not much rain. My 65 year old husband wore his Hawaiian shirts that he likes and khaki shorts. On days that we were visiting temples he had lightweight nylon travel long pants to cover his knees. Shoes were just tennis shoes.

@Patricia More rain this year (La Nina) than last year (El Nino).