When to go · Hanoi, Vietnam
Best time to visit Hanoi
The sweet spot is November, December and March — averages 22°C, 6 rainy days, peak-season crowds and peak prices.
October - April
Hanoi has a distinct four-season climate rare in Southeast Asia. October-April is the dry and cooler season: October-November (25-28 degrees C, dry, perfect) and December-February (15-20 degrees C, occasionally chilly - bring a layer; the winter drizzle creates an atmospheric mist over the Old Quarter). March-April warms up again before the summer heat. May-September is hot and humid (33-38 degrees C) with heavy rain and occasional typhoons. The Tet festival (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually January-February) is the most culturally significant time to visit - the city empties as families reunite, then erupts in fireworks and flower markets. Many restaurants close for 1-2 weeks around Tet.
The short answer
22°C · 6 rainy days · high season
19°C · 6 rainy days · high season
21°C · 13 rainy days · mid season
Hardest months: August and July. averages 29°C, 17 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C | 8d | mid | Comfortable but damp |
| February | 18°C | 11d | mid | Comfortable but damp |
| March | 21°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
| April | 24°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| May | 28°C | 14d | mid | Wet |
| June | 30°C | 14d | low | Wet |
| July | 30°C | 16d | low | Wet |
| August | 29°C | 17d | low | Wet |
| September | 28°C | 14d | mid | Wet |
| October | 25°C | 10d | high | Comfortable but damp |
| November | 22°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| December | 19°C | 6d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
June, July and August are low season in Hanoi — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $15–30 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.