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Best time to visit Hanoi

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Best time to visit Hanoi, Vietnam

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

Month	Weather	Crowds	Prices	Highlights
January	15-20°C, dry and cool with occasional fog.	moderate	moderate	• Pleasant cool weather for exploring • Tet preparations ⚠ Can be foggy, especially in the mornings.
February	17-22°C, dry and mild with increasing sunshine.	moderate	moderate	• Post-Tet quiet period • Blooming flowers ⚠ Still a chance of lingering Tet closures early in the month.
March	20-25°C, sunny and pleasant with low humidity.	moderate	moderate	• Ideal spring weather • Good for outdoor activities
April	24-29°C, warm and mostly sunny with brief showers.	moderate	moderate	• Comfortable temperatures before summer heat • Fresh spring produce
May	28-34°C, hot and humid with increasing afternoon thunderstorms.	high	high	• Start of mango season ⚠ First significant heat and rain of the summer.
June	30-35°C, very hot and humid with frequent heavy rain.	high	high	• Lychee season ⚠ Monsoon season is in full swing; expect downpours.
July	31-36°C, extremely hot and humid with persistent heavy rainfall.	peak	peak	• Few outdoor activities possible ⚠ Peak of the wet season; typhoons are a possibility.
August	30-35°C, very hot and humid with heavy rain.	peak	peak	• End of lychee season ⚠ Still very wet and hot; typhoon risk remains.
September	27-32°C, warm and humid with decreasing rainfall.	moderate	moderate	• Transition to autumn ⚠ Rainfall is still significant, though lessening.
October	24-29°C, pleasant and mild with plenty of sunshine.	moderate	moderate	• Prime autumn weather • Mid-Autumn Festival (if it falls in Oct)
November	20-25°C, cool and dry with abundant sunshine.	moderate	moderate	• Comfortable autumn temperatures • Clear skies for sightseeing
December	16-21°C, cool and dry with potential for morning fog.	moderate	moderate	• Festive atmosphere • Cooler weather for city exploration ⚠ Similar to January, can be foggy.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

January/February

Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)

Vietnam's most important festival, with family gatherings, traditional foods, and vibrant decorations. Many businesses close.

September/October

Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu)

Celebrated with lanterns, mooncakes, and lion dances, especially popular with children.

Biennial, usually April or May

Hue Festival

A major cultural festival showcasing Vietnamese arts, music, and traditions, primarily in Hue but with some associated events in Hanoi.

October

Capital Liberation Day

Commemorates the liberation of Hanoi on October 10, 1954, with various cultural activities and ceremonies.

Insider timing tips

•The shoulder seasons (March-April and October-November) offer the best balance of pleasant weather and manageable crowds.
•Avoid July and August if possible due to intense heat, humidity, and heavy rainfall, which can disrupt travel plans.
•Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is a major cultural experience but can lead to widespread closures and transportation challenges.
•While the summer months are hot and wet, they coincide with peak fruit seasons like lychees and mangoes.

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