Climate guide for Hanoi, Vietnam

Best Time to Visit
Hanoi

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Hanoi

January-March brings cooler Hanoi air for Hoan Kiem Lake circuits, temple visits, and day trips to Halong. Chase egg coffee mid-morning; save scooter-free walks for early hours before traffic thickens.

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Travel Tips

Timing & weather
Check Hanoi's monthly climate scores before locking flights - tropical patterns shift comfort for sightseeing trips across the year.
Getting around
In Hanoi, pair a walkable core day with one transit or transfer buffer - crowds and traffic vary by season in Vietnam.
Tickets & access
Reserve popular museums and day trips from Hanoi ahead in peak months; shoulder seasons are more flexible.
Pack for the profile
Comfortable walking shoes and a day bag matter more than formal wear for most Hanoi sightseeing days.

Things to do in Hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Hanoi: the short answer

The best time to visit Hanoi is November, followed by December, March. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: November averages 22°C with 33 mm of rain and about 10 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are June, August. If budget matters more than perfect weather, May is the strongest of the low-rate months at 3.4/10.

Across the year Hanoi swings from 16°C in December to 29°C in June, a 13-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 10 mm in December to 378 mm in September. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Hanoi is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 5.9 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: June (29°C). Coolest: December (16°C). Driest: December (10 mm). Wettest: September (378 mm).

Hanoi month by month

January in Hanoi — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 7.4/10

January averages 16°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 48 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 10.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

February in Hanoi — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.5/10

February averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 2 sunny days and 11.3 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 2 points higher on the same scale.

March in Hanoi — reliably good (3rd best month)

Good · 7.6/10

March averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 55 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 6 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.6/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

April in Hanoi — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.6/10

April averages 26°C (78°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 58 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 13 sunny days and 12.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.6/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.

May in Hanoi — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.4/10

May averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 83%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

221 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 15 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.4/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 5.1 points higher on the same scale.

June in Hanoi — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.6/10

June averages 29°C (84°F) with humidity around 86%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

268 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 17 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2.6/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 5.9 points higher on the same scale.

July in Hanoi — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.8/10

July averages 29°C (84°F) with humidity around 86%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

273 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 20 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 5.7 points higher on the same scale.

August in Hanoi — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.8/10

August averages 28°C (83°F) with humidity around 87%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

359 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 18 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2.8/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 5.7 points higher on the same scale.

September in Hanoi — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.9/10

September averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 87%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

378 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 15 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2.9/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 5.6 points higher on the same scale.

October in Hanoi — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.3/10

October averages 24°C (75°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 96 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 16 sunny days and 11.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.3/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, November is materially better in Hanoi — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.

November in Hanoi — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.5/10

November averages 22°C (71°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 33 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 10 sunny days and 11 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Hanoi at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection.

December in Hanoi — reliably good (2nd best month)

Good · 8.2/10

December averages 16°C (60°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 10 mm for the month, with about 2 sunny days and 10.7 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 8.2/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Hanoi, Vietnam?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Hanoi are November, December. November is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 8.5/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Hanoi year-round?
Hanoi has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 16°C in December to 29°C in June, with Ideal Weather scores between 2.6 and 8.5 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Hanoi?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Hanoi are June (2.6/10), July (2.8/10), August (2.8/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Hanoi?
September is the wettest month in Hanoi, averaging about 378 mm of rainfall. December is the driest, at roughly 10 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Hanoi?
July sees the most sun in Hanoi, with about 20 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Hanoi a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Hanoi is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (November, December) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Hanoi calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Hanoi: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Hanoi

Tickets & experiences