Hanoi is always among top places to see in Vietnam for its incredible beauties and lively nightlife scene. Know when is the best time to visit Hanoi to make your trip a memorable experience.
You might think that Hanoi belong to a tropical country so you can wear sleeveless t-shirts and tank tops in any month. Surprisingly, Hanoi has four seasons of which a winter with temperature constantly drops below 15 degree Celsius. Hanoi as well as other destinations in northern Vietnam has the most complicated and unpredictable weather patterns.
If you’re planning to visit Hanoi in near future, get to know the best time to visit the city would make your trip so much easier and you’ll be able to enjoy it to your heart’s content.
Hanoi Weather Overview
Hanoi weather is characterized as a subtropical climate with high humidity with four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter with two main season: dry and wet.
In wet season which is also summer, lasting from May to September, Hanoi receive rich and high temperature solar radiation while also is influenced by the ocean climate, making Hanoi to have high humidity and heavy rainfall.
During this season, the temperature can reach up to 40 degree Celsius and the rains can flood the streets but flooding happen not so often like in Ho Chi Minh city. In the hottest days (June-July), high temperature can remain until midnight. However, with the use of air-con in almost every building, you can always escape the heat.
The dry season lasts from December to around February, bringing a totally different weather patterns to the city. Temperature can drop low to 10 degree Celsius which can be a lot worse than you expect due to these factors: wind chill, humidity and lack of building insulation. Unlike in summer you can escape the heat easily, it’s almost futile to get away from the cold in winter.
However, rainfall in winter is much lesser than in summer, resulting in much safer weather to travel to higher areas.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
The best time to visit Hanoi is no doubt in dry season, specifically from November to February. Lesser rain and lower temperature would be the main reasons to convince you to visit Hanoi in this time of year.
Besides the said reasons, this months are also the time of festivals in Vietnam and Hanoi is not an exception. November to February fall in autumn and winter seasons – it’s also when Hanoi is most beautiful. There’re more flowers and food treats you can only find in this time of year. And it’s a mistake to not mention the atmosphere of Lunar New Year which bring colors and happiness to the capital city of Vietnam.
However, if you think in summer or the rainy season there are nothing to see in Hanoi, you’re wrong. In summer, traveling in Hanoi would be easier in many ways: hotels are cheaper, no crowds, easy bargaining, superb sunrise and sunset, beautiful pictures…. And if you’re from a temperate-zoned country, visit Hanoi in summer would be more exciting and fun.
What clothes to bring to Hanoi?
Hanoi during summer would be hot and humid, so you would want to wear comfortably with cotton because you’ll be sweating a lot. But when you enter a religious place, remember to cover shoulder to knees, not to wear see-through clothes, flip-flop or hats.
However during winter, it’s a different story. Remember to bring thicker coats or jackets, wear shoes and scarfs to keep you warm. The dress code in temples, pagodas and sacred sites stay the same for winter.
FURTHER READING
What to do in Hanoi on rainy days?
Top Destinations and Things to do in Northern Vietnam
How many day to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia
Best Boutique Hotels in Hanoi – Reviews
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