Hanoi Weather by Month: Seasons, Rain and the Best Time to Visit (2026)

Hanoi weather month by month

These are long-term averages for central Hanoi: the Láng weather station in Đống Đa district, 1991–2020 climate normals from the Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology, as reproduced in Wikipedia’s Hanoi climate table. Any single year can be hotter, colder, wetter or drier than this.

Rainfall is the monthly average total, rounded; rainy days are rounded averages; sunshine is average hours per month. Over a whole year Hanoi gets about 1,600 mm of rain on roughly 114 days, and the mean temperature is 23.6 °C. The same dataset records extremes of 42.8 °C (May) and 2.7 °C (January), so heatwaves and cold snaps do happen.

Hanoi’s four seasons in plain words

Winter: December to February

Cool and mostly dry. Daytime highs sit around 20–22 °C and nights drop to about 14–16 °C. Cold air from the north arrives in waves, several times a month, so a mild week can turn chilly overnight. December is the driest month by rainy days (about five). Later in winter the sky is often grey with light drizzle rather than real rain, and February is one of the least sunny months of the year.

Spring: March and April

Mild and humid. Highs climb from the mid-20s to the high 20s °C. March has the most rainy days of the cool months but very little total rain: it is mostly drizzle and mist, and sunshine is at its lowest. This is also the season of nồm (see below).

Summer: May to September

Hot, humid and wet. Average highs are 32–35 °C, June is usually the hottest month, and nights stay around 25–27 °C. These five months bring most of the year’s rain, with August the wettest on average. Summer is also the sunniest season, so plan for both strong sun and heavy rain.

Autumn: October and November

Temperatures and rainfall both fall. October is still warm (around 30 °C by day) with some rain; November is milder, with about 61 mm of rain on around eight days. For us, this is the most comfortable stretch of the year for being outdoors.

Rainy season and typhoons

Vietnam’s tropical cyclone season is generally considered to run from June to November, with the most activity from July to October. Storms tend to move from north to south through the season, so the north is usually affected earlier. On average around two tropical storms a year affect the northern delta and midlands, where Hanoi sits, and September has historically had the most landfalls in Vietnam.

What this means in practice: most summer days in Hanoi are hot with a shower or two, not storms. A travel publisher that covers north Vietnam describes the storms that matter as usually one or two a year, bringing a day or two of hard rain and wind. The worst effects are usually felt in the mountains: in September 2024, heavy rain from Typhoon Yagi triggered a deadly landslide near Sapa.

• Follow the local forecast in the days before your tour, especially from July to October.
• Keep a flexible day in your Hanoi plans if you travel in typhoon season.
• Have travel insurance that covers weather delays.

Nồm: the damp spring air

Nồm is the word Hanoians use for the sticky, damp spells of late winter and spring. According to Vietnam’s national hydro-meteorological forecasting centre, it usually happens in late February, March and April, when the wind turns to the north-east or east and humidity in Hanoi can reach saturation. Walls and tiled floors sweat, laundry won’t dry and everything feels clammy.

Nồm is harmless for visitors but worth knowing about:

• Floors, steps and pavements can be slippery. Wear shoes with grip.
• Pack quick-dry clothes and a spare pair of socks.
• Keep phones and cameras in a zip bag if your room feels damp.

Which months suit which tours

There is no bad month for a Hanoi tour, but the season changes which tour and which departure time works best.

Jeep, scooter and e-bike city tours

On these tours you are outdoors most of the time, so you feel the weather. October to December is the most comfortable period: warm to cool days and fewer rainy days. From May to September, choose an early or late departure. Our 2-hour jeep and scooter tours leave at several times a day, including 08:00 and late afternoon, which avoids the strongest midday sun. In winter, bring a warm layer for the wind on a moving vehicle.

Food tours

Food tours work all year. Cool winter evenings are a great match for steaming bowls of noodle soup, and in summer the evening departure avoids the midday sun (though nights stay warm). Morning and evening food tours follow the same route, so you can pick the time that suits the weather without missing anything. See the Hanoi food tours.

Sunrise and sunset tours

Our sunrise & sunset scooter tour leaves at 05:00 or 17:00. In summer, the sunrise option is the coolest and quietest part of the day. In February and March, sunshine hours are at their lowest, so expect soft grey light more often than a colourful sky; the early-morning street life is still the highlight.

Countryside tours

Lotus flowers on our Co Loa countryside routes bloom mainly from May to August. Ba Vi National Park is in the hills and is cooler than the city, so bring a light jacket in any season.

What to pack by season

All year: insect repellent (dengue occurs in Hanoi throughout the year), and if you are sensitive to air pollution, a mask, as US travel advice notes that air quality in Hanoi can be poor. For temples and the Mausoleum you will need covered shoulders and knees whatever the weather. Our full list, by tour type, is in what to wear on a Hanoi tour.