Hanoi Weather by Month: What Each Season Really Feels Like

Hanoi people talk about the weather the way the British do, constantly and with feeling. That's because the city really has four seasons, and they're lopsided: a short, beautiful autumn, a damp winter, a sticky spring and a long, punishing summer. Below is the year as people here live it, not just the averages.

January

Cold and grey. Days around 14–20°C, colder during cold fronts. Little rain, but the humidity makes it feel chilly, and most homes have no heating. Good for walking if you dress warmly. Tết sometimes falls at the end of January.

February

Cool, often drizzly. This is the start of *mưa phùn*, a fine mist-like rain that can last days, and *nồm*, when warm humid air meets cold walls and everything gets damp: floors, mirrors, laundry. Tết often falls in February, so check the date before booking.

March

Still damp and mild, around 18–23°C. Drizzle continues, skies are often white, and the *nồm* can make floors slippery indoors. Not the prettiest month, but a calm one.

April

Around 22–28°C. The drizzle mostly fades, though humid, showery days still turn up. New leaves come out on the street trees and the city looks freshly washed. A very good month to visit.

May

Summer arrives. Afternoons above 30°C become normal, and the first heavy thunderstorms roll in. Mornings and evenings are still pleasant.

June

Hot and humid. Days often hit 33–36°C, and the "real feel" is higher. Sudden storms in the afternoon cool things down for an hour. Locals move outdoor plans to early morning or after dark.

July

The heart of summer, and often the wettest. Heat around 32–38°C (June can be just as brutal), heavy rain, and the odd tropical storm that floods low streets for a few hours. People ride through the water with their feet up on the handlebars.

August

Much like July. Rain often arrives in the afternoon in a sudden wall, and the street vendors who sell ponchos for 10,000–30,000 VND appear within minutes.

September

Still warm, around 27–32°C, easing toward the end of the month. Rain decreases but doesn't stop. Mid-Autumn Festival falls in September or early October depending on the lunar calendar, and Hàng Mã street fills with lanterns and toy stalls in the weeks before it.

October

Ask ten Hanoians their favourite month and several will say this one. Around 23–30°C, lower humidity, more clear days than not, though rain and hazy days still happen. The milk flower trees bloom and the evenings smell sweet.

November

Cooler and dry, around 18–26°C. The first northern cold winds arrive in the second half. Daisy season begins. Air quality starts to worsen on still days.

December

Proper winter. Around 14–21°C, with cold snaps near 10°C. Grey skies, little rain, Christmas lights in the shops and New Year's Eve by the lake.

If you can only pick one month

October, then November, then April. If you're coming in summer, do as locals do: walk before 9 am, hide indoors after lunch, and come out again after 5 pm when the street food stalls set up. For Tết dates and closures, see our Tết 2027 guide.

Written in October 2026.