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Climate & seasons

When to visit Hanoi?

By La rédaction · Updated 5/29/2026

The Editors
The Editorsauteur principal✓ Verified

"Janvier à Hanoï, c'est l'hiver vietnamien : fraîcheur piquante, brume sur le lac Hoan Kiem le matin, et l'effervescence du Têt qui approche. La ville se pare de pétales de fleurs de pêcher et de kumquats. Un foulard et une veste légère sont indispensables."

Expert on Hanoi · 1 contributions

The best periods

The best time to visit Hanoi is October to April (dry and cool season).

Oct, Nov, Déc, Jan, Fév, Mar

Saison sèche et fraîche — conditions idéales

  • Températures agréables : 13-22 °C en hiver, 20-25 °C au printemps, idéal pour parcourir le Vieux Quartier à pied
  • Ciel souvent dégagé en octobre-novembre, lumière parfaite pour la photographie
  • Marchés animés, festivals du Têt en janvier-février, ambiance unique dans les hutongs
  • Décembre-janvier : crachin fréquent (bruine froide), températures pouvant descendre à 13 °C — prévoyez une veste
  • Haute saison touristique autour du Têt (janvier-février) : réservations à anticiper
Avr, Mai

Printemps chaud — transition avant la mousson

  • Végétation luxuriante autour du lac Hoan Kiem, fleurs de lotus en mai
  • Prix hébergement encore raisonnables avant le pic estival
  • Chaleur montante : 25-32 °C avec humidité croissante, moins confortable pour les longues marches
  • Premières averses possibles dès mai
Juin, Jui, Aoû, Sep

Mousson — chaleur et pluies estivales

  • Tarifs vols et hébergements en baisse, moins de touristes
  • Musées, maisons communales et restaurants climatisés accessibles toute la journée
  • Chaleur étouffante : 28-35 °C avec humidité très élevée
  • Pluies violentes quotidiennes, risques d'inondations dans les rues basses du Vieux Quartier
  • Excursion à la baie d'Ha Long déconseillée en juillet-août (typhons possibles)

Month-by-month climate

Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine in Hanoi across the 12 months.

JanFévMarAvrMaiJuinJuiAoûSepOctNovDéc
Min14°15°18°22°25°27°27°27°26°23°18°14°
Max19°20°22°26°31°33°33°33°32°28°24°20°
Mer
Pluie19mm29mm43mm90mm188mm240mm288mm314mm265mm130mm45mm22mm
Soleil/j2.5h2.8h3.5h5.5h6.2h6h5.5h5.3h5.8h6.5h4.5h3h

Tourist crowds

Monthly attendance levels (0 = empty, 100 = saturated).

Jan
75
Fév
80
Mar
70
Avr
65
Mai
55
Jui
45
Jui
42
Aoû
40
Sep
43
Oct
68
Nov
72
Déc
70

Average flight prices

Average round-trip Paris → Hanoi by month.

Jan
$767
Fév
$745
Mar
$713
Avr
$691
Mai
$648
Jui
$605
Jui
$583
Aoû
$572
Sep
$589
Oct
$670
Nov
$702
Déc
$778
Compare flights

Frequently asked questions

How many days should I spend in Hanoi?+
Three to four days is ideal to explore the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, the Ba Dinh district (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Museum of Ethnology) and a day trip to Ha Long or Ninh Binh. With 5 days, you can afford an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay — strongly recommended.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?+
October to December is the ideal window: dry weather, pleasant temperatures (18-28 °C), golden autumn light. March-April is also very agreeable. Avoid June to September (intense monsoon, 28-35 °C, violent rains). In January-February, Tết is a unique cultural experience but the city partially closes for 5 to 7 days and flight prices spike.
How do I get around Hanoi?+
In the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, walking is the best option. For longer distances, Grab (ride-hailing) is the simplest and safest choice (30,000-80,000 VND depending on distance). Xe om (motorbike taxis) are cheap but always agree on the price before riding. Avoid unofficial taxis; use Grab, Vinasun or Mai Linh.
What is the Hanoi train street?+
The train street is a residential alley in the Hoan Kiem district where the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City reunification train passes twice a day, just centimetres from the facades. Residents have lived there for generations and several cafés have opened upstairs to watch the train go by. Check access before visiting, as authorities occasionally restrict tourist entry.
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?+
French nationals benefit from an e-visa valid for 90 days, available online on the official Vietnamese government portal (around US$25). Processing takes 3 business days. Always use the official portal — do not confuse it with private sites charging extra fees.
What is the currency in Vietnam and how do I pay?+
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). 1 EUR ≈ 27,000-28,000 VND (check the current rate). ATMs are numerous in the Old Quarter but often charge fees — prefer machines at major banks (Vietcombank, Techcombank). Restaurants and hotels increasingly accept cards, but cash remains essential for street food and markets.
Can I take a day trip to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi?+
Yes — it's the essential excursion from Hanoi. Ha Long Bay (twice UNESCO-listed) is 165 km away, about 3-3.5 hours by road. The recommended format is a 2-day/1-night cruise on a traditional junk: kayaking between the karst formations, seafood dinner, sleeping in a cabin on the water (€100-250 depending on the level). Book well in advance in high season.
Is Hanoi safe for travellers?+
Yes — Hanoi is generally very safe. Standard precautions apply: watch for pickpockets in the crowded Old Quarter, beware xe om drivers without fixed rates, and avoid restaurants displaying menus without prices at the entrance. Use Grab for transport. The main challenge is crossing scooter-filled streets — walk slowly and steadily, the drivers will flow around you.

Our verdict

Hanoi is one of those capitals that grows on you slowly but lastingly. Less immediately spectacular than Bangkok or Singapore, it reveals its depth to those who take the time to get lost in it: a pho alley at dawn, a neighbourhood temple between two blasts of horns, an egg coffee on a mezzanine watching the scooters below. Allow 3 to 4 days minimum on the ground, book a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise, and let yourself be carried by the particular rhythm of this old Asian lady. Come in October-November or March for the best combination of weather and crowd levels.

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