Plan Your Trip
Hanoi Weather
Unlike much of Vietnam, Hanoi has real seasonal variation — hot, humid summers and a distinctly cooler, greyer winter — which changes what you should pack more than most visitors expect.
The two main seasons
Hanoi's climate splits broadly into a hot, humid, wet season (roughly May to September) and a cooler, drier season (roughly October to April), with March–April as a mild, sometimes drizzly transition. Summer temperatures regularly climb above 32°C with high humidity; winter can drop into the low-to-mid teens Celsius, which feels colder than the number suggests given the damp air and a lack of indoor heating in many buildings.
How to pack
- Summer (May–Sep) — light, breathable clothing, a light rain jacket or umbrella for sudden downpours, and sun protection. Air conditioning indoors is common, so a light layer for restaurants and cafes is useful.
- Winter (Dec–Feb) — layers matter more than a single heavy coat, since days can start cold and damp then warm up. Many Hanoi buildings aren't heated, so evenings can feel colder indoors than the outdoor temperature suggests.
- Shoulder seasons — a light jacket and a compact umbrella cover most situations.
A note on rain
Summer rain tends to arrive as short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day drizzle — annoying if you're caught out, but usually over within an hour. Streets can flood briefly in the heaviest storms; locals just wait it out at a cafe, which isn't a bad strategy for visitors either.