Best Time to Visit Hanoi
Recommended: Oct to Dec
When to go
October to December is the sweet spot: dry, cooler air, low humidity, and good light for Halong Bay. March and April also work, before the summer heat sets in. Avoid June to August if you can, it's hot and wet with the occasional typhoon. January and February bring a damp, grey chill and Tet closures.
Month by month in Vietnam
Hanoi sits in Vietnam, so the country's broader seasonal pattern applies. There is no single good month for all of Vietnam. North (Hanoi, Sapa) is coolest and driest Oct-Apr; centre (Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue) has its wet/typhoon season roughly Sept-Jan and is best Feb-Aug; south (HCMC, Mekong, Phu Quoc) is dry Dec-Apr, hot and humid year-round.
Jan-FebNorth cold and often grey; centre still wet early Jan then clearing; south dry, warm, one of the best windows overall.
Mar-AprNorth warming up and drier; centre good and increasingly busy; south hot, dry, pre-monsoon, Phu Quoc excellent.
May-JunNorth hot and humid with early rains; centre generally dry and good for beaches; south rainy season begins, afternoon storms.
Jul-AugNorth humid, occasional storms; centre still in its dry window, popular for Hoi An and Da Nang beaches; south wet season in full swing.
Sep-OctNorth transitioning, can be pleasant; centre's typhoon and flood season starts, riskiest months for the coast; south rains tapering off.
Nov-DecNorth turning cold and dry; centre still typhoon-prone into early Dec, Hue/Hoi An flood risk highest; south entering its dry season, good conditions.