Is It Monsoon in Hanoi, Vietnam? Rainfall and Weather by Month

Hanoi, Vietnam JANUARY
17Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
14Β° to 20Β°
Cold & Grey
The coldest, greyest stretch of the year, with drizzle, low cloud, and the worst air quality of the year.
πŸ§₯ Warm layers😷 Mask for air quality
19Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
16Β° to 22Β°
Damp & Polluted
Still cold and overcast, with the least sunshine of the whole year and persistently poor air quality.
πŸ“…
Tet, late January to mid-February
Vietnamese New Year, the country's biggest holiday. Most businesses close for several days around it, transport books out and prices spike a week on either side, and some tourist sites shut for the first few days. The exact date shifts each year with the lunar calendar.
πŸ§₯ Warm layers😷 Mask for air quality
21Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
18Β° to 24Β°
Cold Season Fades
Warming quickly now, though the sky often stays hazy and the sun is still rarely seen.
πŸ§₯ Light jacketβ˜‚οΈ Drizzle possible
25Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
22Β° to 28Β°
Spring's Best
One of the best months of the year, mild, increasingly sunny, and the first real warmth before the monsoon heat sets in.
πŸ§₯ Light layersβ˜€οΈ Best sightseeing weather
28Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
24Β° to 32Β°
Heat & Rain Return
The monsoon opens as the heat climbs fast, expect the year's first properly heavy showers.
β˜” Umbrella essentialπŸ₯΅ Heat building
30Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
26Β° to 34Β°
Peak Heat
The hottest month of the year, hot and muggy with rain breaking up stretches of intense heat.
πŸ₯΅ Heat protectionβ˜” Umbrella essential
30Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
26Β° to 33Β°
Hot & Humid
Nearly as hot as June, with frequent, sometimes heavy monsoon rain.
πŸ₯΅ Heat protectionβ˜” Umbrella essential
29Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Off-peak season
26Β° to 33Β°
Wettest Month
The rainiest month of the year, hot, muggy, and prone to sudden heavy downpours.
β˜” Heavy rain gearπŸ₯΅ Stay hydrated
28Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
25Β° to 32Β°
Summer Lingers
Still hot and rainy, though the heaviest of the monsoon has usually passed by now.
β˜” Umbrella handyπŸ₯΅ Still humid
26Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
22Β° to 30Β°
Autumn Arrives
One of the most pleasant months of the year, cooling fast with noticeably less rain and more sunshine.
πŸ§₯ Light layers✨ Best sightseeing weather
23Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Peak season
19Β° to 27Β°
Best of Autumn
Widely considered the best month of the year: mild, comparatively dry, and the clearest skies you'll find.
πŸ§₯ Light jacket✨ Best sightseeing weather
19Β°
β˜…β˜…β˜…
Shoulder season
15Β° to 22Β°
Winter Begins
Cooler and greyer again, though still noticeably sunnier and less bleak than January or February.
πŸ§₯ Warm layersβ˜‚οΈ Drizzle possible
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
⭐️
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
⭐️
Oct
⭐️
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
20 mm
10 rainy days this month
Sunshine
2.5 hrs/day
19% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
20 mm
12 rainy days this month
Sunshine
1.5 hrs/day
12% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
36 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
1.5 hrs/day
12% of daylight hours
Humidity
85%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
104 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
3 hrs/day
23% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
165 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
264 mm
15 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
79%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
254 mm
16 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6.5 hrs/day
50% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
274 mm
17 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
84%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
244 mm
14 rainy days this month
Sunshine
6 hrs/day
46% of daylight hours
Humidity
81%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
155 mm
11 rainy days this month
Sunshine
5.5 hrs/day
42% of daylight hours
Humidity
76%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
61 mm
8 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4.5 hrs/day
35% of daylight hours
Humidity
74%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
20 mm
5 rainy days this month
Sunshine
4 hrs/day
31% of daylight hours
Humidity
73%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
β˜…β˜…β˜… peak season, β˜…β˜…β˜† decent shoulder months, β˜…β˜†β˜† true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: Apr, Oct, Nov
Hanoi's best weather, spring's tail end into autumn's start: comfortable temperatures, less rain than the summer monsoon, and a break from winter's cold, clammy skies. Late October into November is the more reliable of the two windows, April can still catch the very end of a cool spell or the first build-up of pre-monsoon heat. Book ahead if aiming for the second half of either month, they're genuinely the best weeks of the year here.
🌀️
Shoulder season: Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Dec
This tier covers real variety. December is markedly better than the months right after it, sunnier and less cold, though still firmly winter. March sits at the tail of the cold season, damp and still mostly sunless, but warming fast. May, June, and July are deep in the hot, humid build toward the wettest months, uncomfortable at times but not the worst the year has to offer. September holds onto summer's heat and rain a while longer before autumn properly arrives.
β˜”
Off-peak season: Jan, Feb, Aug
January and February are Hanoi at its least inviting: cold, persistently overcast, drizzly, and this is also when air pollution regularly climbs to its worst levels of the year. August, on the opposite end of the calendar, brings the heaviest rain and the muggiest heat of the wet season. None of these months are dangerous to visit, but they're a real step down from the rest of the year.
Good to know
✈️
Noi Bai is Vietnam's northern hub
Noi Bai International (HAN) has direct flights to more than 80 destinations across 27 countries, no need to route through Ho Chi Minh City.
😷
Winter air quality is a genuine concern
From December through February, Hanoi regularly ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, with AQI readings reaching "very unhealthy" or worse. A mask or portable air purifier is worth packing for this window.
πŸ›Ά
Halong Bay is a popular side trip
Vietnam's famous limestone-island bay sits in a different province but is a common day trip or overnight cruise from Hanoi, about 2.5 to 3 hours each way by road.
πŸ›΅
Crossing the street takes a technique
Traffic rarely stops for pedestrians. The trick locals use is to walk slowly and predictably at a steady pace; the motorbikes flow around you rather than braking for you.
Top attractions
1
The Old Quarter
Hanoi's historic core, 36 narrow guild streets each once tied to a trade, now packed with shopfronts, street food stalls, and the city's busiest foot traffic.
2
Hoan Kiem Lake
The "Lake of the Restored Sword," a small central lake crossed by the red The Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, and one of the liveliest spots in the city at dawn and dusk.
3
The Temple of Literature
Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070, with tiled courtyards, carved stone gates, and stelae honoring centuries of scholars.
Frequently asked questions
When is monsoon season in Hanoi?
Hanoi's monsoon season runs roughly from May through September, with August historically the wettest, averaging around 274mm of rain across 17 days.
What is the best time of year to visit Hanoi?
Late October into November is historically Hanoi's most reliable window, and April offers a second, slightly less certain one, both with comfortable temperatures and a break from winter's cold or summer's heat.
What is the least favorable time to visit Hanoi?
January and February are historically Hanoi's coldest, greyest, most drizzle-prone months, and also when air pollution regularly climbs to its worst levels of the year.
Which month has the most rain in Hanoi?
August is historically the wettest month, averaging around 274mm of rain across 17 days.
Which month is the driest in Hanoi?
December is historically the driest month by rain days, averaging around 20mm of rain across just 5 days.
How hot does Hanoi get?
June is historically the hottest month of the year.
What should I pack for Hanoi during the rainy season?
An umbrella and rain gear are worth having from around May through September, and a mask is worth considering for winter air quality from December through February.
Is winter air pollution a real concern in Hanoi?
Yes. From December through February, Hanoi historically ranks among the more polluted cities in the world, with air quality readings that can reach very unhealthy levels.
How many hours of sunshine does Hanoi get per day on average?
It ranges from around 1.5 hours a day in February and March up to about 6.5 hours a day in July.
Is there a major holiday worth planning around in Hanoi?
Tet, Vietnamese New Year, falls in late January or mid-February depending on the lunar calendar. It's the country's biggest holiday: most businesses close for several days, transport books out, and some tourist sites shut for the first few days.