When is the best time to visit Hanoi and Halong Bay?

Quick answer by priority

• Best weather: October and November: dry, warm days, cool evenings.

• Best for Halong Bay: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) for calmer seas and better visibility.

• Fewest crowds: late February to March after Tết, and September.

• Cheapest: June to August, the hot rainy season.

• Festivals: Tết, with the official holiday from 4 to 10 February 2027.

• Avoid: the days around Tết if you want restaurants and shops open, and July to August if you dislike heat and storms.

Hanoi month by month

Typical Hanoi averages from long-term climate normals.

• December to February: about 14 to 22°C (57 to 72°F), around 20 mm a month, but often overcast with fine drizzle. Cold snaps can bring lows of 7 to 8°C (45 to 46°F) and indoor heating is rare, so pack a warm layer. Halong Bay is cool and often misty. Tết falls in February 2027.

• March: about 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), around 35 mm, still grey and damp. Quieter after Tết, pleasant for walking the Old Quarter.

• April: about 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F), around 105 mm. Warm and green, a good month for Ninh Binh and Halong. We arrived in Hanoi on 20 April and went on to Ninh Binh.

• May: about 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), around 165 mm. Heat and humidity rise; first summer storms. Ninh Binh's rice fields are often golden around late May to early June.

• June to August: about 26 to 34°C (79 to 93°F), with around 255 to 275 mm a month. Heavy afternoon downpours, high humidity, and the main typhoon window for the north. Cheapest hotel rates.

• September: about 25 to 32°C (77 to 90°F), around 245 mm. Rain easing late in the month; Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns in Hàng Mã street around the September full moon.

• October and November: about 19 to 30°C (66 to 86°F), with rain dropping from about 155 to 60 mm. The best all-round months.

Halong Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa: how the season changes

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay: the bay faces two different problems. From about June to September tropical storms are the risk: northern Vietnam averages several typhoons and tropical depressions a year, and the authorities suspend all cruises during a storm warning, usually reopening within a day or two. From December to February the problem is fog and northeast monsoon winds, which reduce visibility and can delay departures. Full cancellations are uncommon in either season, but book a cruise with a clear refund or rebooking policy. Spring and autumn give the best mix of calm water and views.

Ninh Binh (Tam Coc, Tràng An): about two hours south of Hanoi by road, it follows Hanoi's pattern but the rice fields add a seasonal angle: they are bright green in spring and turn gold around late May to early June, then again in autumn. We spent four nights there after Hanoi. See Hanoi to Ninh Binh and our 2 days in Ninh Binh guide.

Sapa and the far north: high and mountainous, much colder than Hanoi in winter, with occasional frost. Terraces are greenest in summer and harvested in about September. Trekking paths turn muddy in the summer rains.

Combining Hanoi with the rest of Vietnam: there is no month that is perfect for the whole country. Hanoi is coolest when Ho Chi Minh City is driest (December to February), while Hoi An and Hue are wettest from about September to December. Our Vietnam in January guide and 2-week Hanoi to Saigon itinerary explain how to order the route.

Festivals, holidays and closures in 2027

• Tết (Lunar New Year): Saturday 6 February 2027. The official public-sector holiday runs 4 to 10 February. Many family-run restaurants and Old Quarter shops close for several days, and trains, buses and flights are full from late January to mid-February. Details in our Tết 2027 guide.

• Hùng Kings' Commemoration: about 16 April 2027 (10th day of the third lunar month), provisional until the official schedule.

• Reunification Day and Labour Day: 30 April and 1 May, a big domestic travel weekend; Halong and Ninh Binh fill up.

• National Day: 2 to 5 September 2027 for civil servants, another busy weekend at Halong.

• Mid-Autumn Festival: the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, in September.

Prices and crowds

International visitor numbers peak from October to April, and Halong cruise prices are highest on weekends and Vietnamese holidays. Domestic crowds are the bigger factor at Halong and Ninh Binh: the Reunification Day and National Day weekends are among the busiest of the year.

The cheapest months are June to August. The best value with good weather is March and the second half of September. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Hanoi and how many days in Hanoi. If you want the Train Street photo, check the current Hanoi Train Street rules.

When not to go, honestly

July and August are hot, humid and stormy, with the highest risk of a cancelled Halong cruise. City sightseeing still works in the mornings and evenings.

The Tết week is not dangerous or impossible, but many favourite street-food stalls close and transport is full; arriving a week after is better than arriving during.

January and February surprise people who expect tropical weather: grey skies, drizzle and nights near 14°C, colder in a cold snap. It is fine for the city and food, less good for photos of Halong. For what to eat whenever you go, see what to eat in Hanoi, day trips from Hanoi and our 3 days in Hanoi guide.

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