Hanoi · Month comparison
April vs February
April ranks #1 overall vs February at #5. The best weather month — warm, sunny, low crowds, and the Old Quarter at its most photogenic.
April
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The best weather month — warm, sunny, low crowds, and the Old Quarter at its most photogenic.
- ↑April is the joint-best weather month in Hanoi: 26°C, 5.5 sunshine hours, and light rather than heavy rain — the Old Quarter is comfortable to explore for a full day without the humidity and heat of summer
- ↑Crowds are at their annual low outside the peak seasons; the Ngoc Son Temple at Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of Literature can be visited without congestion
February
#5 of 12 months
Best match
Tet — Hanoi's most extraordinary event; the city empties of residents but fills with flowers, fireworks, and celebration.
- ↑Tet (Lunar New Year, typically February) is the most important event in the Vietnamese calendar — Hanoi is decorated on a scale that makes Christmas in Europe look restrained; peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and lanterns cover every street in the Old Quarter
- ↑The Hoan Kiem Lake area and the streets around the Old Quarter are closed to traffic on Tet Eve and the following days — walking through an almost traffic-free Hanoi is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
| Factor | April | February |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 5 |
| Value score | 7 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 4 |
| Events score | 5 | 10 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 10 |
| Avg high temp | 26°C | 19°C |
| Monthly rain | 88mm | 26mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.5hrs | 2.8hrs |
April trade-offs
- ↓Rainfall increases to 88mm — light but present; afternoon showers are possible; carry a small umbrella or poncho
- ↓April is starting to become more popular as word of the good weather spreads; hotels fill faster than in February-March and prices begin edging upward
- ↓The heat is building toward summer levels by late April — daytime sightseeing between 11am and 3pm can already feel warm
February trade-offs
- ↓The city effectively closes for 1–2 weeks: most restaurants, shops, and services are shut; travellers must stock up on food before Tet begins or rely on hotel restaurants
- ↓Hanoi residents largely leave the city to return to family; the streets are eerily quiet in the days around the New Year itself — extraordinary but unsettling if unexpected
- ↓Hotel prices rise significantly during Tet week; the city's accommodation is under pressure from returning diaspora and domestic travellers
Scores compare months within Hanoi. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →