Hanoi · Vietnam
May
Summer heat arrives with the rains — still manageable but the comfortable spring window is closing.
Strong option
#9 of 12 months
There are better months for Hanoi — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
31°C
Low
23°C
Rain
188mm
Sun
6.5hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How May scores in Hanoi
Weather
Above average
Value
Very good
Crowds
Good
Events
Average
Atmosphere
Good
What you gain in May
- ↑Sunshine hours reach their annual peak at 6.5 daily despite the rain — Hanoi in May has the most morning sunshine of any month; visit outdoor sites like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Tran Quoc Pagoda before noon
- ↑Prices remain affordable and the city is not overcrowded — a reasonable value window before international summer travel peaks
- ↑The city's café culture is fully operational and the Old Quarter's evening street scene is active; Hanoi's informal social life is at its most visible
What you sacrifice
- ↓Rainfall reaches 188mm — heavy afternoon downpours that can last for hours; the Old Quarter's narrow streets flood quickly after heavy rain
- ↓At 31°C with 83% humidity, the heat and humidity combination becomes uncomfortable; outdoor sightseeing requires early starts and strategic shelter
- ↓The gap between morning sunshine and afternoon rain narrows — planning a full day around it requires flexibility
How May compares to April (best month)
| Factor | May | April ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 5 | 8 |
| Value | 7 | 7 |
| Crowds | 6 | 7 |
May in other destinations
Lisbon (20.7°C)Barcelona (20.8°C)Tokyo (23.8°C)Bali (31.2°C)Santorini (19.8°C)Paris (18.1°C)New York (20.4°C)Marrakech (26.4°C)Amsterdam (16.4°C)Maldives (31.5°C)Rome (21.7°C)Bangkok (32.6°C)Istanbul (20.7°C)Vienna (19.7°C)Seoul (21.4°C)Dubrovnik (20.9°C)Rio de Janeiro (26.2°C)Kyoto (25.2°C)Phuket (32.6°C)Cape Town (18.9°C)Prague (21°C)Amalfi Coast (23°C)Mexico City (27°C)Medellín (27°C)Fiji (28°C)London (18°C)Sydney (19°C)Iceland (10°C)Tulum (32°C)Dubai (38°C)Singapore (33°C)Hoi An (33°C)Chiang Mai (33°C)Miami (30.6°C)Florence (23.1°C)Queenstown (11°C)Madrid (21.7°C)Porto (21°C)Edinburgh (15°C)Copenhagen (16°C)Budapest (22°C)Kraków (20°C)Tbilisi (23°C)Palawan (32°C)Osaka (25°C)Goa (33°C)Cusco (20°C)Buenos Aires (19°C)Mykonos (23°C)Zanzibar (28°C)Sri Lanka (31°C)Costa Rica (27°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Hanoi, not across destinations. Methodology →