When to go

Visitors head to Hanoi during all different times of the year, but the most busy tourist season is during the summer months.  This is interesting, because it is generally also considered to be the time of the worst weather in Hanoi.  It is not only hot, but it rains a lot during this time of year and so it gets quite humid.  Visitors who can avoid the major tourist months actually might find that not only are the crowds thinner and the streets easier to negotiate but the weather is also nicer.

The average winter high temperature in Hanoi is approximately sixty five degrees and it rarely rains from November through February, so this is a good time for travelers to consider visiting the area.  There is also a large celebration in the area at the beginning of the year which many tourists enjoy.  Information on this celebration (called the Tet Nguyen Dan or simply the Tet) is here http://www.hopviettravel.com/vietnam_events/February.html

From February on, the rainy season begins, hitting its peak in about April but continuing through the summer.  Summer high temperatures are generally in the nineties with thick humidity.