Hanoi in Winter - everything to expect

Surprise! Hanoi has winter

It’s true the Hanoi winter brings a certain chill and most first-time visitors seem rather surprised with the clouded or misty appearance of this vibrant city in northern Vietnam.

The Old Quarter in winter

At the same time, there is little to no rain during the winter months and plenty of reasons to ignore the cold, while the cozy cafes and sizzling street food can seem even more enticing than any other time of year. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what to expect and how to prepare for the Hanoi winter:

What to expect during the Hanoi winter

In case you might be asking yourself, the Hanoi winter takes place between the end of December and late March. For this reason, many visitors choose to arrive before or after this particular period.

However, temperatures start to drop at the end of November and begin rising again by mid-February. Although these temperatures rarely drop below 10-12C, the high humidity can also make the Hanoi winter seem a lot colder than you might expect. At the same time, there are still warm spells in both December and January, and it’s not uncommon for temperatures to reach 30C.

Warm coats come handy during winter months in Hanoi

Winter in Hanoi is a welcome change of seasons

On the other hand, most people are happy to escape the sticky summer heat in Southeast Asia. Additionally, there is literally no rain during the Hanoi winter. For this reason, winter is still a great time to visit Hanoi and the advantages or benefits most definitely outweigh whatever concerns you might have about the weather.

From sweating to freezing in one day

Weather was changing on a daily basis, from sunny and warm, to monsoon like rain, to being able to see your own breath being so cold, all in one week.

So if you are planning on visiting Hanoi in winter, be sure to pack layers. T-shirts combined with a sweater and a rain jacket should be enough to prepare you for the ever changing conditions of Hanoi’s winter.

How the winter months can impact life in Hanoi

At the same time, I should also point out that Hanoi winter challenges are even more relevant or inconvenient for locals and those who might choose to live here for an extended period.

In other words, a tourist might not be too bothered by Hanoi’s pollution during a weekend or week-long stay but this greyness can become quite relentless and even frustrating over time.

It’s true, now and then a sunny day interrupts the Hanoi winter and locals take to exercising  and picnicking in the parks. However, these days are very rare, so even expats, volunteers and visitors can find this gloomy weather quite taxing on the mind and body.

What to wear for the Hanoi winter

If you plan on sticking around Hanoi during winter, you will need more than just the right clothing.

Namely, investing in an air purifier and a high-quality face mask will make things a lot easier on your respiratory system. In reality, the standard cloth masks you see on locals in Hanoi offer little to no protection and a respirator-like face mask Is much more effective. Look around for 3M mask.

On the other hand, if you experience any kind of respiratory problems, the Hanoi winter is something to avoid.

That being said, wearing the right clothing is essential for the Hanoi winter and taking layers is a must. Long pants and long sleeve tops are also necessary, while a warm sweater will always come in handy.

Most locals also wear hats and gloves but depending on your preference, a decent jacket and scarf is often enough to stay warm in especially cold snaps.

Needless to say, you should also have t-shirt and shorts at the ready and a layer system is certainly the best way to regulate temperatures.

Final Thoughts

Winter is a great time to visit Hanoi and the absence of rain is most certainly a bonus.

While air pollution is clearly a problem, the conditions are still comfortable and you can at least avoid the hot and sticky weather down south.

Most importantly, Hanoi is just as interesting to explore during winter and the cold snap can bring a new or different perspective to the experience.

After all, “different” is good and eating a delicious bowl of pho is like a warm hug on a cold day!