Hanoi in May: a seasonal travel plan
Hanoi, Vietnam. In may, the average daytime high is 32.0 °C and the night-time low is 24.0 °C. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
Choose a month
Selected month: May
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Hanoi
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 32.0 °C
- Nighttime low
- 24.0 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 172.7 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 20.3
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 32.3 | 23.4 | 5.5 |
| Days 11–20 | 32.0 | 23.8 | 6.3 |
| From day 21 | 31.9 | 24.8 | 8.5 |
What this month is like
Hanoi, Vietnam. In may, the average daytime high is 32.0 °C and the night-time low is 24.0 °C. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
There are 20.3 wet days on average, with about 172.7 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
Average daylight is 13.1 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack light breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses and water. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack light loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 30.5 °C, May — 32.0 °C, next month — 32.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 13.4, 20.3 and 22.3.
Things to do
Hanoi turns around Hoan Kiem Lake: the Old Quarter with its craft streets to the north, the French Quarter with wide boulevards to the south. The city is dense and loud, so walk short distances and take a taxi or motorbike taxi between districts.
Hoan Kiem Lake
Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple on its island, reached by a red bridge, frame the centre of the city. Walk the shore in the morning when people exercise, and book the water puppet theatre for the evening.
Temple of Literature and Ba Dinh
The Temple of Literature with its courtyards and stone steles stands west of the centre, near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Start at the temple, then cross to Ba Dinh square and the park.
West Lake
Tran Quoc Pagoda sits on the shore of West Lake, with water and low rooftops in view. Follow the promenade, eat lunch at a lakeside café and return to the centre by evening.
Where to stay
Old Quarter
The Old Quarter suits travellers who want street food and craft shops at the door. Lanes are narrow, motorbikes flow without a break and nights are loud, but everything is close.
French Quarter
The French Quarter south of the lake has wide boulevards, the opera house and hotels in colonial buildings. It is quieter and more open than the Old Quarter, with the market twenty minutes on foot.
Tay Ho
Tay Ho lives along West Lake: cafés, bicycles, embassies and schools. The area is calm and green, and the historic centre needs a taxi.
Getting to and around Hanoi
Noi Bai airport lies about thirty-five kilometres from the centre; bus 86 runs to the railway station and Hoan Kiem Lake, while a taxi or Grab car suits luggage. The Old Quarter is walkable, taxis and motorbike taxis cover longer hops, and the metro so far serves the western districts.
Three days in Hanoi
The lake and the Old Quarter
Start at Hoan Kiem Lake, walk the shore and cross the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple. Spend the afternoon in the lanes of the Old Quarter and take in the water puppet show after dark.
Ba Dinh and the Temple of Literature
Begin at the Temple of Literature, then Ba Dinh square, the mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Rest in the park after lunch and come back to the lake.
West Lake
Ride out to Tran Quoc Pagoda, follow the West Lake promenade and eat lunch with a view of the water. Return to the centre for dinner in the Old Quarter.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.4 | 12.1 | 50.3 | 6.0 | 11.0 |
| February | 23.7 | 13.4 | 43.8 | 6.1 | 11.4 |
| March | 27.7 | 17.7 | 58.1 | 11.0 | 12.0 |
| April | 30.5 | 20.8 | 93.5 | 13.4 | 12.6 |
| May | 32.0 | 24.0 | 172.7 | 20.3 | 13.1 |
| June | 32.6 | 25.9 | 214.1 | 22.3 | 13.4 |
| July | 32.3 | 25.7 | 292.4 | 24.9 | 13.3 |
| August | 31.6 | 25.5 | 360.9 | 24.6 | 12.8 |
| September | 30.8 | 24.2 | 287.3 | 21.6 | 12.3 |
| October | 27.8 | 20.2 | 163.2 | 13.9 | 11.7 |
| November | 25.6 | 17.1 | 46.9 | 8.0 | 11.2 |
| December | 21.1 | 11.7 | 21.0 | 4.0 | 10.9 |
Frequently asked questions
Hanoi: what is the temperature in May?
The average daytime high is 32.0 °C and the night-time low is 24.0 °C. Daytime is hot. Plan the main walk for the morning and spend the warmest hours in shade or indoors.
How many days with precipitation are there in May?
On average, there are 20.3 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 172.7 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in May?
Pack light loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a water bottle. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 32.3 °C; 11–20 — 32.0 °C; 21 to month-end — 31.9 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 13.1 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Hanoi worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 32.0 °C and nights around 24.0 °C work for you. Start long walks in the morning and keep the hottest hours for shade, museums or a relaxed lunch.
What can I do in Hanoi on a wet day in May?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Hanoi in May?
Pack light breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses and water. Average daylight is 13.1 hours.