Month guide · Hanoi · Vietnam
Hanoi in August
What August is really like in Hanoi: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cyril Doussin from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
August is a good-value shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 32°C (90°F), lows of 26°C (79°F), about 17 rainy days and roughly 12.8 hours of daylight. The rainiest month, with intense downpours that can flood streets briefly; typhoon remnants are possible.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 32°C (90°F) / 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days
- About 17
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in August
August is the 4th-warmest month in Hanoi: days average 32°C (90°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 26°C (79°F). Rain falls on roughly 17 of its 31 days. Compared with July (33°C (91°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs stay near 31°C (88°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 05:36
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 18:27
- Daylight
- About 12.8 hours
Summer (May–August). Hot, very humid and wet, with thunderstorms and occasional storms; low prices and fewer tourists.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in October). That makes August one of the better-value months to book.
Events in August
August has no major recurring festival in Hanoi, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Architecture · French Quarter
Hanoi Opera House
Built by the French between 1901 and 1911 and modelled loosely on the Palais Garnier in Paris, the Opera House anchors the French Quarter at the end of Tràng Tiền street.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes outside, 2 hours for a show
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- After dark
- Couples
Museum · French Quarter
Hỏa Lò Prison
Allow time for the audio guide; the exhibits are grim but give important context to the French colonial era.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Cầu Giấy
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The best museum in Hanoi for understanding Vietnam's 54 recognised ethnic groups, with clothing, tools and ritual objects indoors and full-size traditional buildings in the garden, including an Ê Đê longhouse and a soaring Ba Na communal house you can climb into.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Architecture
Experience · Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Water puppet show
Book a show a day ahead in busy periods and sit a few rows back; the front rows can get splashed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 32°C, lows near 26°C and 17 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Hanoi?
A good-value shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–December are better overall. Compare every month.
Hanoi in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Hanoi?
It is a good-value shoulder-season month. The rainiest month, with intense downpours that can flood streets briefly; typhoon remnants are possible.
+How warm is Hanoi in August?
Average highs are around 32°C (90°F) and lows around 26°C (79°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hanoi in August?
Expect rain on about 17 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.