Month guide · Hanoi · Vietnam
Hanoi in January
What January is really like in Hanoi: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Cool, grey and damp, often feeling colder than the numbers suggest; Tết preparations fill the markets with flowers and decorations.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Hanoi: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 27°C (81°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (22°C (72°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:36
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:35
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
Winter (December–January). Cool, grey and damp with chilly nights; good for walking, but bring layers and check air quality.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in October). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Tết (Lunar New Year) — flower markets before the holiday, then many shops close for several days (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Landmark · Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple
Walk the 1.7 km circuit at about 6am to see morning exercises, then return on a weekend evening for the car-free streets.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Couples
Architecture · Old Quarter
Long Biên Bridge
Built by French engineers between 1899 and 1902, this steel cantilever bridge of more than 2 kilometres over the Red River was bombed repeatedly during the American War and patched up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Neighbourhood · Old Quarter
Old Quarter guild streets
Walk it in the morning when shops open and traffic is lighter, and look up to see the narrow façades above the shopfronts.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
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Historic site · Ba Đình
Temple of Literature
Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this walled complex housed Vietnam's first university, the Imperial Academy.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 14°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Hanoi?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, March–April and October–December are better overall. Compare every month.
Hanoi in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Hanoi?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cool, grey and damp, often feeling colder than the numbers suggest; Tết preparations fill the markets with flowers and decorations.
+How warm is Hanoi in January?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Hanoi in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.