Is it rainy season? Dry season? Do we just stay in the south or visit the north? All important, yet tricky questions when deciding on the best time to travel to Hanoi.
Personally speaking, September is the most perfect time of year to visit Hanoi for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the sweltering Summer heat has subsided and the cooler Autumn weather makes for pleasant days exploring the city without the need of multiple showers. No one likes a stinky tourist!
Next, students in Vietnam have just returned for the new year so there’s a general buzz about the city with students and parents alike getting back into routine. And wandering around the Old Quarter gives you a chance to witness daily parenting life.
Early September also provides a firsthand experience of Vietnam’s Independence Day festivities. Held on the 2nd, since 1945, thousands of people gather at the famous Ba Dinh Square to celebrate the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the country’s independence from France.
But by far my most beloved reason as to why September is an ideal time to visit Hanoi is simple – the Mid-Autumn festival. Officially known as Tet Trung Thu, this festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar with a full moon at night.
Besides Tet or Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn festival is one of the most important festivals in Vietnamese culture. It is considered a special time for the children in Vietnam to celebrate! Mooncake stalls, lanterns and toys are all sold throughout parts of the Old Quarter especially along Hang Ma street and around Hoan Kiem Lake.
If you choose to visit Hanoi during the Mid-Autumn festival, to enjoy the celebrations and atmosphere, a walk along Hang Ma street at night is a must! Here, parents take their children to buy lanterns, decorations, drums, masks and toys and young locals dressed to the nines hang out to take photos. It’s quite a spectacle.
Hope to see you in Hanoi soon!
