With warmer temperatures and longer days than the preceding winter months, April marks a great time to visit Hanoi. There’s a lot to do with many exciting festivals, including Reunification Day at the end of the month, celebrating the unification of North and South Vietnam.
Climate Averages in Hanoi in April
Temperatures continue to rise in April as Hanoi reaches its summer season. You can expect temperatures of as low as 71°F (21.7°C) and as high as 80°F (26.7°C) during this time, with an average 2.7 hours of direct sunlight throughout 12.6 hour days.
Warmer temperatures begin around noon and will typically last until 7 pm at the beginning of the month, while warmer temperatures will begin around 10 am and end at 10 pm by mid-month. By the end of April, temperatures will remain warm for the entire day.
As April is the last month of Hanoi spring, rainfall continues to increase in preparation for the wet season, which officially begins in May. Compared to March, precipitation doubles to an average total of 90.1 mm over the course of 13.3 rainfall days. Due to its high 83% humidity, unexpected rains are common during April, and rainfall continues to intensify throughout the duration of the month leading up to May. Rainfall is most common around noon and it is typically dry by 8 pm.
Rainfall13.3 days
April Weather | |
---|---|
Temperature | 71-80°F (21.7-26.7°C) |
Precipitation | 90.1 mm |
Humidity | 83% |
Daylight | 12.6 hr |
Sunlight | 2.7 hr |
Things To Do in Hanoi in April
Thanh Minh Day, also known as Holiday of the Dead, is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month by families across Vietnam to show respect to their ancestors and deceased relatives. Prior to the grave visitations, families will paint the tombs and make preparations by cleaning the area around the gravesite. It’s also commonly referred to as Cold Food Day as many Vietnamese residents will enjoy cold dishes throughout the day.
On the seventh day of the third lunar month in a small village 40 km west of Hanoi, visitors gather together to pay homage to 12th-century Buddhist monk Tu Dao Hanh during the Thay Pagoda Festival. Tu Dao Hanh was a Vietnamese innovator known for his advances in medicine and religion, yet he is most renowned for introducing water puppetry to Vietnam.
Accordingly, a water puppet show in front of the Thuy Dinh Temple is one of the main attractions of the festival, along with traditional music, religious performances, and the worshipping of Buddha.
If you’re looking for more activities near Hanoi, visit the Phu Tho province approximately 50 miles from Hanoi to participate in the Hung Festival, which takes place on the tenth day of the third lunar month. This festival celebrates the birth of Vietnam’s first kings through incense lighting, offerings, drum beating, and traditional Vietnamese operas and sword dances.
On April 30, the Vietnamese celebrate Reunification Day, commemorating the fall of the Saigon government in 1975, which ended the Vietnam War and united the north and south regions of Vietnam under one government.
Tips for Visiting Hanoi in April
April is one of the best months to visit Hanoi in order to avoid the city’s chilly winter months and sweltering, monsoonal summer months. It is a wonderful time to soak in the warmer temperatures before heavy rainfall begins to dominate the climate starting in May.
Light, airy clothes are recommended when visiting Hanoi in April in order to remain comfortable in the heat. Rain gear, including an umbrella and thin rain jacket, is also recommended to be on hand at all times as rainfall can be unpredictable.
Hanoi can become extremely crowded at the end of the month due to Reunification Day and International Labor Day as many families from across the country plan to visit Vietnam’s capital city. As the two holidays are typically combined into one extended break, the majority of businesses in Hanoi are closed, so it is best to avoid visiting during this time.
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