Monday, May 21, 2012

Hanoi Weather: Hanoi became the capital of Vietnam in 1010. Since then, it has been the social, cultural and economic center of the country. It is one of the most captivating cities in Southeast Asia. The lovely sight of lakes, shaded avenues, verdant parks and French-colonial architecture complements the unhurried pace of life. Hanoi has emerged as a fascinating and unconventional tourist destination for several years. Many people, fed up with visiting clichÐ crowded places, now prefer Hanoi as a charming unique city for its own beauty and culture. Experienced travelers would like to have a brief overview of the place they are going to visit and its weather surely tops the information-list so that they can have a pleasant weather during their tour. The climate of Vietnam varies greatly from the North to the South due to its long and narrow territory. Therefore, you can never assess Hanoi’s weather from the knowledge of the other Vietnamese regions. Hanoi, lying in a plain, belongs to Red River Delta and is far from the sea. It features the hot climatic zone under the influence of south and northeast monsoons.Hanoi experiences the typical climate of Northern Vietnam where summer is hot and humid and winter is relatively cold and dry. Summer lasts from May to early September with its extremely hot weather and plenty of rain. In particular, during June, the peak temperature can rise up to 39-40oC. I do not like too heavy rain but I still prefer cool rainy weather to hot sunny weather in summer.
As roughly said above, with a humid tropical climate, Hanoi is characterized by monsoons like most of Northern Vietnam. The period from July to September witnesses heavy rainfall and sometimes this leads to floods causing much trouble in traffic.
Then, autumn and early winter are the most beautiful season in Hanoi. The sky is clear, the weather is warm and slightly sunny. The colour of Hanoi autumn is light yellow, so lovely to me. I also like this season best because my birthday is around then. Next, winter rules from November to March. The weather remains cold and dry. The minimum temperature in Hanoi can dip as low as 6-7oC. Northeast monsoons are frequent in winter. January is the coldest month usually accompanied by a cold north-easterly wind. For myself, though very cold, winter is still much more comfortable than summer for its lower humidity.
Especially, spring is an inspiring nice season in Hanoi and the most pleasant time to visit, avoiding the heat and heavy rain. That is from February to April. By that time, gardens of colourful fresh flowers blossom everywhere. Hanoi people become happier in a new joyful atmosphere of welcoming a Lunar New Year. The weather is cool with sometimes slight rain, making Hanoi view more romantic. Born in Hanoi, having grown up here with so many memories both happy and not, I am feeling deeply my always unchanged true love for this green homeland even with its changing weather.