Hanoi events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Old Quarter (36 Streets), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Palace Area, plus Temple of Literature. December in Hanoi averages 22°C / 72°F highs, 15°C / 59°F nights, and about 5 rainy days.
Expect 22°C/72°F days and about 5 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Old Quarter (36 Streets)★ 4.6 · 9.7k reviewsThe Old Quarter grew around trade guild streets such as Hàng Bạc, Hàng Gai, Hàng Mã, and Ta Hien.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Palace Area★ 4.5 · 20.4k reviewsBa Đình Square holds the mausoleum, the stilt house complex where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1954 to 1969, and the French-built Presidential Palace…
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Hanoi in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
72°F / 59°F
22.2°C / 15°C
RainPrecipitation
5d
0.8in · 20mm
LightDaylight
10.7h
December is cool and relatively dry, so pack a layer for evening bia hoi and lakefront cafes.
About Hanoi
City overview
Hanoi is Vietnam's Red River capital, where Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the 36-street Old Quarter, French-colonial boulevards, and West Lake sit inside a city shaped by Chinese, French, North Vietnamese, and reunification-era layers. Ba Đình carries state monuments, Hoàn Kiếm carries the old commercial core, and Tây Hồ adds lakeside temples and expat cafes.
Food & drink
Hanoi food is built around pho bo, bun cha, cha ca, banh cuon, xoi xeo, bun thang, egg coffee, and bia hoi. Dong Xuan Market, Ta Hien beer corner, Tong Duy Tan food street, and Cha Ca Street are more city-specific anchors than hotel buffets.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Temple of Literature
- 2Museum of Ethnology
- 3Vietnam Military History Museum
- 4Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple
- 5Vietnamese Women's Museum
- 6West Lake and Trấn Quốc Pagoda
- 7National Museum of Vietnamese History
- 8One-Pillar Pagoda
1Temple of Literature
4.6★ · 23,648indoorOpen dailyFounded in 1070, Van Mieu became Vietnam's first university in 1076 and still holds courtyards, Confucian altars, and stone doctorate steles on turtle bases. It sits west of Hoàn Kiếm near Đống Đa.
Wikipedia
2Museum of Ethnology
4.6★ · 15,143indoorClosed MonThe Cầu Giấy museum explains Vietnam's ethnic groups with indoor displays and outdoor reconstructed houses. It is one of the best English-labeled cultural stops outside the Old Quarter.
Wikipedia
3Vietnam Military History Museum
4.5★ · 12,234indoorClosed Mon/FriThe museum moved in 2024 to a large 39-hectare site about 12km from its former Flag Tower location. Outdoor aircraft, tanks, artillery, and bilingual exhibits cover conflicts from early Vietnam to the 20th century.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple
- 5Vietnamese Women's Museum
- 6West Lake and Trấn Quốc Pagoda
Neighborhoods
1Hoàn Kiếm Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is compact, noisy, and commercial, with Hang streets, Dong Xuan Market, beer corners, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and constant scooter movement.
2French Quarter and Trang Tien
The French Quarter has wider boulevards, the Opera House, Trang Tien Plaza, colonial facades, embassies, and calmer blocks southeast of Hoàn Kiếm.
3Ba Đình
Ba Đình feels monumental and official, with the mausoleum, Presidential Palace grounds, One-Pillar Pagoda, government buildings, and wide parade spaces.
Day trips
60km / about 2h by road plus boat and cable car or 30-45min hike
Perfume Pagoda
The Buddhist pilgrimage site combines Yen Stream boat rides, mountain temples, and Huong Tich cave. Go early because festival-season queues are long.
95km / about 2h by train or road from Hanoi
Ninh Binh and Trang An
Karst river boats, Hoa Lu temples, Tam Coc rice fields, and Mua Cave viewpoints make Ninh Binh the strongest nature-and-history day trip from Hanoi.
160km / about 2.5-3h by expressway from Hanoi
Ha Long Bay
Limestone islands and overnight junk cruises are possible as a long day, but an overnight from Tuan Chau or Bai Chay gives the bay more time than a same-day bus loop.
Getting around
Hanoi buses are easiest with the BusMap Ha Noi app, while taxis and Grab are the practical tools between Old Quarter hotels, Ba Đình sights, West Lake, and outer museums. Metro Line 2A serves Cát Linh to Hà Đông, but visitors still rely on walking, rideshare motorbikes, and taxis for Hoàn Kiếm and Ba Đình.
Planning a Hanoi trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Hanoi in December
- What to pack for Hanoi in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Hanoi checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 22°C / 72°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 15°C / 59°F.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 5 days.
- How many days do you need in Hanoi
- 4 days covers the main Hanoi highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Hanoi worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Hanoi averages 22°C / 72°F highs, 15°C / 59°F nights, and about 5 rainy days.
Ready to plan Hanoi?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Hanoi plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.