Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City: which to choose?
Side by side for the month you pick: real weather, how good a time it is, holidays and festivals, rough costs and getting there.
HanoiPhoto: BehindTheTmuna / Unsplash
Ho Chi Minh CityPhoto: Tron Le / UnsplashThat month: November
Hanoi
Best timeHo Chi Minh City
Quieterless rain, fewer crowdsWeather
Hanoi
26° / 19° · 60 mm rainHo Chi Minh City
31° / 24° · 155 mm rainHolidays & festivals
Hanoi
- Vietnam Culture Day Nov 24
Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnam Culture Day Nov 24
Getting there
Hanoi
Pick where you fly fromHo Chi Minh City
Pick where you fly fromRough daily cost
Hanoi
$25 budget · $60 mid-rangeHo Chi Minh City
$25 budget · $60 mid-rangeOur homestays
Hanoi
None here yetHo Chi Minh City
None here yetBest time to visit
Hanoi
October to December offers mild temperatures and less rain, ideal for sightseeing. Avoid heavy rains and heat from May to September. Spring is warm with occasional showers.Ho Chi Minh City
December to April offers warm, dry weather ideal for sightseeing. The rainy season from May to November brings heavy showers and humidity, but fewer tourists and lush scenery.Top things to do
Hanoi
Old Quarter · Hoan Kiem Lake · Temple of LiteratureHo Chi Minh City
War Remnants Museum · Ben Thanh Market · Notre-Dame Cathedral BasilicaFood to try
Hanoi
Pho · Bun Cha · Cha CaHo Chi Minh City
Pho · Banh Mi · Café ApartmentRough daily costs are AI estimates per person, in US dollars, for a place to stay, food and getting around. Flight times are rough: worked out from the straight-line distance, for a non-stop flight. Average daily high and monthly rain over the last ten years, from weather records by Open-Meteo