Vietnam · month by month
Hanoi food calendar
What is in season in Hanoi, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Hanoi
The best of January: Bánh chưng, Dried persimmons and mut Tet candied fruit, Tết flower markets.
In season
- Dried persimmons and mut Tet candied fruit
- Pho weather and charcoal lau hot potDec–Feb
- Bún chả and hot pot weather
Cool months suit street-side hot pot.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Bánh chưngTết
Square sticky rice cakes with pork and mung bean, made for the new year.
Jan–Feb
On the calendar
- Tết flower marketsTết
Peach blossom and kumquat trees at Quảng Bá.
Jan–Feb - One of the world’s 100 best food eventsTếtSaturday 6 February 2027 · from PublicHolidays, checked Oct 24, 2026
Vietnam's New Year: square bánh chưng rice cakes, pickled shallots, candied fruit and peach blossom markets.
How to go: Arrive a week before for the markets; many restaurants close for several days after New Year's Day.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Tết closuresTết
Much of the city closes for about a week.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Hanoi
The best of February: Bánh chưng, Pho weather and charcoal lau hot pot, Tet Nguyen Dan.
In season
- Pho weather and charcoal lau hot potDec–Feb
- Bún chả and hot pot weather
Cool months suit street-side hot pot.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Bánh chưngTết
Square sticky rice cakes with pork and mung bean, made for the new year.
Jan–Feb
On the calendar
- Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year)
- Banh Chung Boiling Night
Tet eve; public boilings at Tran Vu Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Tết flower marketsTết
Peach blossom and kumquat trees at Quảng Bá.
Jan–Feb - One of the world’s 100 best food eventsTếtSaturday 6 February 2027 · from PublicHolidays, checked Oct 24, 2026
Vietnam's New Year: square bánh chưng rice cakes, pickled shallots, candied fruit and peach blossom markets.
How to go: Arrive a week before for the markets; many restaurants close for several days after New Year's Day.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- Tết closuresTết
Much of the city closes for about a week.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Hanoi
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Banh troi / banh chay and Fresh spring herbs.
In season
- Banh troi / banh chayMar–Apr
- Fresh spring herbs (perilla, Vietnamese coriander, fish mint)Mar–Apr
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Hanoi
Shoulder seasonThe best of April: Banh troi / banh chay and Fresh spring herbs.
In season
- Banh troi / banh chayMar–Apr
- Fresh spring herbs (perilla, Vietnamese coriander, fish mint)Mar–Apr
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Hanoi
The best of May: Lychees and Lychee.
In season
- Lychees
From Bắc Giang and Hải Dương.
May–Jun - Lychee (Hung Yen)May–Jul
- Bun rieu cua (paddy-crab noodle soup)May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Hanoi
A hard monthThe best of June: Tết Đoan Ngọ and Lychees.
In season
- Lychees
From Bắc Giang and Hải Dương.
May–Jun - Che sweet soups
June-August, Old Quarter pavement vendors
Jun–Aug - Lychee (Hung Yen)May–Jul
- Bun rieu cua (paddy-crab noodle soup)May–Aug
Eat it now
- Tết Đoan Ngọ5th day of 5th lunar month
Sticky rice wine and fruit eaten to "kill the insects".
Plan around
- Heat and rain
Hot and stormy.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Hanoi
A hard monthThe best of July: Longan and Che sweet soups.
In season
- LonganJul–Aug
- Che sweet soups
June-August, Old Quarter pavement vendors
Jun–Aug - Lychee (Hung Yen)May–Jul
- Bun rieu cua (paddy-crab noodle soup)May–Aug
Plan around
- Heat and rain
Hot and stormy.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Hanoi
A hard monthThe best of August: Lotus seeds and lotus tea, Longan.
In season
- Lotus seeds and lotus tea
Lotus tea is scented with flowers from West Lake.
Aug–Sep - LonganJul–Aug
- Che sweet soups
June-August, Old Quarter pavement vendors
Jun–Aug - Bun rieu cua (paddy-crab noodle soup)May–Aug
Plan around
- Heat and rain
Hot and stormy.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Hanoi
The best of September: Bánh trung thu, Cốm and Tet Trung Thu.
In season
- Cốm (young green rice)
Flattened green rice from Vòng village, wrapped in lotus leaves.
Sep–Oct - Lotus seeds and lotus tea
Lotus tea is scented with flowers from West Lake.
Aug–Sep - Com lang Vong (young green rice)Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Bánh trung thuMid-Autumn
Mooncakes, sold from stalls on Hàng Mã street.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- Tet Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn)
25 Sep 2026; 2027 not listed (Penang page gives 15 Sep 2027 for Mid-Autumn, same lunar date, my inference for Hanoi); lanterns and masks on Hang Ma
- Hàng Mã lanternsMid-Autumn
The old quarter lights up.
Sep–Oct
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Hanoi
Peak seasonThe best of October: Bánh trung thu, Cốm and Hanoi Craft Beer Festival.
In season
- Cốm (young green rice)
Flattened green rice from Vòng village, wrapped in lotus leaves.
Sep–Oct - Da Lat persimmons and Doan Hung pomelosOct–Nov
- Com lang Vong (young green rice)Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Bánh trung thuMid-Autumn
Mooncakes, sold from stalls on Hàng Mã street.
Sep–Oct
On the calendar
- Hanoi Craft Beer Festival
Mid-October, 2 days, Furbrew Tay Ho; year not stated
- Hàng Mã lanternsMid-Autumn
The old quarter lights up.
Sep–Oct
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Hanoi
Peak seasonThe best of November: Da Lat persimmons and Doan Hung pomelos, Com lang Vong, Hanoi Beer Festival.
In season
- Da Lat persimmons and Doan Hung pomelosOct–Nov
- Com lang Vong (young green rice)Sep–Nov
- Bún chả and hot pot weather
Cool months suit street-side hot pot.
Nov–Feb
On the calendar
- Hanoi Beer Festival
Mid-November, 2 days, HABECO at Quan Ngua Sports Palace; year not stated
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Hanoi
Peak seasonThe best of December: Pho weather and charcoal lau hot pot, Bún chả and hot pot weather.
In season
- Pho weather and charcoal lau hot potDec–Feb
- Bún chả and hot pot weather
Cool months suit street-side hot pot.
Nov–Feb
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.