Seasons in Hanoi & the north
The easy months are October to November
Which part of the country
Hanoi & the north is in an easy stretch right now, October to November. Nothing extreme is running: pack for the temperature and stop worrying about the season.
Going in December
Cold and grey, and colder still in the mountains, where Sapa can drop near freezing. People pack for the tropics and regret it.
What this means for your bag
Layers, not one thick coat
Three thin layers beat one heavy one: they cover a wider range and pack smaller. A base layer, a fleece and a shell.
See the Winter Warmth Kit packSomething genuinely windproof
Wind is what makes the cold unbearable here, and an umbrella is useless in it. A hood that closes, and gloves.
See the Weather Protection packA packable rain shell
Not a winter coat — it stays warm through the rain. A light hooded shell that folds into its own pocket ends up in the day bag instead of the hotel room.
See the Weather Protection pack
Build a packing plan around the season you are actually travelling in.