Top News

Foreign tourists struggle as Hanoi temperatures top 40 C

Sandy Verma | May 26, 2026 10:24 PM CST

People travel on a street under severe heat in Hanoi at midday on May 25, 2026. Photo by The Bang

As Hanoi swelters under an intense heatwave, many foreign tourists have been retreating to swimming pools while limiting outdoor activities over health concerns.

British man Alexander Francis Reeves said it is the hottest he can remember this early in the year for Hanoi.

“The streets are almost empty during the day and people are making an effort to stay in doors, there is less congestion because the heat is intolerable,” he added.

“We’re not used to this dry heat, it’s not as humid as usual which makes it feel more unusual. Driving on the road is dangerous because the sun is so bright that it’s blinding without sunglasses.”

Carl Tomich in a swimming pool in Hanoi to cool down the heat, May 26, 2026. Photo courtesy of Carl Tomich

On several social media platforms, many tourists complained about the capital city’s heatwave, saying it had forced them to stay indoors.

Suzanne Buchko from the U.S, who is traveling Hanoi for until the end of June with her family, said she has been looking for indoor activities for her daughter, especially in the afternoons when the heat is most oppressive.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said the severe heat will persist across northern through May 27.

AccuWeather forecasts Hanoi temperatures range from 30 to 43 degrees Celsius on May 26, easing to 30-41 degrees on May 27 before gradually dropping by around 1-2 degrees per day to 26-35 degrees by the weekend.

Authorities have warned that the combination of extreme heat and low humidity is significantly increasing the risk of residential fires, urban blazes and wildfires, while also heightening the dangers of dehydration and heatstroke for people working outdoors.