Hanoi is moving into a new season, with the weather gradually turning cooler, especially in the early morning. Peaceful scenes are easy to find as residents head outdoors to exercise, stroll and enjoy the flavors associated with autumn.

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At 5:30 a.m., Hanoi takes on a gentler, cooler feel, with temperatures hovering around 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit), making the streets pleasantly comfortable.
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In the calm of the early morning, the capital slowly comes to life around Hoan Kiem Lake. Cyclists ride in groups, runners circle the lake and others exercise on the sidewalks in the fresh air as the sun begins to rise.
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In the city’s narrow alleys, colorful morning markets emerge, with stalls piled with fruit and vendors carrying baskets of flowers.
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Seasonal treats such as stir-fried young green rice and sticky rice with young green rice are also a familiar part of this time of year. Along Ly Quoc Su, Nha Chung and Nha Tho streets, vendors can be seen selling fresh, vivid green com, or young green rice, one of Hanoi’s signature autumn foods.
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At a small cafe near St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Phan Hoang Anh enjoys snacks with her early-morning coffee. “Autumn is my favorite season of the year,” she said. “You can never quite tell when it arrives, so you have to wake up early and head out at dawn to realize that autumn is already here.”
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Taking advantage of the cooler weather, Thanh Hang and her family also went out for coffee and to enjoy the first hints of autumn. “The weather feels so much more pleasant as the seasons change,” she said. “It gets hotter and sunnier around midday, so early morning is when you can feel autumn most clearly.”

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In the autumn weather, familiar Hanoi breakfasts are hard to resist: a steaming bowl of pho or the delicate flavors of bun thang, accompanied by a glass of iced tea to start the day.
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A peaceful early-morning scene inside Thong Nhat Park.
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Hanoi’s streets are decorated with flags and flowers during the autumn days of September.

Thach Thao