AUTUMN FEELING: Turtle Tower surrounded by yellow-orange leaves on Hoàn Kiếm Lake. VNS photos Trương Vị

When the first cool breeze brushes past the streets and the scent of hoa sữa (milk flowers) drifts through the air, Hà Nội slips quietly into its most poetic season — autumn. The city, often bustling with the hum of motorbikes and chatter, softens into a calm rhythm, where even the smallest moments seem to shimmer in a golden light.

From the tree-lined boulevard of Phan Đình Phùng to the narrow alleys of the Old Quarter, Hà Nội wears autumn like a favourite coat. The leaves turn shades of amber and ochre, carpeting the pavements, while the faint morning mist hangs over West Lake, casting reflections that blur the line between water and sky.

PHOTOSHOOT: Cửa Bắc (North Gate), a remaining structure of Thăng Long Ancient Citadel, at Phan Đình Phùng Boulevard.

Vendors appear at every corner with baskets of cốm — the young green rice flakes that have become a symbol of this season. Wrapped carefully in lotus leaves, their delicate aroma captures the very essence of northern Việt Nam's autumn.

As the afternoon sun tilts, the light softens into honey hues. Couples stroll along Hoàn Kiếm Lake, tourists sip egg coffee at open-air cafés, and elderly residents take slow walks, their pace unhurried, as if they too are savouring the stillness. The rustle of falling leaves and the laughter of schoolchildren form a familiar soundtrack — an unspoken rhythm lingering through generations.

COME ONE, COME ALL: Tourists strolling at the iconic Turtle Tower on Hoàn Kiếm Lake. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

In this season, Hà Nội feels both timeless and fleeting. The yellow walls of French-era villas glow warmer under the mellow light, and the fragrance of milk flowers becomes almost overwhelming at night. On the banks of the Red River, fishermen cast their nets as silhouettes upon a fading orange sky, while across Long Biên Bridge, bicycles glide homeward through the gentle dusk.

For photographers, autumn in Hà Nội is not just a subject — it’s a feeling. It’s the light that turns ordinary streets into memories, the breeze that carries nostalgia, and the glance of strangers softened by warmth. Every frame taken in this city during these months tells a story of transition — between past and present, between stillness and motion.

FALL COLOUR: Hoàng Hoa Thám Street blanketed with leaves is a familiar sign of Hà Nội autumn.

This photo essay captures those fleeting glances: the reflection of yellow leaves in puddles after a light drizzle, a woman arranging chrysanthemums at the market, and a child chasing a paper kite against the backdrop of a grey sky. Each moment is a reminder that autumn here is not defined by grandeur, but by tenderness — a quiet celebration of life’s smallest, most beautiful pauses.

As the season drifts by, Hà Nội hums a slower tune — a song of memory and change, of love letters never sent and mornings that smell of roasted coffee and fallen leaves. In every photograph, the city breathes a little deeper, whispering to those who listen: “This is the season to remember.” VNS

COLOURFUL: A street vendor selling flowers at Đặng Dung Street.

HISTORIC: The Temple of Literature, one of Hà Nội's most popular tourist destinations.

TIMELESS: Phan Đình Phùng Boulevard in Hà Nội during autumn.

GLISTENING: Chương Dương Bridge spanning the Red River in the early morning light.