Hanoi, Vietnam’s Best Areas to Stay

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Advice from an expat in Hanoi about the best neighborhoods to stay in Hanoi, Vietnam! (Plus 20 Hanoi Hotels by District)We created this guide in collaboration with a long-term expat in Hanoi, Rebecca McBride. We’re thrilled she agreed to share her passion and knowledge of Hanoi as our local city expert for this Where to Stay in Hanoi Guide, and hope it helps with your Hanoi trip planning!Reading: where to stay in hanoiThe capital of Vietnam is the perfect example of a country in transition, with the juxtaposition of old and new adding to the fascination of this bustling city.I first set foot upon the streets of Hanoi as an impressionable teenager, guided by a mother who had already fallen hard for a city you either love or hate. Amazed by its rawness, I quickly followed in my mom’s footsteps, getting swept up in a world so very different from my western upbringing.A decade later and Hanoi still holds a special charm over me, as I live, work and miraculously ride my motorbike through the crazy buzz of traffic.Hanoi is simultaneously fast and slow, easy and difficult, relaxing and exhausting. This is a city where a little research goes a long way, as choosing what to eat, where to go, and how to get there can be a tad confusing if you just aimlessly hit the streets.However, armed with just a basic understanding of local dishes, the lay of the land and a few Vietnamese words, exploration in the city yields some of the most interesting and stimulating street scenes you’re likely to see. Get ready for sensory overload; this is Hanoi.

The Best Areas to Stay in Hanoi, Vietnam: Hanoi’s Most Popular Neighborhoods to Stay

• Hoan Kiem (The Old Quarter) – The historic soul of the city, it’s obvious why most tourists choose to stay here. Temples, old gates, and traditional shops make for a busy neighborhood that will shock your senses! From luxury hotels to backpacker hostels, there’s something for everyone here. And surely everyone can get beyond the $0.20 in many cafés and bars in the area! Hoan Kiem is the best area to stay in Hanoi if you want a convenient and cultural experience right in the centre! (Find hotels in Hoan Kiem.)
• Tay Ho – Mostly an expat neighborhood, Tay Ho makes for a soft landing, culture shock wise. Modern shops and a good choice of dining and nightlife spots make this a convenient area for tourists. And for a glimpse into the more traditional side of Hanoi, visit the very colorful Flower Market. Tay Ho is the best area to stay in Hanoi if you’d like a western-feeling enclave in the city, while still being conveniently located for exploring Hanoi! (Find hotels in Tay Hoy.)
• Ba Dinh – Home to many of the city’s most visited attractions (Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the Military Museum and the Old Citadel), this area is well-located close to the Old Quarter, but far less popular as a place to stay. If you want quieter streets and a still central location, Ba Dinh might be a great neighborhood to stay in Hanoi. (Find hotels in Ba Dinh.)

Off the Beaten Path Neighborhoods in Hanoi

• Truc Bach – This is a neighborhood where you can finally catch your breath. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a good place to be based. There aren’t many famous landmarks (except for Tran Quoc pagoda), but the neighborhood is filled with restaurants catering to the large expat community, and it’s a great spot to relax with a book on the lakeside. (Find hotels in Truc Bach.)
• Hai Ba Trung – Busy and modern: this neighborhood can be summarized with these two words. Here you can find the city’s most modern movie theater, lots of clothing shops, and hip cafès. Also, the local fabric market and tailor shops on Pho Hue St. are worth visiting for something more traditional. (Find hotels in Hai Ba Trung.)

Hanoi Travel Tips & Further Info

• So….Where Should You Stay in Hanoi (A Summary)?
• How to Get Around Hanoi
• A Note About the Hotels in This Guide

Photo by Lukasz Saczek via Unsplash

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Hoan Kiem (The Old Quarter)

Great area for: ✓ Central & Convenient ✓ Dining & Nightlife ✓ Historical & Cultural TourismA trip to Hanoi wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem), which functions as the historic soul of the city. Streets here are some of the oldest in the country, and even with the onslaught of the motorbike, these streets still ooze a trace of the tranquillity of bygone years.Take note of the temples on nearly every street as well as the ancient city gates. There are also reminders of the foreign presence Hanoi has felt over the years. The most obvious feature reminiscent of the French occupation is St Joseph’s, a Roman Catholic cathedral.In contrast to remnants of the past, time spent on Beer Corner (Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen intersection) is a great way to experience how the modern tourism industry blooms within the old quarter.Absolute madness in terms of visual stimulation, people flock here to drink cheap beer and chat with anyone and everyone. When the police eventually shuffle people along you can continue your evening inside a bar hidden behind roller doors.One of the most beautiful lakes in Hanoi is that of Hoan Kiem. Visit the Temple of the Jade Mountain, which is smack bang in the middle of this lake.Keeping with the theme of water, there are two water puppet show theatres on either side of the lake. Spend 40 minutes watching a centuries-old cultural tradition that began right where you are.There are many places to stay in this area, ranging from cheap backpacker dorms to more upmarket hotels, making it an appealing place to stay for most people who visit Hanoi. The abundance of travel agents in this area is also convenient if you’re planning onward travel.However, the old quarter’s charm can run a little thin as the busy streets can overwhelm. If you’re looking for something more low key, consider staying in one of the quieter suburbs listed below and venturing into the old quarter as you please. If you want to be in the thick of the action, this is your neighborhood!You can check out all the hotels in the Old Quarter here, or see our top picks below:Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑Skip to Next Neighborhood ↓Looking for a Luxury Hotel in Hoan Kiem?While most of the hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter fall squarely into the ‘mid-ranged’ price point, there are a few highly-rated 5-star luxury properties to choose from as well.The stunning Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (9.4/10 on topqa.info) is a top choice to the east of the lake, and gets rave reviews from past guests.Alternatively, check out the Apricot Hotel (9.1/10 on topqa.info) on the southwestern lake shore.Read more: Where does the name barkley come from Copyright: hanoiphotography / 123RF Stock Photo

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Tay Ho

Great area for: ✓ Expat Living ✓ Flower Market ✓ Dining and Nightlife Tay Ho is expat central, with arguably more foreigners roaming the streets than locals. If you’re making the trip to Tay Ho along the dyke road you’ll be treated to a 4 km long mosaic mural which was built to celebrate Hanoi’s 1000 year reign as Vietnam’s capital (1010 -2010).Tay Ho offers some decent cafes and fun night spots. If you’ve been on the road for a while and you’re after a slice of western living then this is the place to stay. That said, you’re never too far from an authentic Vietnamese scene in Hanoi and a quick trip across the busy dyke road will land you at the flower market.Literally truck loads of flowers are delivered here each night from surrounding plantation fields. It’s a sight worth seeing, but the action only really happens between 2 and 7am, so set your alarm!Check out all the hotels in Tay Ho here, or see our top picks below:Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑Skip to Next Neighborhood ↓

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Ba Dinh

Great area for: ✓ Central & Convenient ✓ Quieter & Peaceful ✓ Historical & Cultural Tourism ✓ Botanical GardensBa Dinh is quite a large suburb, with intricate alleyways splaying off busy roads. Many “must-see” tourist sites are here, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (go early), the Military Museum and the Old Citadel. Armed with a map and some sturdy shoes you can easily make a day out of exploring this area (but please, not in sticky Summer).If you’re too hot to walk or strapped for time, use cyclos or just take a taxi. If you’re craving some down time in some green space then a couple of hours in the Botanical gardens should work wonders.The hotels dotted throughout Ba Dinh are generally not as popular for western travellers as those in the nearby Old Quarter.However, if you value quieter streets over close proximity to restaurants and travel agents you may consider staying in this area.Check out all the hotels in Ba Dinh here, or see our top picks below:Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑Skip to Next Neighborhood ↓Copyright: hanoiphotography / 123RF Stock Photo

Hanoi’s Less Visited Neighborhoods

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Truc Bach

Great area for: ✓ Quiet Neighborhood ✓ Expat Community ✓ LakesideTruc Bach, a smaller region of Ba Dinh, is in many regards a suburb itself. It’s a popular place for expats to live but few tourists find their way here.A quiet area, especially on the island of Ngu Xa, this is a nice place to catch your breath.Truc Bach serves up lakeside coffee shops, swan paddle boats to venture onto Truc Bach lake in, the authentic Chau Long wet market and Hanoi’s best book shop (The Bookworm).You can also grab a soft serve ice cream and enjoy the sunset from my favourite pagoda in Hanoi, Tran Quoc.Truc Bach has an array of international and vegetarian cuisine scattered throughout the local specialties of frog hotpot and Pho Cuon (a type of noodle roll).Accommodation around these parts tends towards a nice smattering of mid-range hotels and longer term studio apartments.See all the hotels in Truc Bach here, or see our top picks below:Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑Skip to Next Neighborhood ↓

Where to Stay in Hanoi: Hai Ba Trung

Great area for: ✓ Modern ✓ Clothing Shopping South of Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung is definitely a suburb worth visiting and one most tourists only scratch the surface of. If you’re looking for a place to shop for clothes, this is it. Leafy streets with relaxed vibes harbor cute clothing stores and coffee shops.For a shopping splurge head to Vin Com tower where you’ll also find the city’s most modern cinema. If you prefer not to buy off the rack there’s always the local fabric market and tailor shops on Pho Hue st. The Women’s Museum is in this area as is the recently famous Obama Bun Cha restaurant.If you prefer to stay in an area that is more developed (albeit still busy) then Hai Ba Trung may be a good option for you.Check out all the hotels in Hai Ba Trung, or see our top picks below:Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑ [/su_row] [/su_row]Photo: nguyenhuynhmai via Pixabay

Popular Tours & Activities from Hanoi

Frequently Asked Questions

So Where Should You Stay in Hanoi?

Where you stay in Hanoi will largely depend on the amount of time you have, and whether you can sleep soundly with earplugs in!

• The noisy and fast paced Old Quarter is ideal if you want to be in the centre of the action and get a real feel for Hanoi’s busy street life. If you only have a couple of days, the Old Quarter is probably the best area to stay in Hanoi so you don’t feel as if you’re missing out! Find Old Quarter hotels.
• Although there are considerably less accommodation options in Truc Bach, this is a much quieter area that will call for some lake side relaxation. Still centrally located, Truc Bach is only a 5-10 minute taxi ride to sights in Ba Dinh and the Old Quarter. For those who prefer a quieter and laid back vibe, consider staying in Truc Bach. Find Truc Bach hotels.
• Those looking for a more up market experience should check out Hai Ba Trung and for an extended stay in Hanoi you may consider either Tay Ho or Truc Bach. These areas provide more creature comforts than others and longer term studio apartment rentals are common. Find Hai Ba Trung hotels or Tay Ho hotels.

How to Get Around Hanoi

Unless you’re traveling up from the south (Vietnam’s shape makes picking a travel route relatively easy) you’ll most likely fly into Noi Bai International airport.If you’re arriving at night think about a hotel pick up, saving you the hassle of navigating city streets in the dark.During the day, public transport into the city is a good option. Safe and cheap, the bright orange number 86 public bus leaves outside from the left hand side of the airport terminal, going roughly every 20 minutes.Unfortunately there is a lack of dependable public transport in Hanoi other than the 86 and you will most likely find yourself in a taxi at some stage.Taxis are cheap and usually reliable but avoid scams by always making sure the meter is switched on. The price of your journey will depend on length – rates are advertised on the outside of each cab.Hanoi is a spider web of suburbs that stretches quite far west and east. Areas of interest are all relatively close, fanning out from the city’s historic Old Quarter.Despite footpaths overloaded with everything from chicken families to metal grinding workshops, walking is a great way to see the city. If you’re not feeling up to the challenge of navigating the streets on foot, the quintessentially Vietnamese Cyclo offers you a front row seat to the cinematic street scenes.I would only recommend jumping on a motorbike if you’re competent and confident.Read more: where is the bathroom in japanese | Top Q&ABack to the top ↑

A Note About Our Hotel Recommendations In This Hanoi Neighbourhood Guide

Our hope with this Where to Stay in Hanoi Guide (and our Where to Stay in Taipei, Where to Stay in Shanghai, Where to Stay in Beijing…you get the idea) is to make it easy to find the best area to stay in Hanoi for your particular travel style, goals and budget.Hanoi is a densely populated, busy city, and it’s worth figuring out where you want to base yourself and where you want to explore!As we hired local expert Rebecca to write this Hanoi guide, we’re a bit limited in terms of hotel knowledge…because, of course, locals don’t live in hotels! Rather than leave you to figure this out all on your own, we’ve researched and chosen some of the highest-rated hotels in each Hanoi neighborhood.The idea with these guides is that we put the research in for you, and choose the places we personally would want to stay, and the places we felt we’d be comfortable recommending to a friend or family member, across different budget ranges.Our aim is to help you have a fantastic vacation to Hanoi, be it a grand Southeast Asia tour or a city stop over, without spending hours on research.We hope we’ve succeeded…but please don’t blame us if we haven’t – at the end of the day, we expect you’ll check the most recent reviews and specific conditions in the city, using our listings as a starting point and framework, and choosing then selecting the best hotel and area to stay in Hanoi for your own unique trip!

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