Where to stay in Hanoi with video and comparative table

It was such a long time I wanted to make a video on where to stay in Hanoi with the best areas to spend a few days

In one of my last trips, I was finally able to do it and, moreover, I was able to update this guide once again with the latest information.

Even better, I decided to include a quick reference table that compares all the best areas of Hanoi. This will make the decision process so much easier and faster. And I made a video too. Really all you need.

As you can expect from a big city, there are many neighbourhoods and they all differ in style and service.

A few areas work great for couples, other for families, for singles or for the best nightlife in Vietnam

Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Where to stay in Hanoi – in a nutshell

Here below a table that quickly compare all the best areas to stay in Hanoi.

For each area, I have rated from 1 (low) to 5 (high) a few features like Public Transportation, Bars & Restaurants, Nightlife, etc.

Area NBHD	Best for	Avg. Cost	Suggested Hotel	Bars & Restaurants	Transportation	Character	Nightlife
Old Quarter	First Time Short stay	$-$$	Impressive Hotel	5	3	4	5
French Quarter	Boutique, Romantic	$$-$$$$$	Sofitel Legend Metropole	4	2	5	2
Truc Bach	Seclusion Couples	$-$$$	Hotel Genial	3	2	3	1
West Lake	Relaxing, Families	$$-$$$$$	InterContinental Westlake	3	1	3	1
Ba Dinh	Local experience	$-$$$	Lotte Hotel	4	5	3	3
Hai Ba Trung	Visit but do not stay

Keep reading for more info on the areas to stay, the difference between them, the best places to eat, have a coffee or a drink, including the top street food.

Here is the video I did on my last trip with the best areas to stay.

Old Quarter

• 🌎 Best area to stay in Old Hanoi for First Time/Short Stay 🏩 Impressive Hotel is the recommended accommodation in the area
• 👍 Pros: Bars/Restaurants, nightlife, practical for a short stay
• 👎 Cons: Chaotic and noisy, very popular area
• 🍷 Best restaurants and bars: Hanoi Night Market, Apron Up Restaurant, Gourmet Corner

The Old Quarter is located north of the Hoan Kiem area and the Hoan Kiem Lake.

It’s the most touristy area of Hanoi, where you will find plenty of restaurants, cafes and accommodations, especially on the cheap side of the range. 

It’s a beautiful maze of lanes and alleys with a bunch of larger streets.

Cars tend not to venture too much in the lanes however scooters are literally everywhere.

It can be quite chaotic and noisy too and in this respect, I would absolutely suggest visiting the Old Quarter both in the day and in the night, however, if you are after a relaxing and quiet sleep night then probably this area is not the best. 

In saying that, you can still find hidden lanes and small streets that become much quieter at night (be selective)

If you have just a short stay (1 to 3 or 4 days) then the Old Quarter has to be.

This is the most interesting part of Hanoi with local people still working in the streets, welding and hammering, shops selling everything you need, including birdcages (just in case you are after some bulky stuff).

It’s almost like a village in a city and surely one of the best places to stay and visit in Vietnam.

Surely you will see and meet lots of tourists, and this can be a good thing if you are after a fun night.

It can be less so if you want to feel part of the local life and in this case, you probably want to book your accommodation elsewhere.

You almost have the feeling there are more hotels than houses in this Old Quarter of Hanoi.

There are some great options though. It’s also cheaper than in other parts of the city.

But be prepared that in most of the hotels it can be noisy. Be sure to have earplugs with you. Or select the right street and the right hotel. Be very selective.

I once booked on a rush a hotel right in the centre of the old quarter. It was a Friday night. I could hear the noise outside my closed window even with earplugs. So noisy!

As you may have noticed, there are no hotels in the Old Quarter with a swimming pool. You usually need to stay in the French Quarter (more expensive option) or north, almost in the Truc Bach area. Budget in 10-20 minutes walk. 

Shopping, the night market and food in the Old Quarter

You can find replica clothes, shoes, bags etc literally everywhere in the Old Quarter.

Be aware that the famous Dong Xuan market is mostly dedicated to retails/wholesale and they do not sell to the public. In saying that it’s a great place to wander around and surely for photography.

The Luong Van Can is a good street for clothes and bags, just have a walk around (better once you get closer to the Hoan Kiem Lake). Another interesting part is around Hang Gai. 

The Hanoi Night Market is also a great place for shopping, a drink and some food. There is a mix of local and tourist crowd.

Bargaining is a must, similar to Thailand if you are used to it. Start with 40-50% less than asked and meet somewhere in the middle. The sellers are used to that and it can be actually good fun when done with a smile and a laugh.

The Apron Up Restaurant is a good spot for dinner. They also have cooking classes in case you are interested to improve your Vietnamese skills 🙂

The Gourmet Corner is another great place for local Vietnamese food as well as the Cai Mam, just meters away from the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc, a square you have to absolutely see and photograph.

French Quarter

• 🌎 Best area to stay in Hanoi for a boutique stay 🏩 Sofitel Legend Metropole is the recommended accommodation in the area
• 👍 Pros: Lovely architecture all around, boutique cafes and restaurants, perfect for romantic couples , green
• 👎 Cons: Expensive, lack of Vietnamese style and design
• 🍷 Best restaurants and bars: Club Opera Novel, Pizza 4P’s

Once you enter in the French Quarter you may think you are suddenly in Paris or any other “French” city.

The area has wider streets and more green areas, besides some grand villas.

It is an area of Hanoi that is as beautiful as controversial.

Why controversial and, I may add, so widely different to the Old Quarter?

It all goes down to the history of Vietnam and the French Empire. 

This part of the city was decided to be the centre of the French power in South East Asia.

Most of the original Vietnamese buildings and religious temples were bulldozed and new ones were erected instead, using the 19th-century French architecture style.

A great part of the area was actually owned by the church that created small parks and squares all around.

This may explain why this part of the city is actually surprisingly very walkable as access to motorbikes and cars is limited.

It is however quite controversial as the Vietnamese heritage has been lost, it almost seems to be in France in a few corners (humidity is different though 🙂 )

The French Quarter is the ideal place to stay in Hanoi for romantic couples looking to have a breakaway in a boutique accommodation.

In the area, you can enjoy a dinner in a classy restaurant as the Club Opera Novel, with local Vietnamese cuisine, or possibly the best pizza in Hanoi at the Pizza 4P’s, in a high-end style.

To better enjoy the French Quarter, you should join an organised group or have your self-guided walking tour.

Here below you find a possible map with the end/start at the Pasteur Street Brewing, a nice bar to have a beer and a few nibbles.

Old Quarter vs French Quarter

What is best?

They are both very characteristic.

The old quarter is more Vietnamese in style, still with some local life and cheaper prices in both accommodations and restaurants

The French Quarter is more French in style, there is much more open space, it’s more liveable and you do not feel almost oppressed by the tiny lanes and the chaotic traffic of the Old Quarter.

It’s more of an Asian European experience but with a step back in time, in early 1900.

If you are after a higher class hotel, a quieter night and maybe a beautiful grand architecture then the French Quarter is a better option.

Keep in mind that you can always walk between the two areas in 10-20 minutes. 

West Lake

• 🌎 Best area to stay in Hanoi for Families 🏩 InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is the recommended accommodation in the area
• 👍 Pros: Quiet, relaxing, perfect for families with kids
• 👎 Cons: Far from the Old Quarter and the French Quarter
• 🍷 Best restaurants and bars: Chops Tay Ho, Mylove Cafe
• 🧛‍♂️ Nightlife: 88 Lounge

Most of the expats in the city tend to live in this area of Hanoi. 

The main reason is that West Lake is more easy-going, quieter, not that chaotic as the Old Quarter, with many green areas around the 17km lake perimeter.

On a misty day, early in the morning, you almost do not see the other end of the lake. A relaxing place to have a walk, an area where the locals go for exercise (yoga, etc)

There are restaurants and cafes around, plenty of options to spend the full day, however, you are sort of far from the Old Quarter, which is, in my opinion, the most interesting part of Hanoi.

In saying that, a taxi ride to the Old Quarter takes around 25-40minutes, or more on peak traffic time (7-9am and 5-7pm).

There are a few beautiful hotels, much quieter and very romantic too. A great solution for families with kids or for a romantic hideaway.

West Lake is the ideal place in case you want to stay in a quieter area and you don’t mind the short trip to the major attractions in the city centre.

It’s the perfect place if you are travelling with kids in Hanoi and you don’t want to be in the chaotic centre

A quick tip here, pre-load on your mobile the Grab app. The trips can be much less expensive than by taxi. Uber was also another option however they closed the service in April 2018.

If you are after food and drinks options then you should check out:

• Chops Tay Ho, famous spot for burgers, popular with expats.
• Mylove Cafe, lovely place to relax, drink some coffee and use the quick WiFi.
• 88 Lounge, cosy place to have drinks, with a beautiful view of the lake. A great vibe and awesome music to spend the night. The crowd is a mix of locals and expats/tourists. Highly suggested.

Truc Bach

• 🌎 Best area to stay in Hanoi for Romantic Couples 🏩 Hotel Genial is the recommended accommodation in the area
• 👍 Pros: Quiet, romantic, with a local feeling
• 👎 Cons: very hard to find an accommodation (not much available)
• 🍷 Best restaurants and bars: Home, Zulu Café, Manzi

This is one of my favourite areas of Hanoi.

It’s technically part of Ba Dinh (more on it later), however, I wanted to dedicate a few more words for it (it really deserves that).

Truc Bach is nestled between the Old Quarter and the West Lake.

You can get the best of all, in a quieter environment and in a walkable distance to everything.

Most of the hotels are meters away from the Ba Dinh iconic sites, the West Lake and 10 minutes walk to the centre of the city. 

A great place I found out on my last trip is a small island south of the lake unknown to the most.

It’s so quiet and picturesque (you can better see it in my video).

In the area have a look at the Home, a cosy restaurant not to be missed. A little boutique gem that should be in any bucket food list.

If you are after some caffeine then have a try at the little cosy Zulu Café, you will not be disappointed, or the Manzi, a mix of art gallery and cafe.

Ba Dinh

• 🌎 Best area to stay in Hanoi for a local experience 🏩 Lotte Hotel is the recommended accommodation in the area
• 👍 Pros: Local experience, elite area, well connected with public transportation
• 👎 Cons: far from the Old Quarter and the French Quarter

Ba Dinh is another beautiful area of Hanoi, less touristy than the others in this post. 

It’s considered to be the neighbourhood for the Vietnamese elite. Lots of parks, green areas, small lakes.

It has also the highest concentration of iconic sites to visit as:

• Temple of Literature
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (try to go as early in the morning as possible to avoid long queues)
• Ho Chi Minh Museum
• Presidential Palace
• Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
• Ba Dinh Square
• the historic fort of Kinh Thien
• Huu Tiep Lake
• Hanoi Botanical Garden

and so many more.

It’s a great area to stay if you prefer a quieter place to stay, with lots of green around and the many iconic attractions next door. 

You will have more of a local experience, in an elite area.

A drive to the old quarter takes around 15-25 minutes based on the time of the day. It’s a good compromise especially if you have already visited the city centre.

There is also the Subway that covers a good part of Ba Dinh

Hai Ba Trung, for the ultimate local shopping

Hai Ba Trung is probably not the top place to be for your first trip in Hanoi, and probably not even the second one.

Why?

Because it is more of an area inhabited by Vietnamese with almost no real attractions if not the local life, which can be really interesting if you are into street photography.

There is plenty of shopping opportunities, of all kinds, even for tourists and at a more reasonable price too.

I would definitely suggest visiting Hai Ba Trung if you are in the city for 4 or 5 days. You can experience how the locals live in Hanoi. You can spend a morning walking and wandering around.

There are accommodations in this area and usually, they are cheaper too, however, I may suggest to base yourself in Hai Ba Trung only for a long stay (you can save some money) and rent a motorbike.

If just for a few days I would personally stay in the central area or close to the West Lake. No much point spending the holiday stuck in traffic.

One of the most interesting site to visit, and surely one of the best photography locations in Vietnam, is the street train.

It’s actually located on the border of Hai Ba Trang (check map here), and 20 minutes walk from the French Quarter.

Here the trains pass literally cm from the houses and the local life. 

There is also another similar location with the train in the middle of the city, in the Old Quarter (see map here). It is more touristy though.

Trains at 3:30pm, 5:30pm and 6:30pm in the weekend and at 7pm during the week (time may change without notice though).

Be safe, don’t get too close!

How to move around Hanoi

Once you arrive at the Noi Bai International Airport you can catch one of these means of transportation to the city centre:

• Grab: book your car through the app. They will message you back and ask you the number of the pillar/column you are stationing outside the airport and they pick you up from there. Grab may be not an option if you land late at night or at sunrise. Cost is around $10-15
• Taxi: it costs $25 or over. The driver always tries their best to ask more…and more. Yes, it can be frustrating
• Pre-organised private pickup: this is the easiest way, it costs similar to Grab but you do not need to stress with data coverage for the app etc. 

Pre-organise a private pickup

• Public bus: you can catch the number 86 straight into the city. You can read more information here on pickup area and timetable.

Once in the city, the full bus network can be searched and downloaded on the TRAMOC website. The ticket can be bought on the bus, cash only. There is also an app available.

The bad news is that Uber does not operate any more in Hanoi. Grab is still working and it is the quickest and cheapest way to move around Hanoi (remember to download the app).

Taxis are also a good option. Just make sure the meter is started by the driver once you get in the car. If they do not want to, then just ask to leave the taxi, you could have a bad surprise at the end.

In the city you can also take a motorbike-taxi, it’s quicker and cheaper too, but more dangerous of course. You need to bargain the price prior to the trip. Budget a bit more than $.5/km (10kdong/km).

The Cyclo-taxi is another option, but mostly to tour the city centre or to go to West Lake(~20kdong/hour).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best areas to stay in Hanoi

The best areas to stay in Hanoi tend to be all around the Old Quarter and the West Lake. This is where the city started, and this is where you will find the most charming streets and buildings.

• Hoan Kiem Area: as you see on the map above, this area can be subdivided into two parts, the Old Quarter, north of the Hoan Kiem Lake, and the French Quarter, south of the lake. Even if you decide to book your accommodation elsewhere, this is a must-visit district. Descriptions of the two quarters will follow (in place of Hoan Kiem)
• West Lake Area (Tay Ho): less busy than all of the other areas, it has probably the hotels with the best view in Hanoi (to the lake) beside some amazing villas. It’s a more relaxing part of the city, more catered for families and couples that want a romantic stay. It’s very popular with expats too, especially teachers.
• Ba Dinh Area: more of a residential area with beautiful buildings and some of the main attractions of Hanoi as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or the Presidential Palace. You can experience the real local life of the Vietnamese middle class.
• Truc Bach Area: as West lake also this area is popular with the expats. It’s a relaxed part of the city, facing the south part of the lake, still with plenty of restaurants options. A nice place to have a lovely walk, especially up to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Technically speaking Truc Bach is part of Ba Dinh, however, in this guide we treat it as a separate area, being so different in character and people living there
• Hai Ba Trung: named after the two sisters and Vietnamese heroines Trưng, this area is more modern. The streets and the roads are much wider than in the old quarter, still quite cahotic. There are accommodations in the area, however, it’s not very touristic. It’s mostly inhabited by locals with plenty of shopping options.

Other Questions

• The best area to stay in Hanoi for a first time trip is the Old Quarter. Attention! Be very selective with the hotel choice. It can be really noisy. Things change dramatically from one street to the next. In the weekend the old town closes to the traffic and it’s a big party. Again, be selective with the hotel (check my suggestions below and in the video)
• Where to stay in Hanoi for families: the French Quarter is a good choice if you want to stay in the centre of the city. It can be busy around but you will find better hotels, even with a swimming pool. The alternative is West Lake, so much more relaxed and fresher as well, with a nice evening breeze. The drawback is that you will need a taxi to go to the centre (20-30 minutes based on the time of the day)
• Best place to stay in Hanoi as a couple: Truc Bach, just 10-15 minutes walking from the centre, is a lovely boutique area where you can have a more relaxed time, with plenty of trees around. There is also an amazing quiet small island, unique, which is perfect for a romantic stay. The Old Quarter is also another great spot if you choose the right street (see more below)
• What is the best area for nightlife? Look no further than the Old Quarter, especially on a weekend. That is where all the action is.
• What about a quiet stay in Hanoi? On my last trip, I found this amazing small island in Truc Bach which is a world apart from the chaotic time that you can have in the centre of Hanoi. The great thing is that you are only 15 minutes walk from the action
• Best hotel to stay in Hanoi Old Quarter: Impressive Hotel, possibly in one the quietest street of the city, right next to the Cathedral, metres from the centre of the action. Super quiet for a night of nice rest.
• Best accommodation with a pool: Sofitel Legend Metropole, a beautiful hotel with a great French interior design, a fabulous pool, right in the centre of the French Quarter.
• Best hotel to stay with a family: InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, an amazing new hotel on the West Lake, very quiet, miles away from the chaotic lanes of Hanoi, still a quick taxi drive to the centre. Fantastic pool. 
• Street food is amazing and very cheap. My best Pho at Pho 10, banh mi at Banh Mi 25, egg coffee at Cafe Nghia.
• Unmissable places to visit: the train truck through the city (go to the less touristy one), the Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake and the Cau Long Bien station and the amazing bridge
• Best organised experiences: the street food tour to discover the hidden eateries, a half day city tour with a local guide, hands-on cooking class to learn more about the Vietnamese cuisine

Check availability at the Street Food Tour   City Tour by a local   Hand-on Cooking Class

• How do you go from the Airport to the Hotel: you can book a Grab (Uber-like app) or pre-organise your limousine pick up at the airport (suggested). They both cost around US$12, check availability here.  I do not suggest to take a taxi, they tend to ask twice as much, if lucky.
• Another must see place in Vietnam? I would definitely suggest staying in Hoi An for a few days. This is one of the most iconic destinations in the country. And on the way, stop for a few days in Phong Nha with its beautiful huge caves to explore