In this guide
The Short Version: First-time visitors should stay in the Old Quarter, where the street food, the lake and the weekend night market are on foot. For a colonial-era hotel and wide, tree-lined streets, choose the French Quarter south of the lake. Ba Dinh puts you beside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Imperial Citadel, and West Lake (Tay Ho) gives lakeside hotels a taxi ride from the centre. Hotels for each area are named below, and the fuller write-ups of the Old Quarter and French Quarter ones are in hotels in the Old Quarter and French Quarter.
Hanoi neighbourhood comparison
| Neighbourhood | Best suited for | Atmosphere and sights |
|---|---|---|
| Old Quarter | First-time visitors who want to step out into the street life | Narrow trade streets, street food, Hoan Kiem Lake and the night market on foot |
| French Quarter | Couples and anyone who wants calmer evenings | Wide colonial streets around the Opera House, a short walk south of the lake |
| Ba Dinh | Culture-minded visitors and families | The Mausoleum, the Imperial Citadel and the Temple of Literature on foot or a short ride |
| West Lake (Tay Ho) | Longer stays and repeat visitors | Lakeside cafes and sunsets, a taxi or Grab ride from the Old Quarter |
The Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)
The Old Quarter is Hanoi’s old merchants’ district, a grid of narrow streets named for the goods once sold there: Hang Gai for silk, Hang Bac for silver. Today they hold hotels, cafes, bars and street-food stalls side by side.
- What it is like: Life runs on the pavement. Scooters fill the streets, stallholders cook on the kerb and the lanes stay busy late. Ta Hien, the “Beer Street” crossroads, is the loudest corner.
- Hotels:
- Hanoi La Siesta Classic Ma Mayad is a four-star hotel on Ma May Street with a rooftop sky bar and a spa.
- Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotelad has a 16-metre outdoor infinity pool on Duong Thanh Street.
- The Oriental Jade Hotelad has an outdoor pool on the 12th floor, a few minutes from the lake.
- Apricot Hotelad and Hanoi Pearl Hotelad both have rooftop bars facing Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Tirant Hotelad is on Gia Ngu Street near the water puppet theatre; choose an external-view room.
- Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoiad is on the west side, close to the Tong Duy Tan food street.
- Little Charm Hanoi Hostelad has mixed and women-only dorms and an indoor pool.
- Noise: Ask for an upper floor if you sleep lightly, particularly near Ta Hien.
The French Quarter (Hoan Kiem South)
South and south-east of Hoan Kiem Lake, the French Quarter was laid out in the colonial era with broad streets and large villas. The Hanoi Opera House is its centrepiece, and the Opera House and French Quarter guide walks it.
- What it is like: Wider pavements and less scooter traffic than the Old Quarter, with the larger hotels.
- Hotels:
- Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoiad has traded since 1901. Its wartime bomb shelter is open on a tour for staying guests.
- Capella Hanoiad has 47 opera-themed rooms and suites designed by Bill Bensley, five minutes from the Opera House.
- Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi MGalleryad is on Trang Tien Street and has an indoor pool.
- Melia Hanoiad is a five-star hotel on Ly Thuong Kiet Street with an outdoor pool.
- Walking: The lake and the Old Quarter are a short walk north.
Ba Dinh District
Ba Dinh lies west of the Old Quarter, around the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the government district.
- What it is like: Formal and spacious, with wide avenues and parks.
- Sights: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh complex, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the Botanical Garden.
- Hotels:
- Lotte Hotel Hanoiad is at 54 Lieu Giai Street inside Lotte Center, with indoor and outdoor pools, the Evian Spa and the Top of Hanoi bar.
- Pan Pacific Hanoiad, formerly the Sofitel Plaza, is on Thanh Nien Road between West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, with views of both and a pool with a retractable roof.
- Hanoi Daewoo Hotelad is at 360 Kim Ma Street.
- Best for: Evening walks, wide pavements and the national museums without the Old Quarter’s scooter traffic.
West Lake (Tay Ho)
West Lake (Ho Tay) is Hanoi’s largest lake, north of the Old Quarter. The road around it is lined with cafes, restaurants and lakeside terraces.
- What it is like: Open and breezy, popular with long-stay residents, with a sunset view over the water.
- Sights: Tran Quoc Pagoda stands on a small peninsula in the lake.
- Hotels:
- InterContinental Hanoi Westlakead is at 5 Tu Hoa Street, with rooms built over the water and the Sunset Bar over the lake.
- Sheraton Hanoi Hotelad is at 11 Xuan Dieu Road, with an outdoor pool.
- Getting into town: You will need a taxi or Grab ride to the Old Quarter for sightseeing.
Booking a Hanoi hotel
- Narrow buildings. Old Quarter hotels sit on narrow plots that share walls with their neighbours, so a room in the middle of a building may have no outside window. A category named “internal view” faces a lightwell or hallway; “external view” faces the street.
- Leaving bags. If you are heading on an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise or to Sapa, ask the hotel about leaving your main luggage with them before you book.
- Airport. Check whether your hotel will send a car, or follow the directions in the airport to city guide.
For the full write-ups of the Old Quarter and French Quarter hotels, read hotels in the Old Quarter and French Quarter. Eating nearby is covered in where to eat in Hanoi.
Once you have booked, see eSIM for Vietnam and money in Hanoi.
Common questions
What is the best area to stay in Hanoi for first-time visitors?
The Old Quarter. Hoan Kiem Lake, the water puppet theatre, the weekend night market and the street-food lanes are all within walking distance of its hotels.
Is the French Quarter quieter than the Old Quarter?
Yes. It has broad, tree-lined streets and colonial buildings around the Opera House, and its hotels include the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Capella Hanoi and Hotel de l'Opera MGallery. Hoan Kiem Lake is a short walk north.
Which Hanoi hotels have a rooftop pool?
Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel has a 16-metre outdoor infinity pool, and The Oriental Jade Hotel has an outdoor pool on the 12th floor. Both are in the Old Quarter.
Why do some Hanoi hotel rooms have no outside window?
Old Quarter buildings are narrow plots that share walls with their neighbours, so rooms in the middle of a building can face a lightwell or hallway. Look for an 'external view' room category when you book.
Is West Lake (Tay Ho) too far from the sights?
It is a taxi or Grab ride from the Old Quarter, so it suits longer stays and return visits better than a first trip. The InterContinental Hanoi Westlake and Sheraton Hanoi Hotel are the lakeside hotels here.
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