Where to stay in Hanoi in 2024: Best areas and hotels

For a big city with a population of about 8 million people, Hanoi can feel quite small.

Not quiet. It’s certainly a noisy and chaotic place where, seemingly in unison, the city jumps on their bikes each morning and Hanoi’s notoriously fabulous traffic comes to life.

But I think it feels small because the tourist areas are quite compact, and it’s even pretty easy to walk between them, joining the locals on the footpaths for a morning tea and pho.

Whether it’s your first time, or you’ve been here before, the best places to stay in Hanoi are all relatively central. These are the areas where you can experience the best of Vietnam’s capital, with its vibrant blend of culture, colonial architecture, historic temples, and bustling backpacker energy.

But when deciding where to stay in Hanoi, know that each district is unique, so it is worth giving it some thought to find the best area for your style of travel.

If you want to be central and close to the best things to do in Hanoi, then the Old Quarter or Ba Dinh are probably the best areas to stay in Hanoi. Around the train station is convenient if you’re just passing through. And then there is the quieter and upmarket area of West Lake, where you’ll find some of the best accommodation in Hanoi for families.

These are the different districts in Hanoi that I’m going to recommend:

• Old Quarter: The heart of the tourist area, this will be the best option for many first-time travellers, although it can get very busy.
• Ba Dinh: Many of the main attractions are here, which makes it easy for sightseeing, but it’s not quite as touristy as the Old Quarter.
• Train station: A convenient area if you’re passing through for a night and are travelling by train.
• Hai Ba Trung: With a student population and large shopping centres, there’s a local and modern atmosphere to this neighbourhood.
• West Lake (Tay Ho): An upmarket expat district that feels a bit more relaxed and safer than other areas, making it good for families.

Before I go into more detail about the best areas to stay in Hanoi, have a look on the map and you’ll see where they’re all located.

As you can see, they are all quite close to each other, but there is definitely a different atmosphere in each.

And, if you’re looking for a particularly type of accommodation in Hanoi, you might have more luck finding it if you look in the right area.

Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the most popular neighbourhood to stay in Hanoi and I think it’s…