Bus 86 is the cheap and easy choice if you land during the day and you’re staying in the Old Quarter or by Hoan Kiem Lake. If you’re staying by West Lake or in Ba Dinh, you land late or there are several of you, a Grab, a Xanh SM or a taxi is a better bet. Below you’ll find fares and journey times, where the buses and cars stop at each terminal, and where to get off. For the rough conversions I’ve used about £2.93 and $3.87 per 100,000 dong.

If you’d rather drive yourself from the airport, you can compare prices on rental cars at Booking.com.

At a glance

• Airport bus 86: 50,000 dong (about £1.45/$1.95), around 50 to 60 minutes to Hanoi Railway Station, runs every 25 to 30 minutes from 07:00 until just after 22:00.
• City buses 17, 90, 07 and 109: 12,000 to 15,000 dong (about £0.35 to £0.44, or $0.46 to $0.58), around 60 to 90 minutes, run from around 05:00 until around 22:00.
• Grab and Xanh SM: Around 250,000 dong (about £7.30/$9.70) for a standard car, 45 to 60 minutes, and the app shows the price before you book.
• Taxi: Typically 300,000 to 400,000 dong (about £8.80 to £11.50, or $11.50 to $15.50), 45 to 60 minutes, available from the first flight of the day until the last.
• Private transfer: A fixed price that you pay in advance, and a driver who takes you right to your hotel’s door.

Finding your transport at the airport

Noi Bai has two terminals, around 850 metres apart. Terminal 1 is the domestic terminal, with arrivals halls A, B and E, and Terminal 2 is the international terminal. In both terminals, the arrivals hall is on the ground floor, which the airport calls Level 1, and all transport into the city leaves from here. You’ll find free luggage trolleys by the baggage belts.

There are cash machines and currency exchange counters in the public area on the ground floor of both terminals, and in Terminal 2 you’ll find them in both the east and west wings. The airport has a list of banks and cash machines. In the arrivals halls, staff in orange shirts saying “Here to help” will point you to the right pick-up area.

At Terminal 2, the airport’s official taxis, the public buses and the shuttle bus each have their own area in the lanes right in front of the arrivals hall. At Terminal 1, the taxis also have their own lane in front of the arrivals hall.

Cars you book in an app aren’t allowed to pick up right in front of the arrivals hall at Terminal 2. If you book a Grab or a Xanh SM there, you’ll need to walk out to car park P1 or P7, and at Terminal 1 they pick up in lane 3 in front of hall E. I describe the way out there in the section on Grab.

The pick-up areas in front of the terminals have been rearranged, so follow the signs in the hall and the directions in the app rather than older guides. Buses, taxis and fares are all listed on the airport’s transport page.

Free shuttle bus between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

If you land at one terminal and need to continue from the other, the airport’s free shuttle bus runs between them. At Terminal 1, it stops by hall A on the ground floor, and at Terminal 2, it stops by pillars 18 and 19 in front of the arrivals hall. The ride takes 8 to 10 minutes.

The bus runs from early in the morning until around 01:00, every 15 minutes for most of the day and every 20 to 30 minutes early and late. The times are on the airport’s shuttle bus page. If you’re changing between an international and a domestic flight, collect your luggage first, take the shuttle bus and check your bags in again at the airline’s transfer desk in the other terminal.

1. Airport bus 86 to the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station

Bus 86 is an express bus that the city’s bus company, Transerco, runs between the airport and Hanoi Railway Station. From the airport, it crosses Nhat Tan Bridge and follows Au Co and Yen Phu roads to Long Bien bus terminal on the edge of the Old Quarter. From there, it continues along Tran Quang Khai, past Hanoi Opera House and Melia Hotel, to the last stop at the station. Allow around 50 to 60 minutes to the station, depending on the traffic.

The airport says the bus runs every 25 to 30 minutes, that the first one leaves at 07:00 and that the last one leaves just after 22:00. In practice, there can be up to around 45 minutes between buses, so don’t wait too long before heading out to the stop. The company has a timetable and a map where you can track the buses at Bus Express 86.

The bus starts at Terminal 1 and reaches Terminal 2 around ten minutes later. At Terminal 2, it stops in the public bus area in front of the arrivals hall on the ground floor. At Terminal 1, larger buses are directed to car park P2 by the terminal, so follow the signs for bus 86 or ask the staff in the arrivals hall.

The bus doesn’t have a proper luggage hold, so your suitcase stays inside with you. It suits you if you’re travelling alone or as a couple with normal luggage and staying in the Old Quarter or by Hoan Kiem Lake. The catch is the timing: if you land before 07:00 or late in the evening, the bus isn’t running. It also stops on the edge of the Old Quarter rather than at the hotels inside it, so you’ll have to walk or take a short ride by car for the last stretch.

Fares and tickets

A ticket costs 50,000 dong (about £1.45/$1.95) per journey according to the airport’s list, and the fare is the same wherever you get off. Older guides and several travel websites still mention a lower fare, so don’t be surprised if you’ve seen a different amount elsewhere.

You buy your ticket on the bus and pay in cash in dong, so have small notes ready before you get on. The company also takes bookings on its website, but payment goes through the Vietnamese payment service VNPAY, so for most travellers cash is the easiest option.

The company doesn’t list a child fare or a return ticket. So expect to pay the full fare for everyone who needs a seat, and to pay for each journey separately.

Where to get off

Long Bien: Long Bien bus terminal is on the northern edge of the Old Quarter. Get off here if you’re staying in the northern part of the quarter, around Dong Xuan Market. It’s also the best stop if you’re heading on to Truc Bach, as it’s only a short ride by Grab or taxi from there.

Tran Quang Khai: The stop is on the main road along the eastern side of the Old Quarter. Get off here if you’re staying in the southern part of the Old Quarter or at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hanoi Opera House: The Opera House is in the French Quarter, around 750 metres from Hoan Kiem Lake. Get off here if you’re staying by the lake or in the French Quarter. The bus then stops at Melia Hotel on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, close to Hoa Lo Prison, and that stop suits the hotels in the western part of the quarter.

Hanoi Railway Station: The last stop is on Le Duan Street, around a kilometre from Hoan Kiem Lake. Stay on until the end of the line if you’re continuing by train or heading to Ba Dinh, which is a short ride away by Grab or taxi.

2. City buses 17, 90, 07 and 109: the cheapest option

The ordinary city buses are the cheapest way into the city, but they’re slow and have no room for large suitcases. They call at the stops along the way, and you should allow around 60 to 90 minutes. Four routes are relevant, and the times below are the departures from the airport according to the airport’s list.

Bus 17 to Long Bien: 15,000 dong (about £0.44/$0.58), every 10 to 15 minutes from 05:10 to 22:00. Long Bien is on the northern edge of the Old Quarter, so this is the city bus that gets closest to most hotels.

Bus 90 to Kim Ma: 15,000 dong (about £0.44/$0.58), every 20 minutes from 06:40 to 22:30. Kim Ma is in Ba Dinh, so this is the city bus for you if you’re staying there.

Bus 07 to Cau Giay: 12,000 dong (about £0.35/$0.46), every 10 to 20 minutes from 05:00 to 22:30.

Bus 109 to My Dinh: 12,000 dong (about £0.35/$0.46), every 20 to 30 minutes from 05:00 to 22:00. Cau Giay and My Dinh are in western Hanoi, a long way from the Old Quarter, so these two routes are only worth it if you’re staying in that part of the city.

The airport’s list also includes express bus 68 to Ha Dong for 55,000 dong (about £1.60/$2.10), electric bus E10 to Ocean Park for 20,000 dong (about £0.59/$0.77) and the Hai Van company’s NB01 and NB02 buses for 90,000 dong (about £2.60/$3.50), which run every 45 minutes. Buses 68 and E10 go to suburbs that few tourists need, and NB01 and NB02 are private buses with their own routes.

The airport says bus 07 stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Several of the other routes start and end at car park P2 by Terminal 1, so if you land at Terminal 2, you may need to take the free shuttle bus first. Ask at the information desk before you head outside.

Fares and tickets

The city sets city bus fares by the length of the route, which is why the four routes cost 12,000 or 15,000 dong (about £0.35 to £0.44, or $0.46 to $0.58) per journey, however far you ride. Children under 6 travel free. Have cash in small notes ready for the ticket, and expect to pay for a new journey every time you board a bus.

3. Grab, Xanh SM and taxis

A car to the door is the easiest option if there are several of you, you have a lot of luggage or you land outside the buses’ operating hours. The ride to the Old Quarter typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, and to Tay Ho by West Lake it takes 30 to 45 minutes.

With Grab, you enter your pick-up point and destination, and the app shows a fixed price before you book. According to Grab’s own fare table, a GrabCar from the airport costs at least 142,364 dong (about £4.20/$5.50) for trips of between 5 and 16 kilometres, after which 3,119 dong (about £0.09/$0.12) is added per kilometre, plus a charge per minute. A six-seat GrabCar starts at 192,191 dong (about £5.60/$7.40) for the same distance. The centre is more than 16 kilometres away, so the ride costs quite a bit more than the minimum fare. Vietnam’s tourism board puts a GrabCar to the centre at around 250,000 dong (about £7.30/$9.70).

Road tolls and the airport fee aren’t included in Grab’s price. The airport charges 9,000 dong (about £0.26/$0.35) for the first ten minutes a car is on airport grounds. The fares and pick-up points are listed on Grab.

At Terminal 2, Grab picks up in car parks P1 and P7. For P1, go out through the main exit, turn right and follow the road to the end, where you turn left. For P7, turn left outside the main exit and follow the covered walkway. At Terminal 1, the cars pick up in lane 3 in front of hall E. If you come out in hall A or B, go out through door 4, turn right towards hall E and cross at the pedestrian crossing to lane 3.

Xanh SM, also known as Green SM, runs electric taxis and has a dedicated airport service in its app. You choose your pick-up point, car type and payment method in the app and see the price before you book, and the app lets you book a car up to 30 days in advance. The price in the app includes VAT, while road tolls and parking are added on top. The cars pick up in the same places as Grab: in P1 at Terminal 2, or in P7 when P1 is full, and in lane 3 in front of hall E at Terminal 1. Find out more at Xanh SM.

The airport’s official taxis wait in their own lanes in front of the arrivals hall on the ground floor of both terminals, and they run from the first flight of the day until the last, every day. They use a meter, and the list of taxi companies and their fares is on the airport’s transport page.

Vietnam’s tourism board puts the fare to the centre at around 300,000 to 400,000 dong (about £8.80 to £11.50, or $11.50 to $15.50), and the airport itself has given an average of 200,000 to 400,000 dong (about £5.90 to £11.50, or $7.70 to $15.50). As an example, the taxi company G7 has a starting fare of 20,000 dong (about £0.59/$0.77) and charges 14,000 to 17,000 dong (about £0.41 to £0.50, or $0.54 to $0.66) per kilometre depending on the size of the car, so expect the top end of the range or a little more in a large car. The tourism board’s figures are in its guide to Vietnam’s airports, and you’ll find the fares at G7.

Only take a taxi from the official taxi rank. Under the airport’s rules, taxis aren’t allowed to pick up passengers inside the halls or in the car parks, so say no if someone offers you a taxi there. Vietnam’s tourism board warns against tampered meters, overcharging, confusion over the currency and agreed fixed prices, and recommends the large companies with sealed meters, including Mai Linh. The advice is on the website of Vietnam’s tourism board.

Private transfer

If you’re landing late with children, or there are several of you with a lot of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Hanoi Airport here. The price is paid in advance, and the driver takes you to your hotel in the Old Quarter or elsewhere in the centre.

Many hotels in Hanoi also offer airport pick-up for a fee, so ask your hotel about the price when you book. Cars that don’t have an agreement with the airport aren’t allowed to stop and wait in front of the arrivals hall, so agree in advance where the driver will meet you. That may be in one of the car parks.

Onward travel around Vietnam straight from the airport

If you’re not going into Hanoi but straight on elsewhere, there’s no public bus from the airport to Ha Long, Ninh Binh or Sapa on the airport’s list. All the routes there go to districts of Hanoi.

For Ha Long, the company Phuc Xuyen runs limousine buses from Hanoi for 260,000 dong (about £7.60/$10). The journey takes around two and a half hours, and the buses leave every 30 to 60 minutes from 05:00 to 21:00 and pick you up free of charge at your address in Hanoi. The company doesn’t mention the airport as a pick-up point, so expect to go into the city first, and check the departures with Phuc Xuyen. If you’d rather be driven straight there, you can book a private transfer from the airport to Ha Long here.

If you’re continuing by train, bus 86 goes right to Hanoi Railway Station. Train tickets are sold at the station and on the Vietnam Railways website dsvn.vn, and the tourism board recommends buying them a few days in advance.

To Sapa, the journey takes around five hours by private car, and you can book a private transfer from the airport to Sapa here.

Getting back to the airport

First, check which terminal you’re flying from: international flights leave from Terminal 2 and domestic flights from Terminal 1. The departures hall is on Level 3 at Terminal 2 and on Level 2 at Terminal 1, and this is where cars drop off. The airport advises you to be there at least three hours before an international flight, and you can read more on the airport’s departures page.

Bus 86 runs from Hanoi Railway Station to both terminals, and the first one leaves at around 05:15. On the way to the airport, its stops include Melia Hotel, the main post office by Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Tre Street in the Old Quarter and Long Bien, so the stops aren’t quite the same as on the way in. Allow an hour to the airport, and remember that the last buses from the city leave at around 21:00, earlier than from the airport.

If you have an early flight, a car is the safe choice. You can book the car in advance in the Xanh SM app, and the taxi company G7 has a fixed package fare from the inner city to the airport of 220,000 dong (about £6.40/$8.50) for a standard car and 260,000 dong (about £7.60/$10) for a seven-seat car. Many hotels also have their own airport transport for a fee.

Cars can stop for no more than five minutes in front of the departures halls, so have your luggage ready when you pull up. If you’ve ended up at the wrong terminal, the free shuttle bus will take you to the other one in 8 to 10 minutes.

Which option should you choose?

Here’s what I’d recommend, depending on where you’re staying:

The Old Quarter: Take bus 86 to Long Bien or Tran Quang Khai, and walk the last stretch. If you have heavy luggage, take a Grab or a Xanh SM to the door.

Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter: Take bus 86 to Hanoi Opera House or Melia Hotel. If you’re staying near the railway station, stay on until the last stop.

Truc Bach: Take a Grab, a Xanh SM or a taxi all the way. If you want to save money, take bus 86 to Long Bien and a short ride by car from there.

Tay Ho: The area by West Lake is the closest to the airport, and the ride by car typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. None of the buses on the airport’s list terminates here, so book a car.

Ba Dinh: City bus 90 goes to Kim Ma and is the cheap option. Distances in Ba Dinh are long, so with luggage, a car to your hotel is the easiest choice.

If you land at night: The last buses leave between 22:00 and 22:30. After that, it’s a taxi from the rank, a car from one of the apps or a transfer you’ve booked in advance.

If there are three or four of you: Four tickets for bus 86 cost 200,000 dong (about £5.90/$7.70), and a GrabCar costs around 250,000 dong (about £7.30/$9.70) and takes you to the door. That makes the car the obvious choice.

If you’re connecting to a domestic flight: Take the free shuttle bus from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, and check your bags in at the airline’s transfer desk.

Practical tips for getting from Hanoi Airport to the city centre

Get some dong before you leave the terminal. You pay for the bus ticket in cash, and the cash machines and currency exchange counters are in the arrivals area on the ground floor of both terminals.

Book your car on the airport Wi-Fi. There’s free Wi-Fi in the terminals, so you can book a Grab or a Xanh SM once you’ve collected your luggage. Only head outside once you’ve seen which pick-up point the app is sending you to. The Wi-Fi and the other free services are listed in the airport’s overview.

Say no to drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall. Use the official taxi rank or an app that shows the price on the screen before you set off.

Factor in the fees. Road tolls and the airport fee are added to the price with both Grab and Xanh SM, so don’t be surprised by a small extra charge.

Follow the signs, not old directions. The pick-up areas have been moved around, and older guides send you to pillars and lanes that are no longer used for the same thing. Ask the staff in the orange shirts if you’re unsure.

Choose your hotel with the connection in mind. If you’re staying in the Old Quarter, bus 86 goes to the edge of the quarter, and you can see hotels in the Old Quarter here. If you’re staying by Hoan Kiem Lake, you get off at Hanoi Opera House, and you can see hotels by Hoan Kiem Lake here. If you’d like to stay in Ba Dinh, city bus 90 goes to Kim Ma, and you can see hotels in Ba Dinh here.

If you’re not sure which neighbourhood suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Hanoi. If you’re flying on to Thailand on the same trip, I’ve also written a guide to getting from Bangkok Airport to the city and a guide to where to stay in Bangkok. And if Hoi An is your next stop south after Hanoi, a domestic flight to Da Nang gets you close, and my guide to where to stay in Hoi An covers the best areas, from the lantern-lit Old Town and the rice fields to the beach.

The post Hanoi Airport to the City Centre - Transport Guide appeared first on Destination Well Known.

Where you stay on your trip to Hanoi decides how much traffic and noise you have right outside the door, and how often you’ll need a Grab or a taxi. Here are my recommendations for five good areas in Hanoi, with hotels in three price ranges.

The Best Areas in Hanoi

• Old Quarter - best area for first-time visitors and street food
• Hoan Kiem Lake & French Quarter - best area for a quieter, more elegant base in the centre
• Truc Bach - best area for quiet evenings by the lake close to the centre
• Tay Ho - best area for longer stays, cafés and more space
• Ba Dinh - best area for large, modern hotels with a pool

Below, I’ll take you through the five areas one by one, with a map, practical facts and three hotels in different price ranges, so you can choose the base that suits the way you travel.

1. Old Quarter - best area for first-time visitors and street food

• Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the centre. The quarter begins at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Transport: Walk around the quarter itself, and use a ride-hailing app such as Grab or a taxi to get to West Lake and Ba Dinh.
• Time from Noi Bai Airport: The airport is around 21 km north of the centre as the crow flies. Allow 45 to 60 minutes by car, depending on the traffic. Bus 17 runs to Long Bien on the northern edge of the quarter, and you’ll find the details in the airport’s overview of buses and fares. I’ve compared every option in my guide to getting from Hanoi Airport to the city centre.
• Price range: € to €€€. This is where you’ll find the city’s biggest choice of small, cheap hotels, plus quite a few boutique hotels with a rooftop pool.
• Safety: The traffic is the biggest challenge. The UK Foreign Office also notes in its travel advice for Vietnam that bag-snatching by thieves on motorcycles is common, so keep your bag and phone on the side away from the road.

The Old Quarter is my first choice for a first trip to Hanoi. It’s just north of Hoan Kiem Lake, and you’ll have street food, markets, bars and cafés a few minutes’ walk from your hotel. Vietnam’s official tourism website explains how the 36 guild streets are named after the trades that once set up shop in them.

You should know what you’re letting yourself in for. The shops spill out over the pavements, scooters weave through the narrow streets from morning till night, and around the beer street, Ta Hien, things stay lively until late. Ask for a room on a high floor or away from the street if you’re a light sleeper.

See hotels in the Old Quarter here.

Many hotels are in the quarter’s narrow, deep townhouses, which are often called tube houses. That’s why the cheapest rooms in some places have no window at all, or a window that faces the wall of the house next door. Read the room description carefully before you book. I’d rather pay a little extra for daylight.

On the plus side, you can walk to most things. Dong Xuan Market, the lake and St. Joseph’s Cathedral are all within around a kilometre of the middle of the quarter, and the quarter itself only covers about one square kilometre. If you’re going to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or West Lake, I’d book a car or a motorbike taxi through a ride-hailing app such as Grab rather than flag one down in the street.

I’d choose the Old Quarter if you have two to four days and want Hanoi right on your doorstep. If you’re travelling with small children or need quiet at night, one of the next areas is a better choice.

Places to Stay in the Old Quarter

Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel - rooftop infinity pool in the middle of the Old Quarter

Peridot Grand is my suggestion if you want to stay in the Old Quarter without giving up comfort. The hotel is on Duong Thanh Street in the western part of the quarter and has a rooftop infinity pool and bar, a spa, a sauna and a gym.

It suits a couple or a family who want a break from the noise of the street in the middle of the day. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is around half a kilometre away, and Dong Xuan Market is a little further. According to the hotel’s own information, every room has a window. Several guests do mention, though, that it can be hard to get a sun lounger by the pool.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “Breakfast was particularly great, and we really enjoyed the rooftop pool.”

See photos and book Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel here.

Salute Premium Hotel & Spa - quiet rooms in the western part of the Old Quarter

Salute Premium is a four-star hotel on Cua Dong Street, around half a kilometre from Dong Xuan Market. You get a restaurant, a spa with massage treatments and soundproofed rooms, and you can choose between double rooms, suites, triple rooms and a family suite.

It’s a good option if you want a polished hotel in the Old Quarter at a price well below the five-star hotels. Be aware that one of the room categories is a double room without a window. Choose one of the others if daylight matters to you.

One review on Booking.com reads: “The hotel is super centrally located. The rooms are very quiet and well maintained.”

See photos and book Salute Premium Hotel & Spa here.

The Sono Hanoi Hotel - simple budget hotel by Dong Xuan Market

The Sono is a three-star hotel on Hang Dau Street at the northern end of the Old Quarter, around 300 metres from Dong Xuan Market. The rooms range from standard rooms to family rooms and junior suites with a balcony, and there’s a lift, a 24-hour reception and a breakfast buffet.

It’s a good choice if your budget is tight and you mainly need the hotel as a place to sleep. Airport bus 17 terminates at Long Bien, just a couple of hundred metres away. Guests mention noise from the street, and not every room has a window to the outside, so choose your category with care.

One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “The hotel itself was basic but the rooms were comfortable and clean.”

See photos and book The Sono Hanoi Hotel here.

2. Hoan Kiem Lake & French Quarter - best area for a quieter, more elegant base in the centre

• Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying by the lake itself, which is the heart of the city. The Opera House is around 750 metres from the middle of the lake.
• Transport: You can get to most things on foot, and at weekends the streets around the lake are closed to cars.
• Time from Noi Bai Airport: Allow 45 to 60 minutes by car, depending on the traffic. Airport bus 86 runs to Hanoi Railway Station for 50,000 dong, according to the airport, and from there it’s just over a kilometre to the lake.
• Price range: € to €€€€. Several of the city’s most expensive hotels are here, but so are small, cheap hotels in the lanes by the cathedral.
• Safety: Wider streets and a little more breathing space than in the Old Quarter. Cross the big streets calmly and predictably, and keep an eye on the scooters.

If you want to stay in the middle of the city but with a little more space around you, I’d look west and south of Hoan Kiem Lake. West of the lake are the lanes around St. Joseph’s Cathedral, with cafés and small hotels. To the south and east, the French Quarter begins, with wider streets, the Opera House and several of the city’s classic hotels.

It’s still Hanoi, so the traffic doesn’t go away. But the bars are further apart here, and a path runs all the way round the lake, so you can take an evening stroll. In the middle of it all, Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island that you reach across the red bridge. At weekends, the streets around the lake are closed to traffic, and the area turns into one long promenade.

See hotels near Hoan Kiem Lake here.

You also have museums within walking distance. The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is on Ly Thuong Kiet Street south of the lake, and the former prison Hoa Lo is around half a kilometre further west. The Old Quarter begins at the northern end of the lake, so you can walk up there for dinner and then walk home to a quieter street.

The downside is the price. Some of Hanoi’s most expensive hotels are here, and there are fewer cheap rooms to choose from than in the Old Quarter. The small hotels in the lanes by the cathedral are the exception.

I’d choose this area if you’re travelling as a couple, you’re on a short city break or you’d like to stay at a hotel that’s an experience in itself. It’s also where I’d stay if I wanted the Old Quarter within walking distance without sleeping in the middle of it.

Places to Stay near Hoan Kiem Lake and in the French Quarter

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi - historic luxury hotel by the Opera House

The Metropole is Hanoi’s classic luxury hotel. It’s on Ngo Quyen Street, a few hundred metres from both the Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake. You can choose between rooms in the Heritage Wing and the Opera Wing, and the hotel has a heated outdoor pool, a spa and several restaurants, including the French Le Beaulieu and the Vietnamese Spice Garden.

I’d choose it for a special occasion, or if the hotel is part of your reason for travelling. It’s the most expensive of my suggestions, and even so, some guests find the rooms a little small. One guest also notes that the pool area is smaller than the photos suggest.

One guest writes on Booking.com: “The history and elegance were amazing and the staff were perfect.”

See photos and book Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi here.

La Siesta Premium Lakeside - boutique hotel with a rooftop pool just south of the lake

La Siesta Premium Lakeside is on Ba Trieu Street, just south of Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s a five-star boutique hotel with a rooftop infinity pool, a spa, a sauna, a gym and a restaurant, and you can choose rooms with a balcony or suites with a terrace.

Here, you get a central, polished stay without paying Metropole prices. The Old Quarter begins at the other end of the lake, and the Opera House is around 650 metres away. Two things are worth knowing: the pool is small, according to guests, and one of the room categories has no window.

Here’s how one guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Superb hotel, truly a luxurious feeling place.”

See photos and book La Siesta Premium Lakeside here.

Victory Legend Hotel - small budget hotel by the cathedral

Victory Legend is a three-star hotel in Tho Xuong Lane, less than a hundred metres from St. Joseph’s Cathedral and around 350 metres from the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. There’s a lift and breakfast, and the rooms range from doubles to a family suite and a quadruple room with a balcony.

It’s my budget suggestion if you want a quieter stay than in the Old Quarter and still want to walk everywhere. Every room has a window, according to the hotel’s description, and that’s not a given in this price range. The rooms are, however, smaller than several guests had expected.

One guest adds in their review on Booking.com: “Oh, the pho for breakfast is very good also.”

See photos and book Victory Legend Hotel here.

3. Truc Bach - best area for quiet evenings by the lake close to the centre

• Distance from the centre: Around 2.5 km north-west of Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Transport: A short ride by Grab or taxi to the Old Quarter. On foot, allow just under half an hour.
• Time from Noi Bai Airport: The airport is around 19.5 km away as the crow flies. My estimate is 40 to 55 minutes by car, depending on the traffic, and I’d take a taxi or a Grab all the way.
• Price range: €€ to €€€. Few large hotels, but a fair number of apartments and smaller hotels.
• Safety: A quiet neighbourhood with less traffic than in the centre. Take care when you cross Thanh Nien Road between the two lakes.

Truc Bach is a small lake and a small neighbourhood between the Old Quarter and the much larger West Lake. There’s more everyday life than tourism here: cafés by the water, local places to eat and a completely different pace from the centre. The two lakes are separated only by Thanh Nien Road, where you’ll find Tran Quoc Pagoda. I’d choose a hotel with a view of the water, because the lake is what makes the neighbourhood special.

From the lake, it’s just under 2 km to the Old Quarter. You can walk it, but most people will probably take a Grab in the evening. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is around a kilometre to the south-west, so you’re actually closer to the sights of Ba Dinh here than you are in the Old Quarter.

See hotels in Truc Bach here.

Truc Bach is a good choice if you’ve been to Hanoi before, or if you know you sleep badly when it’s noisy. You get lake views from several of the hotels, quiet evenings and a short ride into town when you want to go out for dinner.

The downside is the choice. There are far fewer hotels than in the centre, and several of them are apartment hotels without a restaurant of their own. The nightlife is on the quiet side too, so if you want to go from bar to bar, you’re better off in the Old Quarter.

On the other hand, it’s a good compromise if you’d like a morning walk around a lake and still want to be in the centre in no time. Late in the day, you can walk over to Thanh Nien Road and watch the sunset over West Lake, an experience you have right on your doorstep.

Places to Stay in Truc Bach

Pan Pacific Hanoi - lake views and a rooftop bar between the two lakes

Pan Pacific is on Thanh Nien Road between Truc Bach Lake and West Lake, around 400 metres from Tran Quoc Pagoda. The hotel has a heated indoor pool with a retractable roof, a spa, a gym, the Chinese restaurant Ming and the rooftop bar Summit, which has panoramic views.

The hotel is for you if you want a large, classic five-star hotel with lake views and still want to be around 2 km from the Old Quarter as the crow flies. Choose a room with a lake view, because that’s what you’re paying for. Several guests find the restaurant expensive, and the hotel has a slightly lower guest rating than my other luxury suggestions.

One guest praises the staff on Booking.com: “The staff were extremely helpful and able to deal with everything quickly and efficiently.”

See photos and book Pan Pacific Hanoi here.

Luxe Paradise Suites Hotel & Spa - mid-range hotel with a rooftop pool

Luxe Paradise Suites is a four-star hotel on Pham Hong Thai Street, around 450 metres from the middle of Truc Bach Lake and about a kilometre from Dong Xuan Market. You get an outdoor rooftop pool, a spa, a gym and a restaurant.

It’s a good choice if you want a pool without paying five-star prices and you’d like to stay between Truc Bach and the Old Quarter. Be aware that not every room has a window to the outside, so check the category. A few guests also mention that the pool area and the rooms could do with a refresh.

One guest who stayed here writes on Booking.com: “The stay was very nice, staff were great and the rooftop pool is lovely.”

See photos and book Luxe Paradise Suites Hotel & Spa here.

An Nguyen Lakeside Residence - apartments with a kitchenette by Truc Bach Lake

An Nguyen Lakeside Residence is on Truc Bach Street, close to the lake. You stay in a studio or an apartment with a kitchenette, and some of them have a balcony and a view over the water. There’s a lift, a 24-hour reception and a café in the building.

It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions in Truc Bach and a good choice for a longer stay, or if you’d like to do a little cooking yourself. Breakfast isn’t served, so plan on eating at one of the cafés in the neighbourhood. Not every apartment has a lake view and a balcony, and the simplest categories only have a window facing into the building, so choose a category with the view mentioned in its name.

Here’s how one guest describes the place on Booking.com: “The area is quiet and beautiful. Very clean and cosy.”

See photos and book An Nguyen Lakeside Residence here.

4. Tay Ho - best area for longer stays, cafés and more space

• Distance from the centre: The Quang An peninsula is around 4.3 km north-west of Hoan Kiem Lake as the crow flies.
• Transport: You’ll need a Grab or a taxi every time you head in to the sights. Hanoi’s metro lines don’t run out here.
• Time from Noi Bai Airport: Of the five areas, this is the one closest to the airport: around 18 km as the crow flies. My estimate is 30 to 45 minutes by car, depending on the traffic.
• Price range: € to €€€. Lots of apartment hotels and a couple of large international hotels by the water.
• Safety: Quieter streets than in the centre, but scooters use them too, so keep your eyes open when you walk along the lake.

Tay Ho is the district around West Lake, which is called Ho Tay in Vietnamese. The lake covers around 500 hectares, and the Quang An peninsula is the heart of the area, with cafés, restaurants from all over the world and apartment hotels. The Hanoi Times newspaper describes Tay Ho as the city’s expat zone, and it shows in what’s on offer.

The price you pay is distance. From Quang An, it’s just over 4 km to Hoan Kiem Lake, and every trip in to the sights means a Grab or taxi ride that can drag on in rush hour. Outside rush hour, allow 15 to 20 minutes by car. It isn’t the area for three quick days when you want to see everything.

See hotels in Tay Ho here.

I’d choose Tay Ho for a longer stay, for a family who’d like a pool and space, or for the last days of a longer trip, when you need some peace and quiet. Several of the apartment hotels have a kitchen and a washing machine, and the big hotels are right on the water.

The district is also the one closest to Noi Bai, so it’s handy for the last night before an early flight. Tran Quoc Pagoda and Truc Bach are at the south-eastern corner of the lake, and you can take them in on your way into the centre. In the evening, you’ll find restaurants and bars along Quang An Street and in the side streets around it.

Bear in mind that Tay Ho is big. The shoreline is 17 km long, so if you stay at the northern or western end, you’ll be a long way from the cafés of Quang An. Check the hotel’s location on the map before you book.

Places to Stay in Tay Ho

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake - five-star hotel with rooms out over the lake

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is on Tu Hoa Street on the eastern shore of West Lake, and some of the rooms are built out over the water. Every room has a balcony, according to the hotel’s description, and there’s an outdoor pool, a spa, a gym and three restaurants.

I’d choose it for a holiday where the hotel and the view are a big part of the experience. Xuan Dieu Street, with its cafés and restaurants, is around 650 metres away. Choose a room with a lake view, because guests write that the city-view rooms don’t have much of a view, and that the pool area is small.

One guest writes about the location on Booking.com: “The property is so beautiful and has a good location with a nice lake view.”

See photos and book InterContinental Hanoi Westlake here.

Oakwood Residence Hanoi - apartment hotel with an indoor pool in Quang An

Oakwood Residence is in a side street off Dang Thai Mai in Quang An, a few hundred metres from Xuan Dieu. You stay in a studio or a one- or two-bedroom apartment, all with a fully equipped kitchen and a washing machine. There’s an indoor pool with a view, a gym and a sauna.

It’s my suggestion for a family or for a longer stay, where you want to be able to cook for yourself and do your washing along the way. Breakfast is available at extra cost. It’s just under 5 km to Hoan Kiem Lake, so you’ll need a Grab to get to the sights. A few guests have been unhappy with the cleaning, but the overall rating is high.

One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “The property is very clean and close to West Lake, which is away from the busy tourist area.”

See photos and book Oakwood Residence Hanoi here.

Alan Lumière Boutique Hotel Hanoi - spacious suites at a budget price

Alan Lumière is on Yen Phu Street at the south-eastern end of West Lake, around half a kilometre from Tran Quoc Pagoda. The rooms are suites in several sizes, including a junior suite with a balcony, a suite with a lake view and a family suite. There’s a lift, and the hotel offers breakfast and massage.

It’s my budget suggestion in Tay Ho and a good choice if you want space without paying for a big hotel. You’ll be closer to Truc Bach and the centre than to Quang An, where most of the cafés are, and there’s no pool. One guest describes the standard as three stars rather than four, so expect a neat, simple hotel.

One guest describes the room on Booking.com: “Lovely room! Lots of space and very clean.”

See photos and book Alan Lumière Boutique Hotel Hanoi here.

5. Ba Dinh - best area for large, modern hotels with a pool

• Distance from the centre: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is around 2 km west of Hoan Kiem Lake as the crow flies, and Lotte Center is around 4 km away.
• Transport: Grab or taxi for most journeys. The distances are too great to walk between your hotel, the sights and the Old Quarter.
• Time from Noi Bai Airport: Around 20.5 km as the crow flies. My estimate is 40 to 60 minutes by car, depending on the traffic. Airport bus 90 runs to Kim Ma.
• Price range: € to €€€. You generally get more facilities for your money than in the centre.
• Safety: Wide boulevards with heavy traffic. Use traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, and cross at a calm, steady pace.

Ba Dinh is the political centre of Hanoi. Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are in the eastern part of the district. Just over half a kilometre from there, you’ll find the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which UNESCO added to the World Heritage List in 2010. The Temple of Literature is around a kilometre south of the square.

Most of the hotels are in the western part, around Lieu Giai, Kim Ma and Doi Can streets. It’s a modern neighbourhood of high-rises and offices, where Lotte Center is the obvious landmark, and you get more hotel for your money here than in the centre. At the larger hotels, a pool and a gym are the rule rather than the exception.

See hotels in Ba Dinh here.

Ba Dinh is a good choice if you’re travelling with children and would like a pool, if you’re on a business trip, or if you prefer a large, modern hotel to a narrow townhouse in the Old Quarter.

The downside is the distances. From Lotte Center, it’s around 4 km to Hoan Kiem Lake and just over 2 km to the mausoleum, and the district is too big to criss-cross on foot. Count on a Grab or a taxi for most journeys, including when you head in to the Old Quarter for dinner in the evening.

The mausoleum is normally only open in the morning and stays closed on some days of the week, so check the opening hours and get there early. Staying nearby is an advantage if you want to be among the first in. The mausoleum, the citadel and the Temple of Literature are within around a kilometre of each other, so you can cover all three on foot in the same day. If you want to stay close to the square, look in the eastern part of the district, but be prepared for a smaller choice of hotels there.

Places to Stay in Ba Dinh

Lotte Hotel Hanoi - two pools and city views in Lotte Center

Lotte Hotel is in the Lotte Center tower on Lieu Giai Street in the western part of Ba Dinh. The hotel has both an indoor and an outdoor pool, a sauna, a spa and a gym, and the rooms have views over the city. There’s a supermarket and an observation deck in the same building.

Lotte Hotel is an obvious choice if you want a large, modern luxury hotel and don’t need to be able to walk to the Old Quarter. It’s just over 2 km to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and around 4 km to Hoan Kiem Lake, so count on a Grab for most journeys. One guest mentions thin walls between the rooms, but the overall rating is high.

Short and to the point from one guest on Booking.com: “This hotel is an oasis in Hanoi.”

See photos and book Lotte Hotel Hanoi here.

Super Candle Hotel - indoor pool, sauna and apartments with a kitchen

Super Candle is a four-star hotel on Doi Can Street, around 700 metres from Lotte Center. There’s a heated indoor pool, a sauna, a public bath and a gym, and the restaurant serves both Vietnamese and Japanese food. As well as ordinary rooms, you can book a studio or an apartment with one or two bedrooms.

It’s a good mid-range choice for a family or for a longer stay in Ba Dinh. The mausoleum is around 1.7 km to the east. Guests mention hard beds and a sparsely equipped kitchen in the apartments, and one thinks the pool could be cleaner.

One guest says on Booking.com: “The service by the staff was exceptional. The pool was a highlight as were the breakfasts.”

See photos and book Super Candle Hotel here.

Keypad Hotel Linh Lang - bright, simple budget hotel near Lotte Center

Keypad Hotel is in a lane off Linh Lang Street, around 250 metres from Lotte Center. It’s a three-star hotel with a lift, a 24-hour reception and breakfast, and the hotel states that every room has a window.

It works well if you want a cheap stay and you’re happy to take a Grab to the sights, because it’s just over 4 km to Hoan Kiem Lake. Guests disagree about the noise: one calls the neighbourhood quiet, while another was woken by street vendors outside the hotel and could hear the neighbours through the walls. Bring earplugs.

One guest notes on Booking.com: “The rooms are bright with a lot of natural lighting.”

See photos and book Keypad Hotel Linh Lang here.

Where should you avoid staying in Hanoi?

I wouldn’t book a hotel far out in the new districts west and south of the centre just because the price is low or the hotel is new. The distances look small on the map, but the traffic makes every trip in to Hoan Kiem Lake a long one, and you lose the option of walking home in the evening. The same goes for hotels by the airport: Noi Bai is just over 20 km north of the centre, so only stay there if you have a very early flight.

In the Old Quarter, I’d steer clear of the very cheapest rooms without a window and of hotels right by the bar streets if a good night’s sleep matters to you. Check whether the hotel has a lift too, because the houses are tall and narrow, and that adds up to a lot of stairs with a suitcase.

The Old Quarter is my first choice for a first trip if you want the food, the markets and the nightlife right outside the door and can live with the noise. If you want to be just as central but with more peace and comfort, I’d choose the area around Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter.

Truc Bach is the compromise if you want peace and lake views without moving far from the centre. Tay Ho suits longer stays and families who put space and a pool first, while Ba Dinh makes most sense when a large, modern hotel matters more than being within walking distance of the Old Quarter.

My most important piece of advice is to choose according to how you sleep and how much you want to walk. In Hanoi, two kilometres can feel like a long way in the heat and heavy traffic, so stay close to where you’ll spend most of your time and take a Grab for the rest.

If your trip continues to another big city in Southeast Asia, I’ve also written about where to stay in Bangkok and the best areas in Singapore. If you need some beach time after your days in Hanoi, you’ll find ideas in my guide to where to stay in Thailand, or you can read about the best areas in Bali. If you’re staying in Vietnam, Hoi An is a natural next stop further south: many travellers take a domestic flight to Da Nang, and my guide to where to stay in Hoi An covers the Old Town, the rice paddies and the beach.

The post Where to Stay in Hanoi? The 5 Best Areas & Places to Stay appeared first on Destination Well Known.