Vietnam was a French colony from the late 19th century until 1954. During these years, the French built many French-style government buildings, luxury villas, broad tree-lined avenues, opera houses, churches, and prisons around the country.
Hanoi’s French Quarter was built by the French colonial administration to serve as the political, economic, and cultural center of Indochina, inspired by the layout and style of Paris.
The French Quarter was built south of the Old Quarter, mainly southeast of Hoan Kiem Lake and extended to the Ba Dinh district.
Major streets such as Trang Tien, Hai Ba Trung, Ngo Quyen, and Ly Thuong Kiet were dramatically reshaped under Governor-General of French Indochina from 1897 to 1902.
Following the end of French rule in 1954, many former mansions and government buildings were converted into embassies, museums, hotels, offices, and elite residences.
Today, wandering around Hanoi’s French Quarter, you can still explore well-preserved yellow-painted buildings, wide tree-lined boulevards, luxury hotels, trendy cafes, and high-end shops.
In this article, I will show you the location of the French Quarter in Hanoi, share my opinion on whether the French Quarter is a good place to stay in Hanoi, as well as some of the best places to stay in this area.
See more:
- Best Areas to stay in Hanoi
- Is Hanoi Old Quarter better than French Quarter?
- 18 Best Things to Do & See in Hanoi
Where is the Hanoi French Quarter?
Hanoi French Quarter is the area south of the Old Quarter in Hoan Kiem district and west of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ba Dinh district.
When speaking about Hanoi’s French Quarter, most people mention the French Quarter in Hoan Kiem district because it has more tourist amenities and is closer to the more popular Old Quarter. This area is located east, south, and west of Hoan Kiem Lake.
The Old Quarter is north of Hoan Kiem Lake, and during the colonial period, the French built the French district outside of the old quarter.
In the French Quarter in Hoan Kiem district, you will find famous buildings such as the St. Joseph Cathedral, Trang Tien Plaza, Hoa Lo Prison, Metropole Hotel, Hanoi Opera House, or Vietnam National Museum of History.
The French Quarter in the Ba Dinh district is centered around the Presidential Palace (formerly Governor’s Palace). This area is much quieter than the French Quarter in Hoan Kiem district and is home to many government buildings and embassies.
Is the French Quarter a good place to stay in Hanoi?
In my opinion, the French Quarter is an excellent place to stay in Hanoi for first-timers and those who enjoy central location, quiet atmosphere, and luxury experience, while still being close to the famous Old Quarter.
Central Location
The French Quarter in Hoan Kiem district has a convenient location to do sightseeing, shopping, and enjoy the nightlife. It’s an ideal location for first-timers and short time visitors who want to be close to popular points of interest.
It’s located just south of The Old Quarter, so you can easily walk to iconic attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Bach Ma Temple, Ta Hien Beer Street, Weekend Night Market, Dong Xuan Market, or Ma May ancient house.
Quiet atmosphere with luxury shops, fine dining, and upscale hotels
The French Quarter has a quieter atmosphere and more spaces with wider streets, wider sidewalks, and open public spaces than the Old Quarter.
This area is home to bigger apartments and 5-star hotels. It also has modern shopping malls and fine dining restaurants. Major streets like Trang Tien, Hai Ba Trung, Ly Thuong Kiet, and Tran Hung Dao are lined with high-end cafes, shops, and restaurants.
You can shop at the high-end historic Trang Tien Plaza. It’s built in the French colonial period and now is an upscale shopping mall with famous brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Dior, and Cartier.
The iconic hotel in Hanoi’s French Quarter is the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel, built in 1901 as Grand Métropole Hotel. Famous people stayed here such as Jane Fonda and Charlie Chaplin.
If you do not stay at the hotel, you can visit its restaurant and bar such as Le Club Bar, Bam Boo Bar, Le Beaulieu Restaurant, or Spice Garden to view its colonial charm.
Unique French architecture style
The French Quarter of Hanoi was designed to resemble the boulevards of Paris with wide streets and elegant architecture buildings. These Neoclassical and Art Deco buildings have yellow or cream façades, title roofs, and balconies.
You can explore St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, Trang Tien Plaza, Vietnam National Museum of History, The Presidential Palace, or Hanoi post Office.
The Downside of staying Hanoi French Quarter
The French Quarter is a lovely and elegant area to stay in the heart of Hanoi. But it has some downsides such as high cost of accommodations, food, and drinks. Restaurants and cafes in the French Quarter tend toward mid‑to‑high prices rather than cheap local eateries.
If you have a good budget, it’s a good area to stay to enjoy an upscale, laid back atmosphere with high-end shops, restaurants, and hotels. If you are on a budget, it’s better to find a stay somewhere else, such as the nearby Old Quarter.
Best Areas to Stay in Hanoi’s French Quarter
Hanoi features two key French Quarters: one in Hoan Kiem district south of the Old Quarter and another in Ba Dinh District, around the President Palace.
Most visitors will stay in Hoan Kiem’s French Quarter due to its location close to the Old Quarter, and easy access to all other tourist amenities. Ba Dinh’s French Quarter is mainly home to government buildings and embassies, so it’s a popular destination to visit rather than stay.
In the Ba Dinh’s French Quarter, you can find some small homestays and apartments at nearby streets such as Ngoc Ha, Phan Dinh Phung, and Quan Thanh streets. These places still have a relatively good location but not as central as the Hoan’s Kiem French Quarter.
I will divide the best area to stay in Hanoi’s French Quarter into 4 areas. It includes the Trang Tien Plaza area, the Big Church area, the Hoa Lo Prison area, and the Phan Dinh Phung area.
Best hotels in Hanoi’s French Quarter:
- Luxury: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
- Luxury: Capella Hanoi
- Mid-range: Solaria Hanoi Hotel
Where to Stay in Hanoi’s French Quarter: Best Hotels
1. The Trang Tien Plaza area
This upscale area is conveniently located southeast of Hoan Kiem Lake, around 600m south of the Old Quarter. I think this area is the best area of the French Quarter for first-timers who want central location and all characteristics of the French Quarter.
It has wide boulevards and is home to French architecture style buildings such as the Opera House, Trang Tien Plaza, Metropole Hotel, and Vietnam National Museum of History.
Major streets in this area are Ngo Quyen, Trang Tien, Hai Ba Trung, Ly Thuong Kiet, and Phan Chu Trinh. This street has wide side walks, lined with trees, beautiful colonial buildings, and luxury shops and hotels.
Trang Tien Plaza is located in prime location on Trang Tien Street, just steps away from the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake. The building was built in 1901 and is now a luxury mall with high-end international fashion, handbags, cosmetics, shoes, and accessories brands like Versace, Cartier, Rolex, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton.
Just 400m east of the Trang Tien Plaza, you can see the Hanoi Opera House. The building was constructed in 1901 and took 10 years to finish. You can buy tickets to watch opera, classical music, traditional folk music or admire its beautiful architecture with marble staircase, soaring pillars, crystal chandeliers, and grey slate tiles.
Still on Trang Tien street, you can visit the Vietnam National Museum of History. This yellow-painted, Indochinese architecture building was opened to the public in 1958 and is a great place to learn about the history of Vietnam through historic artifacts.
If you love books, you can check out the Book Street on Dinh Le Street, located just a block away from Trang Tien street. The street is home to many bookstores and trendy cafes.
Best hotels in Hanoi’s French Quarter near Trang Tien Plaza:
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (luxury)
This luxury 5-star hotel is located in the heart of the French Quarter. It’s in a quiet upscale area within easy walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake and major attractions in the old quarter.
This hotel has a history dating to the beginning of the 20th century. It has beautiful French colonial architecture styles and all modern facilities for a comfortable stay. If you stay at the hotel, you can take a guided tour to explore the hidden underground bunker at the hotel.
Metropole has a large outdoor swimming pool, and multiple restaurants and bars. If you are not staying at the hotel, you can pay a visit by visiting its onsite restaurants and bars such as Le Club Bar, Le Beaulieu, Spice Garden, La Terrasse, and Bamboo Bar.
Capella Hanoi (luxury)
This 5-star hotel is located on Ly Thai To street, across the road from the historic Metropole Hanoi. If you want luxury experience and exceptional facilities in the heart of Hanoi’s French Quarter, you can consider staying at Capella.
Hotel de l’Opera – MGallery Hanoi (luxury)
This luxury hotel has a prime location on Trang Tien street, between Trang Tien Plaza and Hanoi Opera House. It’s one of the best places to stay in Hanoi’s French Quarter for travelers who have a good budget.
The hotel has an indoor pool, fitness center, spa souvenirs, and comfortable rooms. It has an excellent location to do sightseeing, shopping, and dining in the capital city of Vietnam.
2. The Big Church area
The Big Church area is the area around St. Joseph Cathedral, western side of Hoan Kiem Lake. This area is located right next to the Old Quarter, and has a good mixture of both French and traditional Vietnamese style with tube houses and colonial landmarks.
While the area around Trang Tien Plaza has more luxury hotel options, The area around St. Joseph Cathedral has a good range of both local standard luxury hotels as well as mid-range guest houses and budget backpacker hostels.
The major attractions in this area is the St. Joseph Cathedral, also called the Big Church ( Nha Tho Lon in Vietnamese). This 19th century Gothic style cathedral has towering spires, stained-glass windows, and a weathered facade, evoking Notre-Dame de Paris.
At the surrounding area of the cathedral, you can see a few cafes with street side stall seatings, where you can try Vietnamese coffee and tra chanh. It’s also a popular spot to visit during Christmas time.
Near the Big Church, you can take a look at the small Ba Da Pagoda to enjoy the serene atmosphere of the temple’s ground away from the traffic and the hustle and bustle of Hanoi.
Major streets in the Big Church area are Pho Nha Chung, Ly Quoc Su, and Phu Doan street. There are more affordable shops and restaurants in this area compared to the more luxurious area around Trang Tien Palaz and the Opera House.
Best hotels near Hanoi’s Big Church:
GRAND HOTEL du LAC Hanoi (luxury)
This luxury hotel is centrally located on Nha Chung street, just a short walk away from the Big Church, Hoan Kiem Lake, and important attractions in the Old Quarter.
The hotel has a nice rooftop swimming pool and stunning views of the city. They also offer a great breakfast with a variety of dishes.
Solaria Hanoi Hotel (mid-range)
This 4-star mid-range hotel is located on Bao Khanh street, close to the Big Church, and a range of restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions.
The hotel has spacious rooms, you can book rooms with balconies for the best experience. Other facilities include the rooftop bar, sap services, and multiple onsite restaurants.
Hanoi Capital Premium Hotel (budget)
This is a simple hotel in central area of Hanoi, steps away from The St. Joseph Cathedral and Hoan Kiem Lake. The hotel offers a budget-friendly stay with clean rooms and all basic facilities for a comfortable stay.
3. The Hoa Lo Prison area
This area is located south of Trang Thi street, and is centered around Hoa Lo Prison. Major streets in this area are Hai Ba Trung, Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao, and Quan Su street.
The area has wide streets, lots of spaces, and is home to some government buildings such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Old Supreme Court, or National Library of Vietnam.
This is a good quiet area with a good range of luxury and mid-range apartment style hotels and apartments. It’s a bit of a walk to the old quarter compared to the area around Trang Tien Plaza and the Big Church though.
Grab taxis and Grab bikes are plentiful, so you can easily use this cheap riding share service to get to the old town if you don’t feel like walking.
Hoa Lo Prison is a major site of this area. The prison was built in 1896 by the French. It was named Maison Centrale and was used by the French colonial government.
Later, during the American war, it’s known as the Hanoi Hilton and was used by the North Vietnamese to hold American Prisoners.
The nearby Quan Su temple is also worth checking out if you’re visiting Hoa Lo Prison. It’s an ancient temple dating back to the 15th century during the Le Dynasty. It’s a peaceful place to visit to take a little break from the chaotic streets of Hanoi.
Best Hotels near The Hoa Lo Prison:
Melia Hanoi
This 5-star high-rise building is located on Ly Thuong Kiet street, in the French Quarter of Hanoi. It’s in a quiet upscale area of the city, a short distance from the busy Old Quarter.
It’s a good option for families with spacious clean rooms, comfortable facilities, and a good breakfast with a wide range of dishes.
Somerset Grand Hanoi
This 5-star hotel is located on Hai Ba Trung street in the French Quarter of Hanoi. The hotel has a 24 h front desk, family rooms, and a swimming pool with city views. Good base for families with children of all ages to explore Hanoi.
Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre
This 5-star hotel is centrally located in Hanoi, in the upscale French Quarter area of the city. It has clean rooms, well-maintained facilities, and close to everything. You can stay in a quiet area of the city, while still an easy distance to the old quarter.
4. The Phan Dinh Phung area
As I mentioned above, in addition to the French Quarter in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi has a French Quarter in Ba Dinh district. This part is located west of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Old Quarter. It’s around 2km away from the Old Quarter.
Ba Dinh’s French Quarter is mostly about government buildings and embassies, and not many hotel options in this area. Additionally, it’s quite far from the old quarter, so most first-time visitors and short-time visitors stay in either old quarter or Hoan Kiem’s French Quarter than take a visit to the Ba Dinh’s French Quarter.
There are several guest houses along Ngoc Ha street and Phan Dinh Phung street. Ngoc Ha is farther away from the old quarter, so I recommend staying around Phan Dinh Phung street for easy access to both the old quarter and Ba Dinh’s French Quarter.
Phan Dinh Phung street is one of the most beautiful streets in Hanoi connecting Hang Dau street in the north of the Old Quarter with the Presidential Palace, Ba Dinh Square, and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum complex.
The street is particularly popular in autumn, when local Vietnamese women in traditional áo dài gather to take photos with the colorful foliage and flowers.
The Presidential Palace was built in 1906, during the French colonial period as the residence of Paul Doumer, the Governor-General of French Indochina. The building has typical French architecture with a yellow facade, and beautiful gardens.
Staying in this area also offers easy access to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Quan Thanh Temple, and West Lake with attractions such as Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Best Hotels in The Phan Dinh Phung area:
- Mid-range: Rue de L’amour Boutique Hotel
- Budget: A25 Hotel – 23 Quán Thánh
- Mid-range: HNC Premier Hotel & Residences
See more:
I hope you enjoyed reading my introduction to Hanoi’s French Quarter and by now know a bit of its history, things to do, and where to stay. It’s a great place to visit and stay in the heart of Hanoi.