Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular area to stay in Hanoi for first-time visitors. This is the heart of the city where all hotels and tourist amenities and attractions are located.
In this article, I will show you the best areas and hotels to stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. I’ll also explain for you a little about the history and things to do in this area.
The Old Quarter is the historical core of Hanoi, located just east of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long next to the Red River. It was established from the 11th century when King Ly Thai To moved the capital for Hoa Lu Ninh Binh to Thang Long (now Hanoi).
Many craftsmen and merchants from various regions gather in the area surrounding the Imperial Citadel. Over time, artisans from the same profession gathered in specific areas, creating a network of specialized streets.
This led to the famous “36 Streets”, many named after the goods they sold such as silk, silver, paper, herbs, and bamboo. The name of the street starts with “Hang”, followed by the product traditionally sold there as Hang Bac (Silver Street), Hang Duong (Sugar Street), Hang Muoi (Salt Street), or Hang Gai (Silk Street).
Today, some streets in the Old Quarter still specialize in the trades that gave them their names, while others remain focused on a single trade, but shifted away from their original trades.
The old town is known for its unique architecture style building with a mixture of traditional tube houses and French-colonial style villas and buildings. There are also many ancient temples, and pagodas dating back to its foundation.
With more than a thousand years of history, Hanoi’s Old Quarter has remained a vibrant hub of trade, street life, and culture, preserving the historic identity of the city.
See more:
- Best Areas to stay in Hanoi
- Which area is better, Old Quarter or French Quarter?
- 18 Best Things to Do & See in Hanoi
Where is the Hanoi Old Quarter?
Hanoi Old Quarter is the historic area located in the heart of Hanoi, in Hoan Kiem district. It’s located north of Hoan Kiem Lake, south of Long Bien Bridge, east of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and west of the Red River.
Hanoi Old Quarter is bounded by Hang Dau in the north, Phung Hung street in the west, Tran Nhat Duuat and Tran Quang Khai in the east, as well as Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go, and Hang Thung in the south.
Is the Old Quarter a good place to stay in Hanoi?
Yes, Hanoi Old Quarter is an excellent place to stay in Hanoi. I always recommend this area for first-time visitors due to its central location, wide range of shops, restaurants, tour agencies, and tourist attractions. It’s also a great place for nightlife, shopping, and authentic Vietnamese food.
Central location
I can confirm that no other area in Hanoi can beat the location of the Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake. The Old Quarter is the heart of Hanoi, staying here you’ll be close to everything. You can easily walk to the shops, restaurants, bars, and historical attractions.
From The Old Quarter, you can walk to popular points of interests such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo prison, St. Joseph Cathedral, Opera House, Ta Hien Beer Street, or Bach Ma temple.
You can use Grab taxi or Grab Bike to get to a bit further away attractions from the old quarter such as Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake, and Bat Trang ceramic village.
Rich History and Culture
With a history of more than a thousand years, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam to learn about the traditional and historical sites of the country.
Hanoi was the cultural and political center of Vietnam from the 11th century to the 18th century under the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties. From the early 19th century to the mid 20th century, the Nguyen Dynasty moved the capital from Thang Long to Hue.
The city was under French colonization from the mid-1800s to 1954. During the American– Vietnam War (1955–1975), the city was heavily devastated by thousands of bombs.
Through centuries of feudalism, and the war, the city today is still the capital city of Vietnam with lots of historical sites and cultural attractions dating back to its foundation and French colonial period.
A walk through the Old Quarter’s 36 guild streets today gives you a sense of the past. Each street once specialized in a particular craft, like bamboo, silk, silver, and many continue these traditions today.
You can explore historical attractions such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Ô Quan Chưởng Gate, Ma May House, Ba Da Pagoda, and the 11 century Temple Of Literature which is the first university of Vietnam.
You can easily spot many French-style buildings in the French Quarter, which is the nearby area of the Old Quarter such as St. Joseph Cathedral, Trang Tien Plaza, and Hanoi Opera House.
Unique Architecture style
Hanoi Old Quarter is known for its “tubes houses”, which have very small street-facing widths, often just 2-4 m, but they extend very deep (60-100 m) into the block.
Many are multistory, stacking living spaces upward to maximize area on a tiny plot. Older ones were typically 1-2 stories, but new ones can be many floors.
The ground front rooms are usually a shop, while the living quarters are above and behind. Traditional tube houses often included internal courtyards for light and ventilation.
The design originally developed in the Old Quarter due to the tax rules and land value. Historically, property taxes were based on the width of the street frontage, encouraging builders to make their houses as narrow as possible but as deep as needed.
The ancient houses are built with a wooden frame and terracotta roof tiles. During the French colonial era, traditional Vietnamese architecture continued but started incorporating French features like concrete, balconies, ornate facades, and wrought-iron details.
Under French rule, they kept the narrow streets in the Old Quarter north of Hoan Kiem Lake and built a French Quarter south of Hoan Kiev with many broad tree-lined boulevards, and French-style villas and buildings.
Authentic food scene
Hanoi is the birthplace of phở, bún chả, Cha ca La Vong, and legendary cheap and fresh street food culture. The food has good balance with less sweet than South Vietnam and less spicy than central Vietnam.
You can easily find a mix of street stalls, tiny family-run eateries along the narrow streets and bustling markets of the old quarter. You can experience street food at tiny street-side stalls, with tables lining the pavement. There are also dozens of fine dining restaurants to try.
The city is also known for its famous Egg coffee (Cà Phê Trứng). You can check out the popular Cafe Giảng, located right at the heart of the Old Quarter.
Good Nightlife and Shopping
The Old Quarter has a lively nightlife and shopping scene. Ta Hien Beer Street and the weekend night market are great spots for nightlife, in addition to the many nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in the area.
In terms of shopping, the Old Quarter is packed with small-family run shops where you can find traditional Vietnamese souvenirs as well as fashion and accessories.
There are high-quality silk products on Hang Gai (Silk Street), trendy Vietnamese boutiques on Hang Dao and Hang Ngang, jewelry shops on Hang Bac, or traditional herb medicine on Lan Ong street.
The Downside of staying Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi Old Quarter is an excellent base for first-timers and short time visitors to the city. Most long term travelers and expats are located in the surrounding districts of the Old Quarter such as Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, or Cau Giay.
The Old Quarter is the tourist heart of the city, which has its pros and cons. The pros are that it’s convenient and centrally located. The cons are that it can be crowded, touristy, and noisy.
Tourist hotspots means many restaurants and shops are for tourists with high prices. Many hotels and guesthouses in the Old Quarter have small rooms, without windows, no soundproofing, no elevator, and weak water pressure.
Best Areas to Stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake (aka Ho Guom) is the heart of Hanoi, so staying in the area around Hoan Kiem Lake offers an easy walking distance to the Old Quarter. I will divide the best areas to stay in Hanoi Old Quarter for first-timers based on the area around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hoan Kiem Lake is a popular hangout place for both locals and tourists. Around the lake, you can explore iconic sites like the island temple – Ngoc Son Temple and the red Huc Bridge.
The best areas to stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter include the Old Quarter (North of Hoan Kiem Lake), the St. Joseph Cathedral area (West of Hoan Kiem Lake), the East of Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Trang Tien Plaza area (South of Hoan Kiem Lake).
The official area of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the area north of Hoan Kiem Lake, extending all the way to the Long Bien Bridge. This area has many narrow old houses, small hotels, and many streets starting with the word “Hang”.
It is home to the city’s major attractions such as Ta Hien Beer Street, Dong Xuan Market, and ancient temples like Bach Ma Temple.
The west, east, and south side of Hoan Kiem Lake has wider streets, and French architecture style villas and buildings. If you want more spaces, and a bit quieter atmosphere, you can choose to stay in these areas but still have easy access to the old Quarter.
My recommended hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter:
- Luxury: Capella Hanoi (good upscale hotel in the French Quarter)
- Mid-range: Rex Hanoi Hotel ( I stayed here and loved it)
- Budget: The West Hotel & Spa ( I stayed here and it was a good stay)
Where to Stay in Old Quarter Hanoi: Best Hotels
1. The Old Quarter (North of Hoan Kiem Lake)
If you want steps away from popular points of interest, shopping, nightlife, and street food, this part of the Old Quarter north of Hoan Kiem Lake, is the best place for you to book your hotel.
This is the central area of Hanoi’s Old Quarter where you can narrow streets, ancient houses, and historical attractions. It is home to the famous Ta Hien Beer Street, Dong Xuan Market, Bach Ma Temple, Ma May Ancient House, or Quan Chuong Gate.
The 36 street originates in this part of Hanoi. Many traditional streets start with “Hang” located in this part of Hanoi. I recommend checking out Hang Gai (Silk Street) for traditional Vietnamese clothing, silk scarves, and fabrics.
Hàng Đào and Hàng Ngang are also home to many fashion boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up souvenirs, traditional Vietnamese handicrafts.
Hàng Bạc (Silver Street) is home to various small shops where you can buy silver jewelry. Hàng Mã (Paper Street) is a good place to see paper lanterns and festive decorations. It’s more lively during Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.
If you want to enjoy the nightlife with many street-side beer bars, you should check out Tạ Hiện Beer Street. You can drink fresh cheap local beer and people watch.
Phùng Hưng street is the last road on the western side of the old equator, where you can check out the many cafes along the train street. You can witness the train running through a tiny street, with houses, cafés, and shops built just inches from the tracks.
Along the narrow streets are the historic attractions. The 11th century Bach Ma Temple, situated in Hang Buom, is one of the four sacred temples of the Thang Long. The 3 other important temples are Quan Thanh, Kim Lien, and Voi Phuc Temple.
You can learn more about the daily lives of the people and the typical merchant’s home in the old time at the 87 Ma May Ancient House. This 19th century house has classic examples of the long, narrow “tube houses” in Hanoi Old Quarter.
O Quan Chuong Gate is one of the last remaining ancient city gates. Originally Dong Ha Gate, it was renamed Ô Quan Chưởng after a heroic battle in 1873, honoring a Nguyễn Dynasty commander and his soldiers who died defending the gate against French forces.
Many gates of Hanoi were demolished during French colonial rule, but O Quan Chuong Gate still survives till today. You can take nice photos with this brick-and-stone gate at the eastern edge of the Old Quarter.
The Dong Xuan Market, located near Long Bien bridge is another must-attraction in the old quarter. Founded in the late 19th century during the French colonial period, this was one of the largest markets in North Vietnam. It has three floors where you can find all kinds of goods at reasonable prices.
The Old Quarter has limited spaces with narrow streets and small buildings, so don’t expect much the hotels with
Best Hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (North of Hoan Kiem Lake):
Rex Hanoi Hotel (mid-range)
I stayed at this hotel and had a great experience with its facilities and friendly staff. The hotel has a central location, easy distance to the famous attractions such as Ta Hien Beef street, the weekend night market, and Hoan Kiem Lake. I walk everywhere from the hotel.
The hotel has a large sky bar area with stunning views of the city. It also has a small indoor pool, a nice breakfast area, and comfortable rooms with windows. I highly recommend this hotel for those looking for a good mid-range hotel in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
May De Ville Lakeside Hotel (luxury)
This is a good upscale hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter, close to everything. It’s excellent to do sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, and street food hunting around the old quarter on foot. It’s just a short walk from Ta Hien Beer Street and the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake.
The hotel has a nice rooftop area overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake and the red The Huc bridge. It has a nice swimming pool area and comfortable rooms. They have a travel desk that can assist trips around Vietnam to Halong, Ninh Binh, or Sapa.
The West Hotel & Spa (budget)
This is a good budget option in the central area of Hanoi Old Quarter. I also had a good experience staying at this hotel. The staff is friendly and the room was spacious with a balcony and windows, so I have plenty of natural lights.
It’s located in Hang Dao, within easy walking distance to many shops, restaurants, and bars. It’s a good base for exploring all major sights of the city on foot or short Grab ride.
2. The St. Joseph Cathedral area (West of Hoan Kiem Lake)
The area in the west side of Hoan Kiem Lake also offers central location and easy access to Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This area is home to St. Joseph Cathedral is the most popular attraction in this part. It was built during the French colonial period with tall towers and Gothic architecture.
It’s a good place to visit to admire its architecture, exterior viewing and photography. The area around the church is also a popular gathering place, with street-side cafés, and a relaxed vibe.
Popular streets in this area include Hang Trong, Nha Chung, Phu Doan, and Quan Su street. The streets here are also a bit wider in the old quarter and you can feel more spaces in this part of the city. There are more local standard luxury hotels in this area.
Best hotel near St. Joseph Cathedral (West of Hoan Kiem Lake):
Meritel Hanoi (luxury)
This 5-star hotel is located in Hang Bong street, a central location of Hanoi, walking distance to everything. The hotel has a beautiful design with blending French with Vietnamese influence
The hotel has comfortable rooms, and facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, onsite restaurant/bar, and spa services.
L’Signature Hotel & Spa (mid-range)
This is a popular mid-range hotel located in the heart of Hanoi on Ngo Bao Khanh street. The hotel has a nice rooftop area and spacious rooms with modern amenities.
You can enjoy a quiet night sleep while still being in the middle of everything, including the Old Quarter, many great restaurants, cafés, and cultural attractions.
Centre Point Hanoi Hotel (budget)
This 3-star hotel is located in Hang Hanh street, near the Old Quarter and all the popular points of interest of the city. The room is quiet even though it’s in the middle of the busy streets. The staff can assist you with tours and transportation around Vietnam.
3. The East of Hoan Kiem Lake
The east side of Hoan Kiem Lake offers central location, larger spaces with wider streets, while still being close to the old quarter. This area is home to some major sites like the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi Post Office, and the peaceful Ly Thai To Garden.
Major roads on the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake include Ding Tien Hoang, Ly Thai To, and Hang Voi. This area has a good range of mid-range hotels, centering around north east and south east of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Best Hotels East of Hoan Kiem Lake:
Aurora Oriental Hotel
This upscale hotel is located on Ly Thai To street, between the old quarter and the French quarter. It’s an easy walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake and major sights in the old quarter.
The hotel has a pool, spa services, and good breakfast. There are dozens of restaurants, cafes,and shops within a short distance from the hotel.
La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa
This 4-star mid-range hotel is located in Hang Dau street, near the old quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. The hotel has anice rooftop area, good room, and good breakfast. You can choose a room with a window for the best experience.
Hanoi Amorita Boutique Hotel & Travel
This 3-star budget hotel is conveniently located near the old quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. A good choice for a budget traveler to explore the city. It has private clean rooms with all necessary facilities for a comfortable stay.
4. The Trang Tien Plaza area (South of Hoan Kiem Lake)
The south and southwest of Hoan Kiem lake is the French Quarter where you can find wide leafy boulevards, luxury boutiques, and French-style buildings. Some true luxury 5-star hotels of Hanoi located in this area.
If you want luxury, lots of space, and an easy distance to the old quarter, the area south of Hoan Kiem lake is a great choice. See more where to stay in Hanoi’s French Quarter.
Popular points of interest south of Hoan Kiem Lake are the iconic yellow-painted Trang Tien Plaza, Hanoi Opera House, Vietnam National Museum of History, and Hoa Lo Prison.
Modern shopping malls of the city are also located in this part of Hanoi. You can find Trang Tien Palza, or UNIQLO Hoan Kiem for mid-range and luxury air-conditioning shopping experience.
Best Hotels South of Hoan Kiem Lake:
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (luxury)
This 5-star luxury hotel is located in the French Quarter of Hoan Kiem district. The hotel has elegant design with classic French colonial style, beautiful rooms, and gardens.
It’s a short distance from everything, including historical attractions in the old quarter, as well as restaurants, bars, and shops. If you want luxury and historic stay, Sofitel is the place to go.
Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi – MGallery (luxury)
This 5-star hotel is located in a prime location in the central area of Hanoi on Trang tien street, a short walk from the Opera House and all attractions of the city. The hotel has an indoor pool, spacious rooms, a fitness center, and spa services.
La Siesta Premium Lakeside (luxury)
This upscale hotel is located on Ba Trieu street on the quiet side of Hanoi in the French Quarter. It’s close to Hoan Kiem lake and the old quarter. It has good amenities with clean and spacious rooms and an outdoor swimming pool with city views.
See more:
So, you have listed my brief introduction to Hanoi’s Old Quarter with its history and things to do and see. By now, you should know about the old quarter and decide where to book your accommodation for your first visit to Hanoi.