Hanoi Old Quarter and French Quarter are the two most popular areas to stay in Hanoi for first-time visitors. In this article, I will compare these two areas to help you decide which area is best for you to book your accommodations.
Both areas have central locations and a unique atmosphere, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily access all popular points of interest. I’ll compare their locations, atmosphere, accommodation options, nightlife, shopping, food, and attractions.
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Hanoi Old Quarter or French Quarter, which area for first-timers?
Both the Old Quarter and French Quarter are excellent areas to stay in Hanoi for first-time visitors and those who have a short time in the city. They have a central location with easy access to a wide range of tourist amenities and attractions.
I would recommend staying in the Old Quarter if you want to be in the heart of the action. Hanoi Old Quarter is considered the historical and cultural birthplace of the city. Staying here means you’ll be just steps away from ancient temples, houses, shops, and nightlife.
The Old Quarter has a more historic atmosphere with narrow cobble stone streets, old shophouses, and traditional tube houses. It is home to “36 Streets” heritage, which each street traditionally specialized in a trade such as silk, silver, herbs, paper, …
Major points of interest such as Ta Hien Beer Street, Nigh Market, Bach Ma Temple, Ma May ancient house, and Dong Xuan Market are located in the Old Quarter.
You can find street food restaurants at every corner of the Old Quarter. It’s chaotic, and noisy, but it offers an authentic atmosphere of Hanoi.
Hanoi Old Quarter was established from the 11th century when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long (now Hanoi).
The French Quarter was developed when the French colonized Vietnam, introducing wide boulevards, European architecture, and planned urban design. It was built south of the Old Quarter and extended to the part of Ba Dinh district.
I recommend staying in The French Quarter if you want more open space, a quieter atmosphere, and luxury experience with true 5-star hotels, high-end shoppings, and fine dining.
The French Quarter is home to beautiful French style architecture buildings such as Trang Tien Plaza, Hanoi Opera House, St. Joseph Cathedral, Hoa Lo Prison, Metropole Hotel, or Vietnam National Museum of History.
The French Quarter is not as central as the Old Quarter, but it is still an excellent base to explore the city. You can walk or use a short Grab Bike to get to the heart of the action.
Another factor to consider when choosing whether to stay in the old quarter or the French Quarter is your budget. The Old Quarter has a wide range of accommodations, shops, and eateries for all budgets.
The French Quarter has hotels, shops, and restaurants that tend toward the mid-range to luxury categories. So if you are on a budget, I recommend choosing to stay in the Old Quarter.
Best hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter:
- Luxury: May De Ville Lakeside Hotel
- Mid-range: Rex Hanoi Hotel (I stayed here and recommend it)
- Budget: The West Hotel & Spa ( I stayed here and it’s good for budget traveler)
Best hotels in Hanoi’s French Quarter:
- Luxury: Sofitel Legend Metropole
- Luxury: Capella Hanoi
- Mid-range: Solaria Hanoi Hotel
Location & Getting there
Both Hanoi Old Quarter and French Quarter are located in the heart of Hanoi, between the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Red River. They are located around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hanoi Old Quarter is located north of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a small area that is bounded by Phung Hung street in the west, Hang Dau street in the north, Tran Nhat Duat & Tran Quang Khai street in the east, and Hang Ngang, Hang Bong, & Cau Go street in the south.
The common name of streets in the Old Quarter start with “Hang”, followed by the products used to sell or made there. Popular streets in The Old Quarter are Hang Bac, Hang Dao, Hang Ma, Hang Bong, Hang Ngang…
The French Quarter is located south of the Old Quarter, but the main area is southeast of Hoan Kiem Lake. Major sights in the French Quarter are Trang Tien Plaza, Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison, Metropole Hotel, and the Big Church.
History and Architecture
The Old Quarter has a history of more than 1000 years in the 11th century while the French Quarter was developed in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The Old Quarter was founded in 1010m when King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Ninh Binh to Thang Long. He built the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and the Old Quarter was established just outside the old Imperial Citadel.
The Old Quarter was where artisans and traders worked and lived. People with the same skill formed guild streets, each street became known for one craft or product such as silk, silver, paper, and bamboo. Many of today’s street names still reflect those original trades.
The layout of the Old Quarter is maze-like, with narrow alleys and traditional tube houses. The house has super narrow, multistory buildings (traditionally 2 storeys) with very slim street frontages but extending far back into the block.
These tube houses were developed in the feudal period to avoid taxes based on the width of the street frontage. People extended their homes backward to gain more space. The front of the house was often a shop or workshop, while the interior and upper floors were living space.
The Old Quarter was commercial and political in the country for centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, French rule arrived, parts of the area kept its traditional character.
They built the French District outside of the Old Quarter with French-style villas, churches, government buildings, hotels, and Opera House. The French Quarter features wide boulevards, tree-lined avenues, and European-style buildings.
Many buildings still exist till today and are converted into government offices, museums, cafés, or hotels. They reflect the lasting architectural impact of the colonial period on Hanoi.
Hanoi Old Quarter vs French Quarter Hotels
Hanoi Old Quarter has a higher concentration of hotels and it also offers a wide range of accommodations for all budgets. You can easily find luxury, mid-range, and budget hotels and hostels in the Old Quarter.
Due to the compact nature of the area, the hotels in the Old Quarter are often small, and mostly budget and mid-range options. There are hotels labeled as luxury, but I believe they represent local standards of luxury rather than international ones.
The French Quarter has more space, so you can find bigger hotels and high-rise apartment style accommodations. Many true luxury hotels are located in the French Quarter, so if you stay after a luxury stay, the French Quarter is the place to book your accommodation.
The historic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was originally built in 1901 during the French colonial period. It has charming French colonial architecture and has hosted famous people, celebrities, diplomats, and historic events.
If you don’t stay at the hotels, you can visit its multiple restaurants and bars such as the French fine dining Le Beaulieu, the Spices Garden for Vietnamese specialties, as well as Le Club Bar, Bamboo Bar, La Terrasse for drinks and snacks.
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Hanoi Old Quarter or French Quarter for Shopping
The narrow streets of the Old Quarter are packed with stalls and shops selling a huge range of traditional souvenirs and crafts. Additionally, you can shop at the Weekend Night Market and Dong Xuan Market, which is a huge indoor market with clothes, fabrics, accessories.
The Old Quarter is a great place to do bargain shopping, not only at the markets but also at local independent shops. You can easily find budget shopping, gifts, and quirky finds.
I recommend looking at the shops and boutiques at Hang Gai if you’re looking for quality silk products like traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai, scarves, ties, and tailoring clothes.
Hang Bac Street is a good place to find Gold shops and to buy silver jewelry such as necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets.
Other places to look at are Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Quat, or Hang Ma. Just simply wander around, get lost, and you’ll find everything, from lacquerware, handicrafts, ceramics, bamboo products, traditional artwork, shoes and handbags.
Dong Xuan Market is also a good place to check out. It’s located in the historic building built from French colonial in 1889, the building has multiple floors where you can find various products such as Vietnamese handicrafts, fabrics, clothing, and accessories.
The French Quarter is home to luxury independent shops and malls. It’s absolutely not a place to go for bargain shopping. Trang Tien Plaza is the major mall in the area, but you can find many high-end shops along Trang Tien, Ly Thuong Kiet, Ly Thai To, and Hai Ba trung street.
Trang Tien Plaza is located in a prime location just south of Hoan Kiem Lake. It has an elegant French‑colonial architectural style and is home to hundreds of stores with high‑end names such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace, Cartier, Rolex, and Gucci.
Old Quarter or French Quarter for Nightlife
The Old Quarter has livelier nightlife with beer streets, night market, night markets, and restaurants. It is often packed with people in the evening.
Ta Hien Beer street is the nightlife center of the Old Quarter. There are dozens of affordable bars, clubs in this area serving cheap Bia Hoi and drinks. Many bars have chairs and tables set out to the streets, so you can enjoy a drink, chat with your friends, and people watch.
If you want a quieter atmosphere, you can take a leisure stroll along Hoan Kiem lake where you can find the Illuminated Ngoc Son Temple. It’s a good spot for taking photos and there are often some events on this small island in the middle of the lake.
The Weekend Night Market From Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, to Dong Xuan street is a good place for street food and some souvenirs. It is open in the evening from Friday to Sunday every week.
The nightlife in the French Quarter is more refined, quieter, and sophisticated. You can enjoy classy bars, rooftop lounge experiences rather than street parties like in the Old Quarter.
Old Quarter vs French Quarter Food
Hanoi Old Quarter is a street food haven where you can find cheap, authentic, traditional Vietnamese cuisine at every corner.
Famous foods to try in the Old Quarter are Pho, Bun Cha Hanoi, Cha Ca Hanoi, Banh Mi, and Egg Coffee (Ca Phe Trung). Some popular cafes and restaurants in the Old towns are the Cafe Giang, Bun Cha Hang Manh, Banh Mi 25, Xoi Yen, or Cha Ca Thang Long.
The French Quarter has more calm, and polished French-inspired cafés and restaurants. Restaurants tend to be sit-down style rather than street stalls. You can easily find French cuisine, pastries and high-end Vietnamese dishes.
Sightseeing & attractions
The Old Quarter and French Quarter are located next to each other, so you can easily stay in one place then explore the other on foot, cycle, or using riding share services such as Grab.
The major attraction of Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake (aka Guom Lake), known as the heart of the city. The Old town and the French Quarter is developed around Hoan Kiem Lake.
It’s 600m long and 240m wide lake, with Thap Rua (turtle tower) in the middle of the lake. The legend says a magical sword was returned to a golden turtle god in the lake after King Le Loi used it to drive out invaders in the 15th century.
Another highlight on Hoan Kiem Lake is Ngoc Son temple, located on a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s connected with the shore via the iconic red wooden The Huc Bridge.
The lake shore is lined with cafés, benches, and green spaces. It’s a popular place for morning jogs, tai chi, and evening strolls. The lake side ice cream shop, Kem Thuy Ta, is a good place to have ice cream on a hot day.
In addition to the tube houses, narrow streets, the Old Quarter is home to ancient pagodas, and houses such as the Bach Ma Temple and Ma May ancient House.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is also a good stop in the Old Quarter to see the ancient Vietnamese tradition of water puppetry.
Top attractions in the French Quarter are typical French-style buildings dating back to the colonial period. You can have a look at the historic Metropole hotel, Opera House, Trang Tien Plaza, Hoa Lo Prison, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral, locally known as the Big Church, is Neo-Gothic architecture resembling Notre Dame in Paris. It’s located on the western side of Hoan Kiem Lake and is a good place to take photos. Many locals gather around the church Square for tra chanh (ice lemon tea).
Hoa Lo prison is another must see in the French Quarter to learn about the history of the Vietnam- American war. It was first built by the French to house Vietnamese political prisoners, and later used by the Vietnamese government to house American prisoners of war.
Getting Around
My favorite way of getting around the Old Quarter is just wandering around and getting lost between narrow streets. It’s quite compact, so it’s easy to get around on foot. If you’re tired, you can always get a short Grab taxi or Grab Bike along the way.
You can also consider using the Cyclo, which takes you around the old city, French quarter and major attractions. The drivers often packed around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Opera House.
I feel that the French Quarter has bigger space than the Old Quarter, so I prefer to use Grab Bikes to explore major sights in the area. I walked for a shorter distance such as between Trang Tien Plaza, and the Opera House.
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So, there you have it, my brief comparison between the Hanoi Old Quarter and the French Quarter. Both are located in the heart of the city, which offer central location for sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife.
Overall, The Old Quarter offers a more traditional experience with street food everywhere, as well as tiny alleys, and the tube houses. The Old Quarter has wider range of accommodations for all budget
The French Quarter offer more open space, quieter atmosphere, luxury gells, which is ideal for those who want luxury and more peaceful environment while still being close to the action.