Ba Dinh

The Ba Dinh neighborhood is an urban district located in Hanoi, formerly known as the `French Quarter` it serves as the political center of Vietnam. The area is home to some of the most important political buildings in the country, including the national assembly building, the president`s palace, embassies and government offices as well as the popular Minh mausoleum. Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi Flag Tower, and the one pillar Pagoda are all situated here as well as some of the best schools in the city. It is an extremely exclusive and desirable neighborhood to live in. The streets are lined with large colonial buildings and decorated with big beautiful trees, visitors will find hotels, restaurants and bars and the spectacular Botanical Gardens.

Hoan Kiem Lake

The area of Hoan Kiem is centrally located in the city of Hanoi within walking distance to the Old Quarter. The Hoan Kiem Lake sits at the core of this district, a scenic gathering spot for many locals who come to the park in the mornings to practice tai chi and a popular place to gather on the weekends when the streets are traffic free from 7 pm – midnight Friday through Sunday. Many of the country`s banking headquarters are situated in this downtown location which is the commercial center of the city. A large number of the cities tourist attractions can be found in this area including the Hanoi Opera House, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, St Joseph`s Cathedral, Hoa Lo prison and several museums. The charming shady streets of Hoan Kiem are filled with shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and the ever popular local markets including the night markets.

Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is situated in the middle of Hanoi on the southeastern side of Hoan Kiem Lake, this popular area is filled with luxury hotels, high-end restaurants, exclusive shopping and a vibrant nightlife scene. This neighborhood is decorated with old fashioned brick houses set on narrow streets which are named after the goods that were once traded on them, ie: Hang Ma (paper), Hang Bac (silver) and Hang Go (wood). This unique historical area is the perfect place to take a stroll down the maze of narrow alleyways with a history that dates back over 1000 years. Antique shop houses line the alleys where the city`s vibrant street life comes alive with local vendors selling fresh produce and mouth watering street food. Courtyards are filled with quaint outdoor cafes, bars, restaurants, and boutiques. This is the place to sit back and relax in the morning at one of the many bakeries while enjoying a French baguette and coffee and also the place to live it up during the evening with live music, discos, and karaoke bars.

West Lake

The Tay Ho District or West Lake is a high-end residential neighborhood that sits on the banks of the largest natural lake in Vietnam. The area is located close to downtown with the lakes shore line stretching for 10 miles lined with upscale hotels and villas with beautiful serene gardens. In this neighborhood, visitors will find plenty of restaurants, boutiques, entertainment and outdoor recreation. The Tay Ho and Tran Quoc Pagoda can be found here, the area is a popular location for the locals and some of the most expensive real estate in the city can be found here. The lake provides plenty of entertainment including boating and fishing, the boardwalk here is perfect for a stroll with shops and restaurants featuring some of the best seafood in the city where an entire street here is dedicated to local seafood. Nightlife in this district offers classy venues such as the rooftop bar at The Summit Lounge which is situated on the 20th floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel.