Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
★★★★★Hanoi's 1901 colonial legend, host to Chaplin and Graham Greene — white façades, a courtyard pool and a wartime bunker tour beneath the bar.
Hanoi
A thousand years of history, lake mornings and Asia's best boutique hotels for the money
Hanoi, Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital, rewards travelers who stay close to Hoan Kiem Lake, the city's social heart. The Old Quarter's 36 ancient guild streets deliver street food, markets and motorbike theatre right outside your door; the French Quarter offers wide boulevards, the Opera House and grand colonial hotels; West Lake (Tay Ho) suits those wanting café calm and expat-favourite restaurants; and Ba Dinh holds the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Hanoi's boutique hotel scene is arguably Asia's best bargain — according to HaveNaGo's selection, immaculate 4-star hotels with spa treatments and rooftop bars routinely cost just €50–90 per night. Noi Bai Airport is 45 minutes away by taxi for around €15. Book 4–6 weeks ahead for the pleasant October–November and March–April windows, and earlier around Tet (late January or February), when the whole country travels and many businesses close.
Hanoi
Hand-picked hotels in Hanoi
Selected across neighbourhoods and budgets — booked safely on Booking.com.
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Capella Hanoi
★★★★★Bill Bensley's opera-themed jewel box beside the Opera House — 47 lavish rooms full of art and velvet, with service to match the theatrics.
Lotte Hotel Hanoi
★★★★★Sky-high rooms from the 38th floor of the Lotte Center tower — floor-to-ceiling city views, a top-floor bar and big-hotel polish at fair rates.
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
★★★★★Pavilion rooms built on stilts over West Lake beside the Tran Quoc Pagoda — sunset water views and calm the Old Quarter can't offer.
Apricot Hotel
★★★★★An art-gallery hotel steps from Hoan Kiem Lake — hundreds of original Vietnamese paintings, a rooftop pool and lake views from the bar.
Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
★★★★The Old Quarter's service superstar — elegant rooms, a genuinely excellent spa and staff who remember your name from day one.
The Oriental Jade Hotel
★★★★A glass-edged rooftop pool overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake and St Joseph's Cathedral — five-star touches at boutique 4-star prices.
Hanoi Emerald Waters Hotel & Spa
★★★Warm family-run comfort on Lo Su street near the lake — generous breakfasts, free extras and rates that undercut its own quality.
Little Charm Hanoi Hostel
★★A rarity: a hostel with an indoor pool in the heart of the Old Quarter — capsule-style dorm beds, free pho breakfasts and spotless bathrooms.
Nexy Hostel
★★Design-forward hostel by the cathedral with big lockers, privacy curtains and a sociable lounge — budget Hanoi without the compromises.
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Travel Guides
Travel guides for Hanoi
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Read more →Frequently asked questions
Which area of Hanoi is best for first-time visitors?
The Old Quarter or the streets just south of Hoan Kiem Lake. You'll be walking distance from the lake, the water puppet theatre and hundreds of street-food spots. Light sleepers should ask for a higher-floor room away from the street — Hanoi wakes up early and loudly.
How many nights do you need in Hanoi?
Two to three nights for the city itself — the Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, museums and a street-food tour. Most travelers add two more for an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise or a Ninh Binh day trip, both using Hanoi as the gateway.
Is Hanoi cheap for hotels?
Exceptionally. Well-reviewed boutique 4-stars in the Old Quarter cost €50–90 per night, excellent hostels under €10, and even the legendary Sofitel Metropole is affordable by grand-hotel standards. Service levels routinely outclass hotels costing three times more elsewhere.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
October to November and March to April, when temperatures sit pleasantly between 20 and 28°C. Summer (May–September) is hot, humid and stormy; winter (December–February) turns surprisingly grey and cool, sometimes dropping to 10°C.