An Airbnb Hanoi stay in the Old Quarter, 2 to 10 minutes on foot from Hoan Kiem Lake, works for a few nights, but a serviced apartment in Hoan Kiem or Tay Ho (West Lake), 15 to 25 minutes by Grab, is safer for a week or longer. Old Quarter tube houses are often cheap but noisy, with steep stairs and no lift. Serviced apartments add a front desk, housekeeping and often a pool. Check that your host registers guests with police. For hotels, see where to stay in Hanoi.
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Airbnb Hanoi or a serviced apartment?
Both give you more space than a hotel room and usually a kitchen. The difference is who runs the place. An Airbnb is usually a private unit managed by an individual host or a small company. A serviced apartment or aparthotel is a building run like a hotel, with staff on site.
| Airbnb apartment | Serviced apartment / aparthotel | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Individual host or small manager | Hotel-style operator with staff |
| Check-in | Host meets you or a key box | 24-hour reception in larger buildings |
| Cleaning | Cleaning fee; housekeeping varies | Housekeeping usually included |
| Facilities | Varies; often no lift in tube houses | Lift, gym, often a pool and laundry |
| Residence registration | Host must do it; check they will | Front desk handles it |
| Best for | Short stays, budget, local streets | Families, a week to several months |
Airbnb suits budget travellers who want a local street, a kitchen and a bit more room than a hostel. A serviced apartment suits families, business travellers, and anyone who wants daily help with problems such as a broken air conditioner or a late arrival.
Compare stays in Hanoi
Live prices from Booking and more. Move the map or change dates to compare stays.
Where to stay in Hanoi: areas at a glance
Small apartments in the busiest streets
Best for short first visits with a kitchen
Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem)
The grid of old trading streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Most apartments here are small private units in narrow tube houses.
Most Airbnb listings in Hanoi sit in the Old Quarter, the grid of streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Many are studios or one-bedroom units in narrow tube houses, often up several flights of stairs with no lift. The lake, street food and most tour pick-ups are a 5 to 15 minute walk away. The trade-off is noise from motorbikes and bars until late, small rooms, and few true serviced apartment buildings with a pool or gym. Check whether the unit has a window, a lift and a front desk, or whether you will meet a host with a key. It suits couples and solo travellers on short stays. Families and anyone staying a month or longer usually do better in Hoan Kiem's larger serviced residences or in Tay Ho.
Central serviced residences
Best for families and stays of one to four weeks
Hoan Kiem and the French Quarter
The streets south of Hoan Kiem Lake around Hai Ba Trung and the Opera House, plus the edge of Hai Ba Trung district.
South of the lake, around Hai Ba Trung Street, the Opera House and Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi has a few large serviced residences with pools, gyms and full kitchens. Streets are wider and quieter than in the Old Quarter, and the lake and the Old Quarter are about 10 to 20 minutes on foot. This is the most central place to get a real apartment with hotel services, so it suits families, business travellers and anyone staying one to four weeks who still wants to walk to the sights. Evenings are quieter and street food is thinner on the ground. Prices sit in the mid-range to luxury band, and budget apartments are hard to find here.
Expat base for monthly stays
Best for remote workers, expats and families on long stays
Tay Ho (West Lake)
The lakeside area around West Lake, about 5 to 6 km north of the Old Quarter, with the city's biggest cluster of serviced apartments.
Tay Ho, around West Lake, has more serviced apartment buildings than anywhere else in Hanoi and many of the city's foreign residents. Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho Road and the lanes off Dang Thai Mai have international cafes, groceries and gyms, and several buildings offer monthly rates. The Old Quarter is 15 to 25 minutes away by Grab, longer at rush hour, so you will ride for most sightseeing. Noi Bai Airport is closer than from the centre, often 30 to 45 minutes by car. Tay Ho suits remote workers, families with children and anyone staying a month or more. On a two or three night first trip it puts you too far from the sights.
Quiet apartments near the monuments
Best for business stays and quieter long stays
Ba Dinh
The political district west of the Old Quarter, with the mausoleum, the citadel and the Kim Ma and Lieu Giai business strip.
Ba Dinh lies west of the Old Quarter and holds Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Imperial Citadel and many embassies. Further west, around Kim Ma and Lieu Giai, it becomes a business district with Lotte Center and a handful of older serviced apartment buildings popular with business travellers and long-stay families. Streets are wide and calm, and the Old Quarter is 15 to 20 minutes away by Grab. The trade-off is atmosphere: there is little street life at night, and you will ride to most restaurants and bars. Ba Dinh suits business trips, families who want space and a pool, and long stays where quiet matters more than nightlife. It is a poor fit for a short first visit.
Business district for long stays
Best for long work stays in the west of the city
Cau Giay and My Dinh
The newer business districts west of the centre, around Duy Tan, Hoang Quoc Viet, Keangnam and the My Dinh stadium area.
Cau Giay and My Dinh are Hanoi's newer business districts west of the centre, with office towers, universities, malls and large apartment complexes. Serviced apartments here mostly serve people working in the area, and Airbnb has many units in new residential towers. The Old Quarter is usually 20 to 40 minutes by Grab, depending on traffic. You get modern buildings, gyms and pools, but few sights and little old Hanoi character. Stay here if your office, school or university is in the west, or if you are settling in for months. For a holiday, Hoan Kiem or Tay Ho is a better base.
What to check before booking an Airbnb in Hanoi
Total price and fees. Since April 2025, Airbnb shows the total price, including cleaning and service fees but before taxes, by default in search results. On short stays a flat cleaning fee can make a cheap nightly rate less of a bargain, so compare totals, not nightly prices.
House rules and access. Many Old Quarter listings are in narrow tube houses with steep stairs and no lift. Read the listing for floor number, lift, window, air conditioning in every room, and self check-in. Ask how to reach the host late at night.
Residence registration. Vietnam requires the person who runs your accommodation to declare foreign guests to the local police. Under Circular 87, in force from 24 July 2026, the declaration should be made immediately after you arrive; paper forms must reach the police within 12 hours. Hosts who fail to report one to three guests face fines of 2 to 4 million VND under Decree 282/2025.
You hand over your passport and visa details, and the host files the form. Vietcetera advises foreigners not to stay at an address that has not been declared, so ask your host before booking whether they register guests. Hotels and serviced apartments do this at the front desk.
Building rules. Rules on short-term rentals in residential apartment towers have been contested in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City banned daily rentals in residential-only buildings in 2025 and allowed them again with conditions from April 2026. We could not confirm a city-wide Hanoi ban, but individual buildings can set their own rules, so a guard may ask questions in some towers.
Hanoi apartments by area: compared
Hanoi’s sights cluster around Hoan Kiem Lake. The further out you go, the bigger and newer the apartments get, and the more you spend on rides. Travel times are typical daytime figures and get longer at rush hour (roughly 7 to 9 am and 4:30 to 7 pm).
| Area | Best for | Price band | To Hoan Kiem Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Quarter (Hoan Kiem) | Short first visits, budget Airbnb | Budget to mid-range | 2 to 10 min walk |
| Hoan Kiem and the French Quarter | Families, one to four weeks | Mid-range to luxury | 10 to 20 min walk |
| Tay Ho (West Lake) | Monthly stays, expats, remote work | Mid-range to luxury | 15 to 25 min by Grab |
| Ba Dinh | Business, quiet long stays | Mid-range | 15 to 20 min by Grab |
| Cau Giay and My Dinh | Long work stays in the west | Budget to luxury | 20 to 40 min by Grab |
Old Quarter: small apartments for short stays
Most Airbnb listings in Hanoi sit in the Old Quarter, the grid of streets north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Many are studios or one-bedroom units in narrow tube houses, often up several flights of stairs with no lift. The lake, Dong Xuan Market, street food and most tour pick-ups are a 5 to 15 minute walk away.
The trade-off is noise from motorbikes and bars until late, small rooms, and few true serviced apartment buildings with a pool or gym. Check whether the unit has a window, a lift and a front desk, or whether you will meet a host with a key. It suits couples and solo travellers on short stays. Families and anyone staying a month or longer usually do better in Hoan Kiem’s larger serviced residences or in Tay Ho. If you would rather have a hotel here, our Hanoi Old Quarter hotels guide goes street by street.
Mid-range: Dom’s Residence Hoan Kiem
A small aparthotel at 14B Ly Nam De, on the western edge of the Old Quarter. Listings describe 11 apartments with kitchens and a front desk with limited hours. It is a newer listing with few reviews so far, so read the latest guest comments before you book. It suits couples who want a kitchen and the Old Quarter on the doorstep.
Hoan Kiem and the French Quarter: central serviced residences
South of the lake, around Hai Ba Trung Street, the Opera House and Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi has a few large serviced residences with pools, gyms and full kitchens. Streets are wider and quieter than in the Old Quarter, and the lake and the Old Quarter are about 10 to 20 minutes on foot.
This is the most central place to get a real apartment with hotel services. It suits families, business travellers and anyone staying one to four weeks who still wants to walk to the sights. Evenings are quieter and street food is thinner on the ground. Prices sit in the mid-range to luxury band, and budget apartments are hard to find here.
Mid-range: Camellia Residence Hanoi
An apartment building at 95 Trieu Viet Vuong, just south of the French Quarter in Hai Ba Trung. Listings mention a 24-hour front desk, and suites with a living room, a small kitchen and a washer and dryer. The Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake are a short ride or a long walk away. It suits couples and small families on stays of one to three weeks.
Luxury: Somerset Grand Hanoi (our top choice)
A large serviced residence run by Ascott at 49 Hai Ba Trung, directly across the road from Hoa Lo Prison. Apartments range from one to three bedrooms plus penthouses, and each has a full kitchen and an in-room washer and dryer. The building has an outdoor pool, a gym, a children’s playground and 24-hour reception. Ascott says the Old Quarter, the lake, St Joseph’s Cathedral and the Opera House are within about a 15 minute walk. For families or anyone staying a week or more who wants to walk to the sights, it is our pick.
Tay Ho (West Lake): the expat base for monthly stays
Tay Ho, around West Lake, has more serviced apartment buildings than anywhere else in Hanoi and many of the city’s foreign residents. Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho Road and the lanes off Dang Thai Mai have international cafes, groceries and gyms, and several buildings offer monthly rates. Our West Lake Hanoi guide covers what to do there.
The Old Quarter is 15 to 25 minutes away by Grab, longer at rush hour, so you will ride for most sightseeing. Noi Bai Airport is closer than from the centre, often 30 to 45 minutes by car. Tay Ho suits remote workers, families with children and anyone staying a month or more. On a two or three night first trip it puts you too far from the sights.
Mid-range: The Hanoi Club Hotel & Lake Palais Residences
A lakefront property at 76 Yen Phu, on the southern shore of West Lake, with hotel rooms and serviced residences. Listings mention an outdoor pool, a spa and free parking. It is one of the closest Tay Ho options to the Old Quarter, which helps if you still plan to sightsee.
Upper mid-range: Oakwood Residence Hanoi
A serviced apartment building at 17 Lane 35 Dang Thai Mai, about 400 metres from West Lake, opened in 2019. Oakwood lists 250 apartments from studios to three bedrooms, all with full kitchens and washing machines, plus an all-season pool, a co-working space and a kids’ playroom. Ciputra, with several international schools, is nearby, so it suits families on long stays.
Luxury: Fraser Suites Hanoi
A serviced residence at 51 Xuan Dieu, in Syrena Tower, with 280 apartments from studios to duplexes across two wings. The newer Tower B, opened in 2021, has 96 apartments. Frasers lists a business lounge, a 24-hour gym and childcare. It suits expats and business travellers who want Xuan Dieu’s cafes and restaurants at the door.
Luxury: Somerset West Point Hanoi
A large serviced residence at 2 Tay Ho Road, on the West Lake shore. Apartments run from studios to four bedrooms, each with a balcony and a full kitchen. Ascott lists a pool, a children’s playroom, a gym, a yoga room and a golf simulator, and pets under 7 kg are allowed with conditions. For long stays, housekeeping does not run on Sundays or public holidays.
Ba Dinh: quiet apartments near the monuments
Ba Dinh lies west of the Old Quarter and holds Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and many embassies. Further west, around Kim Ma and Lieu Giai, it becomes a business district with Lotte Center and a handful of older serviced apartment buildings popular with business travellers and long-stay families.
Streets are wide and calm, and the Old Quarter is 15 to 20 minutes away by Grab. The trade-off is atmosphere: there is little street life at night, and you will ride to most restaurants and bars. Ba Dinh suits business trips, families who want space and a pool, and long stays where quiet matters more than nightlife.
Mid-range: Lancaster Hanoi Service Apartment
An aparthotel at 20 Nui Truc, a short walk from Lotte Center according to listing data. Listings mention an indoor pool, a gym, a sauna, laundry service and a 24-hour front desk, with studios up to three and four bedroom apartments. It suits families and groups who need several bedrooms under one roof.
Mid-range: Daeha Hanoi Serviced Apartments
A large serviced apartment building at 360 Kim Ma, a few minutes’ walk from Lotte Center. Listings describe one to three bedroom apartments with kitchens, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. Star ratings differ between booking sites, so judge it by recent reviews. It suits business stays on the west side of the centre.
Cau Giay and My Dinh: long work stays in the west
Cau Giay and My Dinh are Hanoi’s newer business districts west of the centre, with office towers, universities, malls and large apartment complexes. Serviced apartments here mostly serve people working in the area, and Airbnb has many units in new residential towers. The Old Quarter is usually 20 to 40 minutes by Grab, depending on traffic.
You get modern buildings, gyms and pools, but few sights and little old Hanoi character. Stay here if your office, school or university is in the west, or if you are settling in for months. For a holiday, Hoan Kiem or Tay Ho is a better base.
Mid-range: Novotel Suites Hanoi
An Accor apartment hotel at 5 Duy Tan in Cau Giay, with studios and one to three bedroom apartments that have kitchenettes. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and an all-day restaurant, and the airport is roughly 30 minutes by car. Reviewers describe it as functional and comfortable rather than stylish. It suits work trips of a week or two.
Luxury: Somerset Hoa Binh Hanoi
A serviced residence at 106 Hoang Quoc Viet, inside a mixed-use complex with shops and offices. Ascott lists studios to two bedroom apartments with full kitchens and in-suite washer and dryers, an indoor pool, a gym, a shuttle to the centre, and a 15 minute drive to the Old Quarter. It suits long stays for people working in Cau Giay.
Luxury: Fraser Residence Hanoi
A newer serviced residence at C5 Do Nhuan in Bac Tu Liem, northwest of Cau Giay, opened in late 2021. Frasers lists studios to three bedroom apartments, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour gym and a children’s playroom, with Hoa Binh Park across the street. It is far from the sights, so pick it for work or family long stays only.
Monthly stays and expat life in Hanoi
For a month or more, compare three routes. Many Airbnb hosts set weekly and monthly discounts, which can make a private apartment the cheapest choice. Serviced apartments in Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem and Cau Giay often quote long-stay rates on request, and these often include housekeeping and internet, but check what is extra. Somerset West Point, for example, charges monthly parking for cars and motorbikes on long stays.
Before you commit, ask about the electricity charge, laundry, how often housekeeping comes, and whether the building registers your stay with the police each time you move in. Most visitors can stay up to 90 days on an e-visa, so check our Vietnam e-visa guide before planning a long stay. A local Vietnam SIM card makes Grab, food delivery and building chat groups much easier.
Plan your stay
Airport transfer. A Grab car or metered taxi from Noi Bai to the Old Quarter takes 35 to 60 minutes and costs roughly 350,000 to 450,000 VND including the bridge toll (June 2026 estimate). Tay Ho is often 30 to 45 minutes from the airport. Bus 86 runs to the Old Quarter and Hanoi Railway Station. Details are in our Hanoi airport to city centre guide. Many serviced apartments also arrange airport cars for a fee.
When prices peak. Rates climb from October to December, when the weather is cool and dry, and again in March and April. The biggest spike is around Tet, the Lunar New Year, in late January or February, when some small hosts close or raise prices. Summer is hot and humid, and rates are often lower. See best time to visit Hanoi for month-by-month weather.
Getting around. The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem are best on foot. From Tay Ho, Ba Dinh or Cau Giay, use Grab or Be for cars and motorbike taxis, which show the fare up front. Some serviced apartments run a free or paid shuttle to the centre.
Check-in tips. For an Airbnb, confirm the exact building entrance, floor and key method before you land, and save the host’s phone number. In tower blocks, ask whether the guard needs your name. Keep your passport handy for registration. For a wider shortlist of places to sleep, see our best hotels in Hanoi guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Airbnb a good idea in Hanoi?
Airbnb is a good idea in Hanoi for short, budget stays and for monthly stays where hosts offer discounts. For a week or two, a serviced apartment often costs a similar amount once cleaning fees are added and comes with a front desk, housekeeping and a lift. Check the total price and ask whether the host registers your stay.
Do Airbnb hosts in Hanoi register foreign guests with the police?
Airbnb hosts in Hanoi are required to register foreign guests with the local police, the same as hotels. Under rules in force from July 2026, the declaration should be made right after you arrive. Ask your host before booking whether they file it, as foreigners are advised not to stay at an undeclared address.
What is the best area for apartments in Hanoi?
For stays of one to four weeks, the best area for apartments in Hanoi is Hoan Kiem. Hoan Kiem and the French Quarter are best for one to four weeks if you want to walk to the sights. Tay Ho (West Lake) has the most serviced apartments and suits monthly stays, expats and families.
Where do expats live in Hanoi?
Expats in Hanoi live mostly in Tay Ho (West Lake), around Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho Road and Dang Thai Mai, where there are international cafes, groceries and international schools nearby. Others choose Ba Dinh or Cau Giay to be near embassies, offices and universities.
Can you book Hanoi serviced apartments for a month?
You can book Hanoi serviced apartments for a month at many buildings in Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem and Cau Giay, and most quote long-stay rates on request. Ask what the rate includes, such as housekeeping, electricity, laundry and parking, before you commit.
Sources
- Viet Nam News, foreign guest temporary residence declaration under Circular 87: https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1785912/accommodation-providers-required-to-register-foreign-guests-temporary-residence-immediately-upon-arrival.html
- Vietcetera, temporary residence rules for foreigners: https://vietcetera.com/en/vietnams-temporary-residence-rules-what-foreigners-need-to-know
- Vietcetera, Ho Chi Minh City re-allows short-term apartment rentals: https://vietcetera.com/en/ho-chi-minh-city-re-allows-airbnb-in-apartments-with-tighter-control
- Bloomberg, Airbnb total price display: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-21/airbnb-to-show-fees-in-price-display-to-comply-with-ftc-rule
- Somerset Grand Hanoi, Ascott official site: https://www.discoverasr.com/en/somerset-serviced-residence/vietnam/somerset-grand-hanoi
- Somerset West Point Hanoi, Ascott official site: https://www.discoverasr.com/en/somerset-serviced-residence/vietnam/somerset-west-point-hanoi
- Oakwood Residence Hanoi, official site: https://www.discoverasr.com/en/oakwood/vietnam/oakwood-residence-hanoi
- Fraser Suites Hanoi, Frasers Property: https://www.frasersproperty.com/hospitality/what-we-do/fraser-suites-hanoi
- Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Hanoi: https://vietnam.travel/places-to-go/northern-vietnam/ha-noi