Apartments for rent in Hoàn Kiếm (Hoan Kiem), Hanoi

Hoàn Kiếm is Hanoi's downtown and commercial centre, built around Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Hồ Gươm). Its northern half is the bustling Old Quarter; its southern half has the French-era villas, broad avenues and the Opera House.

This is Hanoi's downtown, where most of the city's tourist attractions are and many of Vietnam's largest companies and banks have their headquarters. Old Quarter streets are narrow and lively, with heavy motorbike traffic and footpaths often taken up by vendors and parked bikes; many streets are still named for the goods once sold there, such as Hàng Bạc (silver).

The lake is the city's focal point for public life. From Friday evening to Sunday night the streets around it close to motor vehicles and become a car-free promenade, and the street in front of Đồng Xuân Market hosts a weekend night market.

Landmarks

• Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Hồ Gươm): About 12 hectares, with Turtle Tower on a small island and the red Thê Húc Bridge leading to Ngọc Sơn Temple.
• Ngọc Sơn Temple (Đền Ngọc Sơn): An 18th-century temple on Jade Islet, honouring the military leader Trần Hưng Đạo.
• Đồng Xuân Market (Chợ Đồng Xuân): A large covered market built by the French in 1889, about 600 metres north of the lake.
• Hanoi Opera House (Nhà hát Lớn Hà Nội): A landmark of the French Quarter in the south of the area.
• St Joseph's Cathedral and Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre: Two of the many visitor sights within walking distance of the lake.

Shops, health and schools

• Supermarkets: BRGMart (formerly Intimex) at 120 Hàng Trống, near the lake, is a supermarket for everyday groceries. Tràng Tiền Plaza (24 Hai Bà Trưng) is a luxury department store rather than a grocer.
• Cafés and dining: Egg coffee originated in Hanoi, and Café Giảng at 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, open since 1946, is credited with creating it.
• Gyms and sport: Elite Fitness Bà Triệu is on level 6 of Vincom Center, 191 Bà Triệu.
• Healthcare: Việt Đức University Hospital at 40 Tràng Thi is the country's largest surgical centre. International clinics nearby include Family Medical Practice (298I Kim Mã, Ba Đình, with a 24-hour emergency service) and Raffles Medical (51 Xuân Diệu, Tây Hồ).
• International schools nearby: International schools are in neighbouring areas: Hanoi International School (48 Liễu Giai, Ba Đình; IB from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12) and, further out, UNIS and Singapore International School's primary campus at Ciputra in Tây Hồ.

Getting around

• Streets around the lake become pedestrian-only from Friday evening to midnight on Sunday. The zone is sometimes paused for major events.
• Long Biên Bridge (1899–1902) links Hoàn Kiếm with Long Biên across the Red River, but only for trains, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians; other traffic uses the nearby Chương Dương Bridge.
• Neither operating metro line reaches downtown yet. Line 3's underground section to Hanoi railway station is planned for late 2027, and Line 2 (Nam Thăng Long – Trần Hưng Đạo), with stations at Hàng Đậu, Hoàn Kiếm and Trần Hưng Đạo, has been under construction since 9 October 2025 and is planned to open in 2029.

Good to know

• Homes in the Old Quarter are often 'tube houses', narrow multi-storey shophouses, a style that in Hanoi dates from the late 19th century.
• Weekend pedestrian closures around the lake run from Friday evening to Sunday night, so plan driving and riding routes around them.
• Most of Hanoi's tourist attractions are here, so expect crowds, especially on weekend nights when the walking streets and night market are on.
• The international schools are in Ba Đình and Tây Hồ, so families should plan for a daily school run.