Whether you are about to settle down or pay a visit to a whole new country, choosing a place to live is of great importance. Here in Vietnam, you can choose from apartment for rent in Dong Da, West Lake area, or Ha Dong District. Speaking from my own experience, home life has a huge effect on our dealing with cultural shock and the way we adapt to an unfamiliar living environment. Let us here be open and honest, finding a right home is a tremendous job concerning tons of factors: budget, location, property, security, transport and on top of that are our personal preferences.
To make the task less head aching and help you narrow the search down, here are 5 locations with varying characteristics that may please you when living in Hanoi. Coming all the way down to this list, you will find some “hidden gem” places revealed – the ones that are yet to be shared anywhere among online expat community.
The very first place to recommend is definitely West Lake (Tay Ho). This has been long known as the “foreign village” for its lovely views over the water, clean and large walkways for outdoor activities and a wide array of western restaurants, bars and shops, but at western price.
The truth is real estate here is one of the highest in the country as well with the renting rate going for more than 250$/month for a room in a house and 300$/month for an apartment, the price can go on and on for the more luxurious houses and apartments. If you go in a group, West Lake property is ideal. If not, seeking for some partners to share the house renting cost.
It is not hard to do so mainly because most foreigners love and enjoy living in well-furnished to five star residences West Lake offers. Overall, living in this area is costly, but if you can afford it, the location is a jewel.
HEALTH BENEFITS FOR YOUR FAMILY while living in Tay Ho
1. Fresh air
Everyone knows that breathing in fresh air is healthy. And the air quality in the West Lake area is the cleanest in Hanoi. Do not you believe it? Refer to the air quality index table here. In this table, Lac Long Quan is the only area of the capital that always maintains the blue mark.
Jogging, cycling, and walking are exercises that increase the circulation of air into the lungs. Therefore, performing these activities in a smoke-free atmosphere is very important to your health.
This is something that the West Lake area always guarantees.
2. Park is spacious and airy
Peak hours in the park are the opposite of rush hours on the streets. While off-road rush hours are full of hot gas, peak hours in the park are cooler and more enjoyable.
In a fixed time frame every day, the parks converge all kinds of residents in Hanoi, from old to young, from families to groups of friends. They come here to enjoy the green air, practice sports, or gather to chat. Diverse and bustling, this is a great place to stop for those who like to admire the life around.
The first park opened in the post-Indochina war to enhance the greenness of Hanoi has now become one of the most important sites in the city’s culture.
3. There’s no shortage of fresh, clean food options
In addition to many restaurants with healthy dishes, the area also has many places to sell cooking ingredients. Fresh, quality ingredients that meet clean or organic food standards are easy to obtain.
4. Full range of medical centers and services
There are many drugstores around Tay Ho just a few steps away. Small stores are great for everyday medicine needs.
There are good reasons why many foreigners call this area home even though it is so crowded that sidewalk turns into markets for commercial purpose and facing jammed traffic has become a norm. Old Quarters (Pho Co) is the entertainment center with frequent cultural and national events to enjoy like water puppet show, independence celebration, arts and flowers exhibition.
There are abundant choices for you to dine ranging from cheap street food to luxurious dishes at fancy Western and Asian style restaurants. Other facet of the Old Quarter that makes it attractive place, especially for outgoing, gregarious visitors to live is its lively nightlife. The streets are bustling with talks, cheers and music and do not sleep till 4:00 am, some bars even open all night long to serve the energetic explorers.
A modern house for rent in the Old Quarters costs somewhere around 300$/month, the price varies largely depending on the accommodation. For a mecca with fine dining and high quality of life, Pho Co is indeed a great place to settle down.
Cultural space in Hanoi Old Quarter
The AQ not only has tube-shaped houses but also has cultural life and space. This place is lively with magnificence, elegance, family religious ceremonies, diverse folk festivals.
In fact, at present, the managers want to keep the status quo, mobilize socialization of the renovation of old houses. The people side is a little different. Many houses over a hundred years old are too old and seriously degraded. From a family of three generations, after 60-70 years, it became 15-20 households crowded, divided the tube house into many segments, enlarged all types, sealed the skylines, had no light and air, difficult living conditions, polluted environment. Young people want to sell, share, live separately in high-rise apartments in new urban areas. Old people are determined to keep the land of their ancestors, a place to keep family memories.
Over time, the furniture turns “gone”, fortunately left the altar, the genealogy book, the ordained plate, the piece, the medal, the medal … Must look directly at that reality. , thoroughly understand the feelings, emotions and needs of the insiders, from which to research and step by step propose ways to solve new problems, hoping to keep the lost and lost ones.
Along with the reconstruction of the houses, it is advisable to bring cultural space, traditional soul into it, from the layout, furniture to the elegant and civilized lifestyle of the Hanoi people. It is possible to re-create the custom of the three classes of Ke Cho people. In the family of craftsmen, the facade is both a workshop and a place to display and introduce products. Business families, the outside is a shop with suitable items such as silk, ao dai, antiques, puppets, souvenirs …
It is also possible to alternate a few shops selling Hanoi gifts such as rice cakes, lotus jam, oolong … In vineyard families, the layout in the old Hanoi style with antique furniture is mahogany, Tea cabinets, couches, letter books, sentences …, there is a shrine room, a lounge room, a “sky well” space for relaxation …
In addition to the daily activities of different types of family cultural spaces, it is necessary to periodically organize festivals, folk games and games, creating a vibrant atmosphere. It is possible to restore the “Spring Ox” ceremony at Bach Ma temple on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, hold a procession of procession to bring the master of the Vietnamese colonial government Phung Thien Nguyen Trung Ngan from Huong Tuong temple (Ma May street) to Thanh shrine. Hoang Long Do at Bach Ma temple (Hang Buom street), Ca tru festival, literary singing at Golden Bell Theater, introduction of Trieu Khuc dancing, flag dancing, tiger fighting, Giong’s singing, snake dance Le Mat … It is also possible to organize dragon dance, lion dance, four spirit dance competitions at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, Ly Thai To flower garden, contest of rice blowing, horse cooking contest, and market nights. books, calendar markets, New Year market, postcard market, stamps, music discs …
If immersing yourself in the local culture is something that you are looking for, Dong Da district is a promising land for you. Living here, you can choose to go to either market to experience and master your bargain skill or supermarket for instant convenience.
The food, in general, is cheap simply because it is sold at Vietnamese price for residents around. Many of food stalls open at a specific time of the day like early morning for breakfast or evening for casual talk after long day working. Living here, you get everyday experience witnessing local people’s routine and lucky enough, you may sense the so called neighborly support – one of typical Vietnamese characteristics.
Its close proximity to Hoan Kiem Lake has drawn to Ba Dinh district a large resident population which lives more quiet life yet frequently yearn for entertainment. Compared to West Lake and the Old Quarters, the price for rent is more and less 800$/month for furnished apartments and below 300$/month for houses.
If you’re looking for suburb charm then Ha Dong district may just be the perfect place for you. This is a great alternative to the much busier and heavily populated districts mentioned above, but still easy access to the city center.
Ha Dong is close to Ba Vi, Son Tay, Vinh Phuc, making it easy day trips to many tourist attractions such as the national park, Dai Lai lake, Duong Lam – the ancient village. For those who plan to live in Vietnam longer than a year, Ha Dong offers you an opportunity to witness its rapid industrialization.
Strolling around here, you may still encounter curious yet friendly looks from the locals. Of our 4 recommendations, houses or apartments for rent here cost are about 200$/month for a decent one. A perfect location for those who aren’t seeking for luxury.
Go online, ask people, befriends with the local, there are a lot of ways to search for a perfect place to settle down. Our advice in general is to avoid the costliest places, such as those in West Lake and Old Quarters if your money is tight. Travelling is about enjoying the journey, localizing yourself in a foreign community, you certainly don’t want to make things tougher than it needs to be by picking a place that eventually stresses you out.
If you are free to choose, where would you live in Hanoi?
The diversity regarding best place in Hanoi for expat will provides the foreigners with more options when buying real properties. Hopefully this article will help you choose the best type of apartments that fits your wants and needs. If you want to rent an accomodation in hanoi, Alpha Housing is always here at your service.
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