Hanoi hotels: Old Quarter or lakeside? Choosing where to stay by area [luxury to dormitory]

ハノイのホテルは、旧市街、ホアンキエム湖の南、西湖、西側の新市街で、移動の感覚が大きく違います。観光名所へ歩けることを重視するのか、静けさやホテル設備を重視するのかを決めると、価格だけでは見えない違いが分かります。

この記事では4エリアに分けました。旧市街とホアンキエム湖は歩いて回りやすい一方、西湖や西側の大型ホテルから旧市街へは車移動が基本です。Googleマップの営業状況と評価を確認していますが、評価は2026年7月時点の参考値です。

※本記事は予約サイトへのリンクを置かず、位置確認用のGoogleマップを掲載しています。旧市街は道路幅が狭く、車がホテル前まで入れない場合があります。空港送迎の降車場所、窓の有無、騒音、エレベーター、朝食、改装状況を予約前に確認してください。

先に結論：徒歩観光か、ホテル滞在か

• 初訪問・短期：旧市街またはホアンキエム湖周辺。歩いて観光しやすいです。
• 記念日の名門ホテル：フレンチクォーター。歴史だけでなく改装済みの客室設備も比べます。
• 静かな水辺：西湖。旧市街への配車時間を見込みます。
• 大型ホテルの設備：西側エリア。観光動線よりホテル内での快適さを重視する人向けです。

① The Old Quarter — the town center, where you can see it all on foot

The heart of sightseeing in Hanoi is, above all, the Old Quarter. A legacy of the “36 Streets,” where artisans once lined each lane by trade, its narrow alleys are packed with shops, eateries, and cafés. Hoan Kiem Lake, the water-puppet theater, and the famous egg-coffee spots are all within walking distance. With a deep range of stays — from boutique hotels to dormitories at around 1,000 yen a night — it suits anyone, whatever the budget, whose priority is simply efficient sightseeing.

Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique ── the place to stay in style in the Old Quarter

A boutique hotel that combines the convenience of the Old Quarter with high-quality facilities. From the rooftop bar and pool you look down over the Old Quarter's streets, and its Google Maps rating holds steady at ★4.7 with more than 1,500 reviews. It answers the greedy wish to "see the sights on foot but stay somewhere comfortable."

Old Quarter View Hanoi Hostel — a highly rated dormitory with a pleasant rooftop terrace

A popular hostel that, despite sitting right in the middle of the old town, draws a standout rating of ★4.8 with over 2,800 reviews. The rooftop terrace has good views, and it's known for its friendly staff. It's just right for solo travelers who want to stay cheaply but won't compromise on a place's atmosphere or cleanliness.

② Around Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter — a special night at a colonial grande dame

Spreading south of the Old Quarter is the French Quarter, lined with buildings from the colonial era (it's not an administrative district but a name travelers use). Along the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, tree-lined boulevards, the Opera House, and grand old hotels are scattered about, carrying a calm, grown-up air quite different from the bustle of the Old Quarter. It's an area we'd recommend for an anniversary or a slightly splurgy stay.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi ── Hanoi's foremost grande dame, going strong since 1901

Opened in 1901, this is the most prestigious French colonial hotel in Hanoi. With its iconic look — white walls and green window frames — it has welcomed dignitaries and cultural figures from around the world. If you want to feel the weight of history and first-class hospitality, there's no better choice. The Opera House is within walking distance too, making it a faultless base for sightseeing in Hanoi.

Apricot Hotel — an art-filled hotel overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake

An art hotel on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, its interior filled with paintings by Vietnamese artists. You stay in a gallery-like space, and the view from the lakeside rooms is superb. Without splurging as much as the prestigious Metropole, you can enjoy a high-quality lakeside stay.

③ Lotte & JW Marriott — Hanoi's flagship top-luxury city hotels

A little west of the sightseeing center, but when it comes to Hanoi's top-luxury city hotels, these two stand out. The Lotte, a high-rise tower soaring over Ba Dinh District, and the JW Marriott in the new city center to the west. Both have spacious rooms and full spa and pool facilities, answering to those who want to enjoy the hotel stay itself as well as those needing a business base. To the Old Quarter it's about 10–15 minutes from the Lotte and 20–30 from the JW Marriott (give or take, depending on traffic).

JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi — a landmark of the new city center with beautiful undulating curves

One of Hanoi's leading top-tier hotels, its inventive, wave-like curves catch the eye. A long, low-rise building next to the National Convention Center in the west of the city, it earns a high ★4.7 on Google Maps with more than 10,000 reviews. Spacious rooms and well-appointed restaurants are its pride, it's often used for international conferences, and you can make the most of a hotel stay in quiet surroundings.

Lotte Hotel Hanoi ── an upper-floor stay overlooking the city in a 65-story tower

A hotel occupying the upper floors of the 65-story Lotte Center Hanoi. On the 65th floor of the same building is the Lotte Hanoi Sky observation deck, looking out over the city and West Lake, and on the 67th-floor rooftop is the bar Top of Hanoi, so you can pair your stay with night views from up high. Set in Ba Dinh District, it's popular with those who want the out-of-the-ordinary thrill of gazing over the city from above.

④ West Lake (Ho Tay) ── a relaxed, resort-like stay by the water

The shore of West Lake (Tay Ho), Hanoi's largest lake, is an area where you can unwind away from the city's bustle. Walking paths, cafés, and temples dot the lakeside, and with many foreign expats living here it has a refined air. It's for people who'd rather take in the waterside scenery at a relaxed pace than pack in sightseeing. Getting to the old town takes about 10 minutes from a hotel near the lake's southern tip, or 15–20 minutes from one right on the shore — it depends on where the hotel is.

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake — an over-water escape floating on the lake

Part of the guest wing extends out over the surface of West Lake, making this the most resort-like top-luxury hotel in Hanoi. With walkways crossing above the water and restaurants looking out over it, the design makes you forget you're in the city. Time spent gazing at the lake at dusk is exceptional, making it fitting for anniversaries or a quiet stay.

Once you've chosen an area — three things to check when picking a hotel in Hanoi

Once you've decided which area to stay in, all that's left is the finer details. Including a few points specific to Hanoi, keep these three in mind.

• If sightseeing is your main goal, start with the Old Quarter or around Hoan Kiem: Hanoi's sights are concentrated around the Old Quarter. Choose by purpose — ① or ② if you want to get around on foot, ③ or ④ if the hotel stay itself matters most.
• Read the star rating together with the number of reviews: Even a 4.9-star rating doesn't mean much if it's based on only a few dozen reviews. Hotels with a high star rating AND a large number of reviews are far less likely to disappoint.
• Mind the departure time for Halong Bay tours: The popular Ha Long Bay day trips and overnight tours leave early in the morning. If you'll be moving mainly by tour, a hotel in the old quarter, where the pickup can reach you easily, is convenient.

Note that the star ratings in this article were checked one hotel at a time on Google Maps as of July 2026. Ratings change day to day, so before booking it's safest to check the latest at the linked page. Along with this,Ho Chi Minh City hotel guideandDa Nang hotel guide、A guide to Vietnamese foodis also worth a look.

Summary — in Hanoi, it comes down to walking or holing up

ハノイで徒歩観光を優先するなら旧市街・ホアンキエム湖周辺、静けさなら西湖、設備の充実した大型ホテルなら西側エリアが候補です。宿の住所だけでなく、車が玄関まで入れるか、窓・騒音・エレベーターも確認してください。

私ならここを比べる

ホテルは新しさや星の数より、旅程との相性で選びます。私なら宿泊日と人数を揃え、税・サービス料込み総額、朝食、取消条件、客室の窓、夜の入口、空港からの実移動時間を横並びにします。開業直後は写真が少なく、施設の一部が未営業の場合もあるため、「ある」と「宿泊日に使える」は分けて確認します。

You might also like — Hotel guides for cities across Vietnam

• North：Sapa ／ Ha Long Bay
• Central：Da Nang ／ Hoi An ／ Hue ／ Quy Nhon
• South：Ho Chi Minh City ／ Nha Trang ／ Da Lat ／ Phu Quoc ／ Vung Tau ／ Mekong Delta