Staying in Tay Ho: West Lake, cafés and Hanoi's international quarter

Who should stay in Tay Ho?

Tay Ho suits long stays, families, digital nomads, couples and travellers who prefer fresh air, open views and international food to the crowds of the Old Quarter. Many properties are apartments and villas with kitchens, balconies and sometimes pools, and the lakeside paths are good for walking, running and cycling.

The trade-off is distance from the centre: the Old Quarter is about 4 to 6 km away, 15 to 25 minutes by car, and there is no metro in the area. Prices for food and drink in the expat streets are higher than in local Hanoi.

Apartments, hotels and villas in Tay Ho

The 208 properties listed in this area are mostly apartments, followed by hotels, aparthotels, homestays and a few villas. Hotels range from small boutique places on the lanes of Quang An to large international hotels on the lakeshore with pools and spas. Guest ratings are high, with a median of about 8.7 out of 10 on this site.

As a guide for 2026, apartments cost about 800,000 to 2,000,000 VND a night, mid-range hotels about 900,000 to 1,800,000 VND and lakeside five-star hotels from about 2,500,000 VND; for monthly stays, serviced apartments are common. When choosing, check whether the property has a lake view and how far it is from the main streets, as Tay Ho is spread out.

What is there to do in Tay Ho?

West Lake itself is the main attraction. On the eastern shore, on a small peninsula, stands Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest in Vietnam, with a tall red stupa (free, usually 08:00 to 16:00). Nearby is the Quan Thanh temple on the shore of Truc Bach, and on the northern side of the lake the Tay Ho temple, popular with locals on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Swan pedal boats can be hired on the lake.

The lakeside path is good for a long walk or a bicycle ride, and in the evening the cafés and bars along the shore fill up for sunset. The Quang Ba flower market, open at night, is busiest in the early morning hours before Tet. Lotte Mall West Lake, a large shopping centre with an aquarium, is on the western shore, and the flower and fruit gardens of Nhat Tan and Tu Lien, famous for peach blossom and kumquat trees at Tet, are at the northern end of the district.

How do you get to Tay Ho?

From Noi Bai International Airport, about 22 to 25 km away via the Nhat Tan bridge, the ride takes 30 to 45 minutes and costs about 200,000 to 350,000 VND by ride-hailing car, making Tay Ho one of the closest central areas to the airport.

The Old Quarter is 15 to 25 minutes away by car or motorbike taxi. There is no metro in Tay Ho; city buses run along the main roads, and many residents use bicycles or scooters along the lake.

When is Tay Ho at its best?

Autumn, from about October to November, is the most beautiful season around the lake, with clear skies and mild evenings. Spring, from March to April, is also pleasant. In summer the lake breeze makes the heat more bearable than in the centre, though showers are frequent; in winter the lake is often misty and cool. Before Tet, the Lunar New Year in late January or February, the gardens of Nhat Tan and Tu Lien are full of peach blossom and kumquat trees for sale.

What is daily life like in Tay Ho?

Tay Ho has two faces. Along Xuan Dieu, Quang An and To Ngoc Van, daily life revolves around cafés, brunch places, international restaurants, gyms and small shops, many run by or for foreign residents, with menus in English and prices closer to those of a Western city. In the lanes behind, and in the old villages around the lake, life is still very Vietnamese, with markets, street-food stalls and communal houses.

Mornings start with walks or runs along the lake, and at weekends families come from all over the city to cycle, take photos and eat by the water. In the evening the lakeside bars and terraces are popular for sunset drinks, and the snail and seafood restaurants along the shore are a local favourite. The international schools and residential compounds make the area especially popular with families.

For travellers, Tay Ho is a relaxed base with space, views and comfort, best combined with trips into the Old Quarter and Ba Dinh for sightseeing.

Where to eat in Tay Ho?

Tay Ho is the best area in Hanoi for international food. Along Xuan Dieu, Quang An and To Ngoc Van there are Italian, French, Indian, Japanese and Mexican restaurants, bakeries, brunch cafés, craft-beer bars and vegetarian places, many run by foreign residents. Prices are higher than in local Hanoi but portions and service are often closer to what Western visitors expect.

Vietnamese food is never far away: the lakeside restaurants serve snails, fried fish and shrimp cakes, a West Lake speciality, and the lanes behind the main streets have pho, bun cha and sticky-rice stalls at local prices. Lakeside cafés with terraces are the classic place for coffee at sunset.