Living in Hanoi, Vietnam, provides you with the chance to experience the unique character of a 2500 year-old city as Vietnam struggles to become a modern nation. The sights, sounds and colors are myriad, exotic and exhilarating — to have a bowl of pho on the street of the city where it was invented, to visit the 1000 year-old Temple of Literature, or to stroll through the cramped and crooked streets of the Old Quarter are experiences that can’t be duplicated.

However, as a modern Asian metropolis, the other side of Vietnam’s cultural and political capital is chaos, noise, air pollution, crowds and traffic jams. This guide to living in Hanoi presents the practical information you need to settle comfortably in Hanoi, to enjoy the cultural, artistic and culinary richness the city offers without being dismayed by the terms of day-to-day life.

Relocation to a foreign city can be a complex and emotionally draining process. The key to a smooth transition is knowing where to find amenities you need from home while discovering new things to enjoy in your adopted home. This international relocation guide will help lessen the frustrations and difficulties that expatriates inevitably experience when moving to a country where they do not understand the local language or customs.

Here you’ll find information on housing, supermarkets, restaurants, and a guide to the different neighborhoods of Hanoi, from the teeming Old Quarter to the calmer streets of West Lake.

Whether you’re an executive, a diplomat or an entrepreneur moving to Hanoi; whether you're alone or with a family, here you’ll find all the information you need to arrange visas, accommodation, transportation, phone and internet service, bank accounts, and how to enjoy the richness and beauty of the city in your free time.

Living in Hanoi: Guide Contents

Our guide to Hanoi covers the following topics-

1) Living legally in Hanoi

A detailed view of the various visas that are available for legal entry into Vietnam together with information about how expats can ensure that they obtain and maintain a visa that’s right for their needs while living in Hanoi.

2) Setting up home in Hanoi

The Expat Info Desk relocation guide to Hanoi offers a one-stop overview of all the popular residential areas in the city. We present facts and figures related to each area and provide details about nearby amenities, transportation links and proximity to the city’s main areas. When you arrive in a new city it can be difficult to choose where to live, our expat guide can help by presenting you with all the information you need to choose a place to live that is suitable for your needs.

3) Navigating the infrastructure

• Practical information pertaining to living in Hanoi including shopping, communication systems, driving, banking, taxes and insurance.
• A detailed guide to education, including preschool, public schools, private schools, international schools and higher education.
• Methods of commuting and getting around Hanoi, including bus routes, roads, rails and the ferry system.

4) Having fun in Hanoi

Once you’ve settled in, you’ll find advice here about how to access the social and cultural aspects of the city, including art galleries, museums, bars and cafés, bookstores, cinemas and live performances. And when you’re ready to start learning Vietnamese, or need to get out of the city for a holiday, you’ll find the help you need in our international relocation guide.

5) Staying safe and healthy in Hanoi

Don’t let living in Hanoi turn into a nightmare, make sure you are thoroughly informed on everything you need to know about health and safety. Our comprehensive guide is packed full of information about areas and practices to avoid; and how to access medical care and health provisions and help when you need it.

6) Blending in

What are the people in Hanoi really like? Our relocation guide contains a comprehensive insight into understanding Vietnamese cultures and customs, traditional dress and methods of communicating with one another. We give you practical insights that can help you to understand the behavior of those around you while also giving you the best start for enjoying your experiences living in a new country.

7) Reality bites

This is not a travel guide. It is a guide to really living in Hanoi and, as such, it includes every element of living in this city that you will need to know. Written by expats, for expats, you can be assured that you have the information that will really make a difference to your life in this part of the world. The Expat Info Desk guide to Hanoi will become your bible.

Your only expat guide to Hanoi; Feel at home abroad – Fast!