Since the merger of Ha Tay Province, Hanoi has been the largest central city in the country. However, international visitors mainly choose to stay in central districts, and only a few fully experience what this great city offers. Here is our Hanoi Districts Overview with suggestions for places you should not miss.
Hanoi is divided into 12 urban districts, 1 district-leveled town, and 17 suburban districts.
Get bus tickets to travel from Noi Bai Airport to Hanoi’s main districts:
Hanoi Districts Overview: Urban Districts
Hoan Kiem District
Location: 28 kilometers from Noi Bai International Airport
Neighboring Districts: Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Long Bien
Named after the famous Lake, Hoan Kiem District is the downtown and business center of Hanoi. Major state-owned corporations and bank headquarters are located here. The district now serves as a focal point of Hanoi life and is home to most of the city’s tourist attractions.
Places to visit in Hoan Kiem District
- Attractions: Hoan Kiem Lake, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House, Tonkin Palace, Museum of Vietnamese History, Hoa Lo Prison Memorials, etc.
- Shopping: Trang Tien Plaza
Hai Ba Trung District
Location: 5 kilometers from Hoan Kiem District
Neighboring Districts: Long Bien, Dong Da, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Hoan Kiem
Hai Ba Trung District is named after the legendary heroines in Vietnamese history: the Trung Sisters. Established in 1981, it was one of Hanoi’s first four central districts. Hai Ba Trung District is also home to some of Vietnam’s Top Universities, such as Hanoi University of Technology, Hanoi National Economic University, and Hanoi University of Civil Engineering.
Places to visit in Hai Ba Trung District
- Attractions: Thien Quang Lake, Ham Long Pagoda, Thong Nhat Park
- Shopping: Vincom City Towers, Times City, Ruby Plaza
Ba Dinh District
Location: 6 kilometers from Hoan Kiem District
Neighboring Districts: Long Bien, Hoan Kiem, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Tay Ho
Ba Dinh District is the political center in Vietnam, with most government offices and embassies situated here. The district used to be called the “French Quarter” because of a high concentration of French-style villas and government buildings dating back to the French Colonization.
Places to visit in Ba Dinh District
- Attractions: Vietnam Military History Museum, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Thang Long Citadel, Hanoi Flag Tower
- Shopping: Lotte Center
Dong Da District
Location: 5 kilometers from Hai Ba Trung District
Neighboring Districts: Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay
Dong Da is the most densely populated area and one of the four original districts in Hanoi. It was named after the Dong Da Mound, which witnessed the end of the Ngoc Hoi battle between the Nguyen Dynasty and the Manchu Qing Army.
Places to visit in Dong Da District
- Attractions: Temple of Literature, Dong Da Mound, Hanoi Station, Hang Day Stadium
- Shopping: Pham Ngoc Thach Vincom Center
Tay Ho District
Location: 15 kilometers to the north of Hanoi’s city center
Neighboring Districts: Long Bien, Bac Tu Liem, Ba Dinh, Cau Giay, Dong Anh
Tay Ho District surrounds West Lake, one of Vietnam’s largest freshwater bodies. The proximity to Hanoi’s Downtown and the breathtaking scenery of West Lake make Tay Ho District a hotspot for high-end living and home to most expatriates living and working in the Capital City of Vietnam.
Places to visit in Tay Ho District
- Attractions: West Lake, Nghi Tam Flower Village, Nhat Tan Peach Blossom Village, Phu Tay Ho, Tay Ho Waterpark, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple
- Shopping: Lac Long Quan Street
Cau Giay District
Location: 8 kilometers to the west of the city center
Neighboring Districts: Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, Thanh Xuan, Tay Ho
Despite being established only 23 years ago, Cau Giay now emerges as the new commercial center of Hanoi. The district is named after the famous bridge where the battle of Cau Giay occurred in the 19th century. Well-known educational institutions and the Hanoi National University can be found here.
Places to visit in Cau Giay District
- Attractions: Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower 72, Cau Giay Park, Nghia Do Park, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, etc.
- Shopping: Indochina Plaza Hanoi, Keangnam Hanoi Landmark 72
Nam Tu Liem District and Bac Tu Liem District
Location: 20 kilometers to the East of the city center
Neighboring Districts: Tay Ho, Cau Giay, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, Dong Anh
In 2013, the Hanoi Government divided the rural district of Tu Liem into two new urban districts: Nam Tu Liem (the southern part) and Bac Tu Liem (the northern part). Since then, these districts have seen significant facility development and high-end apartments.
Places to visit in Nam Tu Liem and Bac Tu Liem Districts
- Attractions: Hanoi Museum, National Convention Center, My Dinh National Stadium
- Shopping: The Garden Shopping Mall
Check out more fun things to do in Hanoi:
Klook.comThanh Xuan District
Location: 15 kilometers to the South-West of Hanoi center
Neighboring Districts: Dong Da, Hoang Mai, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem, and Cau Giay
Established in 1996, Thanh Xuan is one of Hanoi’s new districts, with a high concentration of modern residential areas and a large population. Several major universities are located here: VNU University of Science, Hanoi University, and Hanoi Architectural University.
Places to visit in Thanh Xuan District
- Attractions: Phuong Liet Temple
- Shopping: Ho Guom Plaza
Hoang Mai District
Location: To the south of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Gia Lam, Long Bien, Thanh Tri, Thanh Xuan, Hai Ba Trung
Hoang Mai was established as an urban district of Hanoi on 6 November 2003. It has the highest population of all the city’s districts and runs through most of its major routes.
Places to visit in Hoang Mai District
- Attractions: Yen So Park, Giap Bat Cathedral, Nam Du Cathedral
- Shopping: Hoang Mai Metro Supermarket
Long Bien District
Location: 5 kilometers to the east of Hoan Kiem District
Neighboring Districts: Gia Lam, Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, Hoang Mai, Dong Anh
Long Bien District was incorporated as an urban district of Hanoi in 2003 from the northwestern section of the Gia Lam District adjacent to the city center.
Places to visit in Long Bien District
- Attractions: Long Bien Bridge, Long Bien Station, Long Bien Flower Park
- Shopping: Aeon Shopping Mall
Ha Dong District
Location: 12 kilometers to the South-West of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Thanh Tri, Thanh Xuan, Nam Tu Liem, Hoai Duc, Chuong My, Thanh Oai
Ha Dong was formerly a city in Ha Tay Province that was incorporated as an urban district in Hanoi after the merge of Ha Tay into Hanoi’s territory in 2009. It is a land rich in cultural traditions and is one of the localities with the fastest socio-economic development rates of Vietnam’s Capital.
Places to visit in Ha Dong District
Attractions: Van Phuc Silk Village, Dien Khanh Pagoda
Shopping: Ha Dong Big C Supermarket, Ha Dong Market, Ha Dong AeonMall
Find hotels in Hanoi’s central districts:
Hanoi Districts Overview: Suburban Districts
Son Tay District-Leveled Town
Location: 35 kilometers to the west of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Ba Vi, Thach That
Son Tay was incorporated into Hanoi in 2009 to become the city’s only district-level town. It enjoys the beautiful scenery and connects the city center with the neighboring regions.
Places to visit in Son Tay District
Attractions: Duong Lam Ancient Village, Dong Mo, Va Temple
Ba Vi District
Location: the north-westernmost district of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Son Tay, Thach That, Hoa Binh Province, Phu Tho Province
The beautiful town boasts scenic mountains, streams, lakes, and farms.
Places to visit in Ba Vi District
Attractions: Ba Vi National Park, Dong Mo Resort
Chuong My District
Location: in the middle of the south-western border of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Thanh Oai, Ha Dong, My Duc
Chuong My is a rural district of Hanoi located in the Red River Delta Region.
Dan Phuong District
Location: To the north-west of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Dong Anh, Bac Tu Liem, Me Linh
The district lies at the junction of three rivers, giving it fertile soil for agricultural development.
Dong Anh District
Location: To the north of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Bac Ninh Province, Long Bien, Gia Lam, Tay Ho, Bac Tu Liem
The area used to be the capital of the former Kingdom of Au Lac and the Ngo Dynasty, and it had beautiful rice fields.
Gia Lam District
Location: 3 kilometers away from Long Bien District
Neighboring Districts: Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Dong Anh, Hung Yen Province, Bac Ninh Province
Gia Lam boasts rich culture and traditions with various temples, pagodas, and handicraft villages.
Hoai Duc District
Location: To the east of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Dan Phuong, Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Ha Dong
Hoai Duc is situated in an ancient land with a long history of culture and traditions, giving it a diverse collection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Me Linh District
Location: to the north of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Soc Son, Dan Phuong
Me Linh is a place associated with Trung’s Sisters and was formerly the city’s northernmost district from 1979 to 1991.
My Duc District
Location: 52 kilometers to the south of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Ung Hoa, Chuong My, Hoa Binh Province
Incorporated into Hanoi since 2008, the district is located in a semi-mountainous area in the south of the Northern Delta.
Phu Xuyen District
Location: 40 kilometers to the south of Hanoi’s center
Neighboring Districts: Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa
This is a region of sparse population density and vast unexploited land.
Phu Tho District
Location: 35 kilometers to the west of Hanoi’s center
Neighboring Districts: Son Tay, Thach That, Quoc Oai
With a long-standing history, generations of Phuc Tho residents have contributed to the formation of the Red River civilization and the Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1000-year-old culture.
Quoc Oai District
Location: 20 kilometers from the city center
Neighboring Districts: Chuong My, Thach That, Phuc Tho
The neighborhood is known for its beautiful, peaceful, and poetic scenery.
Soc Son District
Location: to the north of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Me Linh, Dong Anh
Soc Son is a beautiful rural district of Hanoi. Noi Bai International Airport is located here.
Thach That District
Location: To the west of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Ba Vi
Thach That District is known for various traditional villages, where annual celebrations are still celebrated.
Thanh Oai District
Location: to the south-west of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: Ha Dong, Thanh Tri
Thanh Oai boasts traditional Northern Delta culture characteristics with many ancient pagodas and long-standing craft villages.
Thanh Tri District
Location: on the southeastern side of Hanoi, on the western bank of the Red River
Neighboring Districts: Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Gia Lam, Ha Dong
Thanh Tri has a rich development and unique cultural tradition located on an ancient land south of the capital. The district is now witnessing a rapid increase in population.
Thuong Tin District
Location: To the south of Thanh Tri District
Neighboring Districts: Thanh Tri, Phu Xuyen, Thanh Oai
Thuong Tin is a beautiful rural district with a series of famous historical sites.
Ung Hoa District
Location: to the south of Hanoi
Neighboring Districts: My Duc, Chuong My, Thanh Oai, Phu Xuyen
Ung Hoa is a rural district of Hanoi, whose economy mostly relies on agriculture.
Summing up on Hanoi Districts Overview
We hope that our Hanoi Districts Overview above will greatly help you when you are planning to visit our beautiful capital city. If you’re interested in Hanoi or Vietnam travel, don’t hesitate to contact our team here to get up-to-date information and insightful Hanoi Travel Guides.