Job Discussion Forums

rico4444 · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Thailand

saigonesl.com listed the following districts if you're searching for schools in Hanoi:
Ba Dinh....Cau Giay....Dong Da....Hai Ba Trung....Hoan Kiem....Hoang Mai....Long Bien....Tay Ho....Thanh Xuan

I've looked at several schools (RMIT, Apollo, Language Link, etc, etc) and some of them have multiple locations and some are only in one district.

Your opinion please on which area is the best to work in?
Your opinion please on the best area to live in?

By best, I mean safest along with a little western atmosphere as well as a large gathering of westerners. And a good place to get a cup of good coffee (western style) wouldn't hurt.

deessell2 · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Under the sun

Hanoi is actually a small city and when it's not peak traffic you can usually get around the city in about twenty minutes. Price, quality and availability are more of a consideration. Rent, along with other goods and services have increased about 20% in the last six months.

rico4444 · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Thailand

Attn: Deessell2

Thanks for your reply but can you be more specific as to which district might offer the most bang for your buck, if price and quailty are to be considered? If you have experience living there, which district did you live in, and can you tell me your thoughts on that area?

deessell2 · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Under the sun

Have a look at www.newhanoian.com This is the expat website for Hanoi, it should give you some idea. $500 US doesn't get you a lot these days.

rico4444 · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 90 Location: Thailand

Thank you.....I took a brief look and it looks like it will be very helpful.

jestert79 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 44

I live and work in Dong Da, which has its pros and cons. I have a pretty nice apartment in a quiet area which feels very safe. I can walk to work, and there's a decent variety of restaurants around, as well as a KFC and supermarket right next to me so I can scratch my Western itch. It's also nice because it's off the tourist-beaten path so I don't have to walk everywhere fending off street vendors.

I do find myself envying the teachers who live near the Old Quarter - they have access to so many more restaurants and bars. I don't have a motorbike and the buses stop running at 9, so transport can get annoying, although now I know roughly how much taxi fare should be.

If you're looking for a large gathering of Westerners, near the Old Quarter is where you want to be.

travelgoddess · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

Well, to be honest, the more foreigners in an area, the higher the price of almost everything.

Personally, I dig Vietnamese coffee more than western coffee, whatever that is, haha. So um cant help there.

I have lived in Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung districts and both have their pluses. Also have stayed in multiple hotels in the Old Quarter for long stretches when I first arrived and between apartments. Its lively and fun, but the noise and congestion get old after awhile. Having said that, its the area with the most condensed nightlife. Truc Bac lake is cooler (temp in summer) and more peaceful, but since I like riding a bicycle and worked on Dai Co Viet last year, wasnt willing to bike that far in the extreme heat.

I lived in Hanoi most of last year and came back a few days ago. Feel free to ask me any specific q's if ya want;P

Steph

Cat Attack · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Travel Goddess / Steph,

I am coming to Hanoi in July and would like to live in an area thats not too noisy (i.e. not in the middle of the city) and where you can still mingle with the local Vietnamese and see the occassional Westerner as well. I too would prefer to use a bicycle as well, so the area would need to be close to amenities.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Cat.

travelgoddess · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 3:50 am Post subject:

not hard to find.
contact me when you get here and over a quick coffee I can give you a map and show you the areas most likely to fit this.
[email protected]
Steph

Cat Attack · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

Thanks Steph. Will certainly do.

Cat.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 216

I found that staying away from large Viet cities is the best way to relax and enjoy life. Cool

Dsay · Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Vietnam

Ba Dinh is a good place to live. It's close enough to the Old Quarter to go out at night, but far enough away that you don't have to pay tourist prices on everything. Tay Ho is also a very good area if you can afford it. Cau Giay is not the best choice, unless you don't like to go out often. Even in a small city it takes a long time to get to and from there and the people get very excited about seeing foreigners which gets annoying pretty quickly.