Where do expats live?
Personal preference will affect this, as well as preferred lifestyle.
If you have children, you may prefer to live closer to the school that you choose for them, especially if they are very young. However most international schools provide a bus service.
Tay Ho (“West Lake”) is one of the more common areas for expatriates of different nationalities, favoured by families, couples and singles alike because there is a range of accommodation including villas with pools and small yards, modern apartments with lake views and plenty of restaurants, bars and mini-markets. The downside are the ongoing constructions developing this area.
Ciputra, a gated community north-west of the West Lake area, is also popular for families, particularly those with children at UNIS. The roads are also much quieter than Tay Ho and parents say that they feel, it is much safer for children to play outside. The downside is fewer facilities and shops.
Other similar housing developments include ParkCity Hanoi (Ha Dong area), which lays away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Hanoi. Other options are Vinhomes Riverside (Long Bien district) around the British International School & Concordia International School and Ecopark (Hung Yen) where the British University Vietnam is building its new campus , both to the east of the Red River, or Splendora hosting the St Paul American School west of Hanoi. A few expatriates have started to move out to these areas.
There are also some attractive modern apartments in the Lotte Tower in the so-called Midtown area ( Kim Ma area), often favoured by Japanese and Korean expatriates. Korean expatriates also favour the Cay Giay and My Dinh districts west of the city.
A few expatriates also live in the downtown or old town area of Hoan Kiem, south of Hoan Kiem lake. Most Vietnamese administrations, embassies and bank operation centres are found in Hoan Kiem district, as well as the Hanoi Opera House. Real estate prices for villas and serviced apartments are highest in Hoan Kiem District.