French Quarter Hanoi – French Architecture in the heart of Hanoi

Is there a  French Quarter in the heart of Hanoi? Why do we call French Quarter but not Vietnamese Quarter?

Perhaps you heard about French Quarter Hanoi before, but you don’t have much information about it, right? If you are unsure where it is, let me introduce some interesting facts and French Quarter Hanoi attractions that might blow your mind. With all these hotels, restaurants and detail guides, hope you can make great memories here!

20+ Top Things To Do In Hanoi (and the ONE thing NOT to do!) + MAPS

1. French Quarter Hanoi Map –  Overview of Hanoi French Quarter

Guide map for tourists

Beside Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi French Quarter is also a big and busy hub in the center of Hanoi. This area is possibly considered as “Little Paris”, where we can find some similar architecture, typical street style of the capital of France.

It also one of the most luxurious corners in the city, the place encompassing five-star hotels and upmarket restaurants. Galleries, boutiques, bookshops, coffee shops are right in your vision, with an outstanding appearance of Trang Tien Plaza.

Located on the southeastern end of Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi French Quarter is the center of foreign embassies, government buildings, and wealthy residential neighborhoods.

Maybe you have already known many things about the Old Quarter, but The Quarter nearby sounds strange and new to most people. Therefore, we will show you the most featured highlights in this area so that you can enjoy special moments here.

2. Comparing French Quarter Vs Old Quarter

Hanoi is a city where history and culture come alive. Here we compare two famous parts of the city: The French Quarter and the Old Quarter. They have different styles and offer visitors unique experiences. Let’s find out what makes each of them special and how you can enjoy visiting both.

Feel the Atmosphere:

• French Quarter: This area is known for its calm and beautiful streets. As you walk, you’ll see wide roads and lovely trees. The buildings have a special style called “architecture in Hanoi” which came from when the French lived here long ago. People love this area for its quiet and elegance.
• Old Quarter: This part of Hanoi is very lively. It has many small roads that are always full of people, bikes, and shops. It’s busier and louder than the French Quarter, but it gives you a real look at life in Hanoi.

Things to See:

•  In the French Quarter Hanoi, there are famous places to see like the Opera House and the History Museum. These are big, old, and beautiful buildings. A “French Quarter Hanoi map” might help you find these and many more places.
• The Old Quarter is different. It has many old houses, small markets, temples, and places to eat. It shows a lot about Hanoi’s culture and history.

The Feeling You Get:

• The vibe in the French Quarter is more peaceful. It’s a good place if you want to relax and see some of the beautiful ” Hanoi architecture”.
• The Old Quarter has a stronger, more exciting vibe. If you want to see the busy life and have fun, this is the place to go.

Making a Choice:

•  If you like quiet places and want to see the beautiful “Hanoi architecture”, the French Quarter is for you. It is a good place to learn about history and enjoy a slower pace.
• If you want to see the real Hanoi, where people live, work, and play, the Old Quarter is the best choice.
• You don’t have to choose only one. These two areas are close to each other. You can see the French Quarter by day and the Old Quarter at night. This way, you get to experience everything Hanoi has to offer.

The French Quarter and the Old Quarter are important parts of Hanoi. They show the city’s past and today’s life. Whether you are in Hanoi for the history, culture, food, or just to see new things, these places will give you memories that will last forever.

>>> Do you know about Hanoi Old Quarter and Free Tour Guides?

4. What To See In French Quarter Hanoi – French Quarter Hanoi Attractions

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

• Address: 40 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Phone: 024 3928 6350
• Entrance fee: Free
• Opening hours: Weekdays at 5:30 and 18:15; Saturday at 18:00; Sunday at 5:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 16:00, 18:00, and 20:00. There’s also a special ceremony on March 19th annually. Please dress formally.

From the classical architecture of Hanoi Opera House, the solemn and festive atmosphere of St. Joseph’s Cathedral to the luxurious, flashy life in Hotel Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Trang Tien Plaza, overall, Hanoi French Quarter brings us a unique beauty and romantic fragments in Hanoi.

Being outstanding due to European architecture inside Hanoi, St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a perfect example for you to find out more about Christian religion and Neo-Gothic style design.

This is one of three major churches in Hanoi, along with Cua Bac Catholic Church and Ham Long Church.

If you just want to wander outside to see the view, casual and comfortable clothes are your suitable outfits.

The Cathedral is more beautiful with twinkle light at night so highly recommended visiting at that time.

There are many activities on Christmas season with glitter decorations for you to chill out with friends. Don’t miss that chance to enjoy happiness in this special moment.

Hoa Lo Prison

• Address: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Phone: 024 3934 2253
• Entrance fee: 50.000 VND (Discount 50% under-12-year-old Kids and students with cards.)
• Opening hours: 8:00 – 17:30 daily

Hoa Lo prison reappears the grim perspective of Vietnamese history in which we easily get goosebumps with violence and brutality. In spite of the designed capacity for 450 prisons, there were actually more than 2000 people held in subhuman conditions here in 1954.The struggle for independence of the Vietnamese nation left us many pieces of evidence in this unbreakable prison. So, if you want to find out more about history, it’s definitely the place you need to drop by.

The prison site also features short documentaries, depicting scenes of American prisoners being detained there.

We had better not pay a visit in the winter because the cold weather and the low temperature in the prison might make you feel uncomfortable. The best suitable season for us to get here is the autumn from August to October. Make sure your clothes are polite in worshipping/ sanctuary parts.

The most horrible in Hoa Lo is a medieval guillotine, designed by 2.4 meter-tall wooden pillars with blades held high above the latch. Below there is another crossbar and a narrow rack for death row inmates

>>> Explore Hoa Lo Prison With Hanoi French Quarter Walking Tour

Hanoi Opera House

• Address: 1 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Tel: +84 43 933 0113
• Ticket Price: 100.000 – 2.000.000 VND

Another masterpiece of the French colonist in Hanoi is Hanoi Opera House, built in 1911. It’s a phenomenal piece of neo-classical French architecture featuring Gothic themes on the doors and domes with pillars, shuttered windows, balconies and a glass room. The interior is even more magnificent than the exterior with many arguing it is aesthetically even more appealing than the Paris Opera House.

Hanoi Opera House has a length of 87m, an average width of 30m, the highest peak of the roof is 34m above the road base, construction area is about 2.600 square meters.

Bullet marks in the Hanoi 1946 battle still remain intact. This is a battle to open the first Indochina War between Viet Minh forces and French expeditionary forces (December 19, 1946 – February 18, 1947).

Hanoi Opera House is the biggest theater in Vietnam and served as a center for high-end entertainment, theater, and classical music during the French colonialism period.

Today the grand old lady functions as a high-end venue for the best of local and international performers, and a popular photo spot. Visitors today will be entertained at this architectural landmark which features a range of events including local Vietnamese opera, traditional folk music, ballets, and many international concerts.

Ending the tour of the Opera House, visitors will enjoy the repertoire of art with a strong folk influence in the auditorium

Vietnam National Museum of History

• Address: 214 Tran Quang Khai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Opening hours:  8:00 – 12:00, 13:30 – 17:30
• Entrance fee: 40.000 VND

We continue going deep down to the historical world in Vietnam National Museum of History. We can find rich and diverse collections of historical relics and thematic exhibitions on Vietnamese culture and history here. That’s a very thorough and comprehensive historical outlook that other museums cannot offer.

Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi

The architecture is one special thing we will want to notice. The harmony of French style design in the surface structure with some adaptation to traditional culture, overall, create an elegant and unique beauty.

Not only showing artistic values, each building of the museum includes its own historical significance, in the land of a thousand years of civilization.

The seal “Sac Menh Chi Bao” has a dragon-shaped knob. Cast in October of Minh Menh 8, 1827. Made from 10 kilograms of gold

Some tips may be useful once you get there. Site One on Trang Tien Street is bigger and covers a larger scope of history, so recommended to spend more time at this site. A free English audio tour is available in this museum building but the table offering headsets is not obvious, so ask locals for it.

Apart from the heroic history of 4000-year-old Vietnam, we arrive at the land of modern, luxury, development, of an innovative, creative Hanoi in the new era.

Trang Tien Plaza

• Address: 24 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Phone : 024 3937 8600
• Opening hour: 9:30 – 21:30.

Away from the noisy and rowdy crowd, we go to another shopping place, but fancier and more expensive: Trang Tien Plaza.

In a favorable position, Trang Tien Plaza is on top of high-class luxurious shopping malls in Hanoi. This plaza sells high fashion and expensive costumes of well-known brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Chanel, Dior…

Inside the Trang Tien Plaza

Patterns on banisters and ceiling in the royal style of Western culture are comparatively eye-catching, classical but modern at the same time.

Especially, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lotteria, H3Q to satisfy your appetite on the 4th floor. That’s the place locals often drop by to have lunch, dinner on weekends.

There is a mini Korean shopping mall and sometimes holding some fairs on some occasions on the 6th floor.

Outside the Trang Tien Plaza

Parallel to rush flow of dynamic Hanoi, French Quarter still keep for their own a unique character – Arts and Theater.

It’s time to explore the artistic corner in the French Quarter. The first destination we can stop to look for something artful is Red Moon Gallery

Red Moon Gallery

• Address: 38 Trang Tien street.
• Phone : 024 3934 2531
• Opening time: 10:00 – 18:00

In Red Moon Gallery, we will come to the world of varied and tasteful Vietnamese art collection with good service, reasonable price and convenient transportation.

Red Moon Gallery entrance

Thanh Binh Art gallery

• Address: 25 – 27 Trang Tien street
• Phone : 024 3824 5344
• Opening time: 10:00 – 18:00

Stepping into the gallery, you will be surprised by a panoramic view of contemporary paintings on the life, people, scenery and culture of Vietnam. The depth of Vietnamese traditions and culture is transformed into art, open our views to explore.

The collections displays work by both senior and established artists and promising young talent, reflecting some of the notable trends in contemporary art.

Dong Phong Gallery

• Opening hours: 9:30 – 18:30
• Phone: 024 3936 4393
• Address: 3 Ly Dao Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Dong Phong Art Gallery’s space is seemingly small but deluxe with exquisite paintings by talented artists of Vietnam. There is more than what you see: a large off-site collection and access to many artists’ studios.

It’s a good point of reference when it comes to further enhance your outstanding collection of Vietnamese paintings.

Dong Phong Art Gallery’s space

Dong Phong Art Gallery’s space

There are also Artpartment 3 kilometers away from this one, which presents their whole collections of Vietnamese arts.

>>> Plan your FREE ITINERARY PLANNING with our local experts for these exploring!

5. Best French Quarter Hanoi Restaurants

Au Delice – Hanoi French food

• Address: 27 P. Lê Văn Hưu,Ngo Thi Nham, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

• Opening hours: 09:00 – 22:00

• Reference price: 200.000 – 500.000 VND.

French restaurant Au Delice is an outstanding restaurant with ancient architecture, has two floors each floor is decorated delicate, feeling very luxurious. For the design of the second floor, the guests can stand from the balcony looking directly at the church, the scene is extremely romantic.

The menu of the restaurant is diverse with many kinds of fine wines, imported from France and many flavors such as French fries, cheese, fish meat, lamb … Come home You will enjoy the quintessence of French cuisine.

The quintessence of French cuisine

La Terrasse Du Metropole

• Address: 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

• Opening hours: 11:00 – 22:00

La Terrasse Du Metropole at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi offers traditional French cuisine and refreshing beverages. This Parisian-style sidewalk café is decorated with vintage ceiling fans, iron-framed awning, polished timber deck, and comfortable seating arrangements with views of Hanoi city center.

Throughout the day, the restaurant offers a wide range of soups, salads, and sandwiches while in the evening, there are fresh seafood and imported meats. For a quick on-the-go meal, we highly recommend the club sandwich (300.000 VND), which comes with generous amounts of smoked bacon, chicken breast, egg, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise.

The club sandwich – signature dish of La Terrasse Du Metropole

Sen 60 Ly Thai To

• Address: 60 Ly Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

• Phone:  (04) 39744192 – (04) 39744193

• Opening hours: 18:00 – 22:00

Just across from the Sofitel Metropole hotel in Hanoi French Quarter is Sen Ly Thai To, a restaurant that stands out amongst most restaurants in Hanoi for serving extensive buffet dinners.

Sen Ly Thai To is decorated with an elegant black and white theme, chandeliers, wooden furnishing. This restaurant serves a variety of Vietnamese cuisine in a single sitting. A massive buffet area set up in the center, and spacious seating arrangements that make Sen Hanoi feel like a proper sit-down restaurant.

Sen is one the most famous buffet restaurant in Hanoi

It’s always a good idea to make a reservation before making your way to Sen Hanoi.

Le Beaulieu Restaurant Hanoi

• Address: Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel, 5 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

• Phone: 024 3826 6919

• Opening hours: 06:00 – 10:30, 11:30 – 14:30, 18:00 – 22:30

Le Beaulieu Restaurant Hanoi is a brasserie-style dining venue which serves authentic French cuisine and cocktails in a luxurious setting.

It takes a five-minute walk from Hanoi Opera House to Le Beaulieu Restaurant.  This award-winning establishment featured dark wooden furnishing, polished wood and marble floors, while chandeliers, as well as large windows overlooking the hotel courtyard.

Brasserie-style dining

O’Douceurs Hanoi

O’Douceurs Hanoi is a renowned French patisserie where you can enjoy freshly baked pastries, bread, and cakes as well as smoothies, coffees, and teas in a cozy setting.

Not a big restaurant, O’Douceurs Hanoi offers a wide selection of sandwiches and croissants as well as desserts, fruit tarts, and cookies. If you’re looking for a light meal, this place is a cannot be missed.

• Address: 91A Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

• Phone: 0868 119 220

• Opening hours: 07:00 – 22:30

Delicious party of O’Douceurs

4. Best Hanoi French Quarter Hotels

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

• Star Rating: 5 stars

• Address: 15 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

• Phone: 024 3826 6919

Embellishing for marvelous and wonderful Hanoi is Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, with a unique characteristic, long-standing history, and classical romance. Your journey to Hanoi will be special in luxurious artistic French life, harmonious with Vietnam elegance.

Considered as an iconic of Hanoi’s colonial work, this hotel represents one of the typical French corners in the heart of the capital.

Luxury room of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel

• Star Rating: 5 stars

• Address: 1 Le Thanh Tong St, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi

• Phone : 024 3933 0500

Hilton is the famous hotel brand in the world and they have one in the center of Hanoi French Quarter. It’s easy to walk from the Hilton Hotel to the famous Hanoi Opera House and some of the best shopping in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Hanoi Hilton has 269 guestrooms with Vietnamese traditional design. There are modern accouterments like high-speed Internet, cable television, and separate work areas.

Twin room of Hanoi Hilton

Melia Hanoi

• Star Rating: 5 stars

• Address: 44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi

• Phone: 024 3934 3343

Close to Hoa Lo Prison is the 22-story Melia Hotel. Also a luxury hotel in Hanoi, Melia has 306 guest rooms come with private bathrooms and all the equipment you need.

Melia also has an exercise room, lobby bar, and poolside bar, among other amenities to your need.

Melia Hotel Hanoi

Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi

• Star Rating: 5 stars

• Address: 29 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

• Phone: 024 6282 5555

Close to the legendary Hanoi Opera House, the Hotel de l’Opera makes for a fine staging point for opera enthusiasts, whether they plan to have a pre-opera dinner at the hotel’s sophisticated Satine French restaurant, or if they choose to stay at one of the Hotel de l’Opera’s 107 guest rooms and suites – each providing luxurious wood floors, pricey linens, and massive bathrooms en-suite.

The interior décor is enriched with French colonial accents and an overall sense of the theatrical, appropriate for a hotel inspired by an opera house.

Inside the Hotel de l’Opera

Somerset Grand Hanoi

• Star Rating: 5 stars

• Address: 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

• Phone: 024 3934 2342

Somerset Grand Hanoi is close to a number of city attractions such as Hanoi Old Quarter, Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. This hotel can be chosen as a perfect base to explore the city.

The Somerset Grand’s 185 serviced residences are fully furnished, all spacious units offering fully-equipped kitchens, IDD telephone, plus amenities like the in-house Jaspa restaurant, Papa Joes & Highland Coffee, large swimming pool, tennis court, gymnasium, sauna, children’s playground/playroom, and 24-hr reception.

Inside the Somerset Grand Hanoi

If you have any question, please feel free to ask AZ Local Trip. Our local experts are always to help!

Jenny Tran

Jenny Tran’s love for Vietnam shines through in her detailed travel guides and personalized itineraries. With 5 years of experience under her belt, she’s dedicated to helping you discover the hidden gems and authentic experiences of this incredible country