Is it nice in hanoi? to live?

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Izzy_Cool

Yes. I've been living in Hanoi for 12 years (and Vietnam for 16).
All in all, its not a bad place to live.
Major crime against foreigners is almost non-existent all you have to worry about is the usual pickpockets / chain snatchers.

Food is quite good, there's just about everything you could want.
Weather has 3 1/2 - 4 seasons and its quite pleasant at certain times of the year, air pollution isn't as bad as HCMC or Bangkok.

The schools are quite good and there are a few International schools here.

We have a few excellent hospitals, including the French - Vietnam International Hospital and some international clinics staffed with highly experienced foreign doctors.

Rents can be reasonable depending on what standards you want. Figure anywhere from $300 - 3,000 per mo.

HCMC is better for shopping, but Hanoi is catching up rather quickly.

All in all, its a pretty good place to live!

Figg

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Hanoi was the colonial capital under the French, and so it has a lot of historic buildings, is nicely laid out, and has nice cafe's. It's less commercial feeling than Saigon (HCMC). Close enough for weekend jaunts to HaLongBay or into some mountains. But also much smaller and less westernized. If you are a westerner, I hope you are familiar with and really love Asian culture and Asian food, because you won't be able to find the same amount of western amenities that you'd be able to find in some of the larger Asian mega-cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, KL. I've heard there's a good American school there if that's important to you. In order to judge all this for yourself, you really need to go visit it!

sole_hn

Yes, It's a nice city to live and work. Here is some brief information about Hanoi:
Hanoi - The oldest and one of the most attractive capital cities in Southeast Asia, Hanoi exudes a rare sense of gracious charm and timelessness. At its core exists a 600-year-old ancient quarter, augmented by a century-old colonial city. Today, the rich cultural heritage of both blends in perfect harmony with growing modernization, as Hanoi claims its position as the heart of Vietnam.

Hanoi, the â€œCity within the Riverâ€™s Bend,â€ was founded by Emperor Ly Thai To in AD 1010, near Co Loa, the ancient capital of the first Viet state dating back to the 3rd century BC. Ly Thai To structured this city, then known as Thang Long, around the massive citadel. To the east of this, a settlement of guilds was established to serve the needs of the royal court. By the 16th century, this area had developed into Hanoiâ€™s celebrated Old Quarter.

The arrival of the French in the 19th century marked a period of reconstruction, as they tore down parts of the citadel and some ancient temples to make way for the new European quarter. However, this cultural vandalism was compensated for, to a large extent, by the magnificent colonial architecture they bequeathed the city. During the first Indochina War, the cityâ€™s central districts escaped largely unharmed, and subsequently, in 1954, Hanoi was proclaimed the capital of independent Vietnam. Sadly, this was not the end of its violent history as it was then plunged into the conflict-ridden years against the US. Hanoi entered the 21st century a little run down yet structurally sound despite the years of warfare. The Opera House is still grand, as is the Sofitel Metropole Hotel.

Today, Hanoi is emerging as an elegant, cultured, and affluent city, where museums and galleries coexist with chic shops and fashionable restaurants. One can wander, in a few minutes, from the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to the imposing mansions and buildings lining the leafy boulevards of the former French Quarter. Hanoiâ€™s past has also ensured a superb culinary legacy, where French and Chinese cuisines blend marvelously with the Viet traditions. The same is true of Hanoiâ€™s lively arts scene, which is among the most sophisticated in Southeast Asia.

nguyenthanhtungtinbk

I was born here and I lived here for more than 20 years. But I love it not because I was born here. I love it because it's a pleasant place to live. If you ask me what places I like to live, my first choice would be London, and my second choice is Hanoi. The only thing I don't like in Hanoi is traffic jam, followed by not-quite-fresh air but it's not too bad. People are friendly, foods are good, great harmony with less commercial atmosphere ... Hanoi is a great place to live.

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