Truc Bach

If you want to stay in a neighborhood in Hanoi that is a little more peaceful and offers you the chance to relax after a busy day walking the city’s streets then Truc Bach could be the place for you. Truc Bach isn’t an area with a whole lot of famous tourist attractions, but there is still a wealth of interesting streets to explore and delicious food to sample.
There is a sizeable expat community living among the locals in the area and with that there are many eateries that cater to the Western inhabitants of Truc Bach – so if you are looking for a little home comfort among all of the noodles and rice then you will probably be able to find it here.
Set alongside Truc Bach lake the district offers some wonderful views across the lake, and a stroll along the water’s edge offers a little serenity among the scooter laden streets. There are many coffee shops along the lake for you to try out and some restaurants which serve frog hot pot for the more intrepid explorers to sample in the evenings.
Another place to explore in the district is the area close to the Chau Long Pagoda, where you will find the Chau Long wet market with locals busily shopping for fish for their supper and fresh fruit sellers selling reasonably priced watermelon to refresh you in the tropical heat. The hotels in the area are mid-range but prices can be very reasonable and rooms can be booked for a snip. Other parts of the city, as ever, are walkable but you can use the ever-present cyclos – just make sure to negotiate on prices!
            Pan Pacific Hanoi – The Pan Pacific Hanoi hotel is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a real slice of luxury in the Vietnamese capital. The rooms at this lavish hotel boast views of West Lake, Truc Bac Lake, and the Red River. The location here is great; it’s close enough to the bustling Old Quarter that you can get there easily, but far enough away that you can still go for lovely lakeside strolls. There’s a wide choice of rooms to suit all sorts of guests. There’s a heated indoor pool too.