Most People Start With Money
Most Hanoi articles start and end with how cheap everything is. That matters, but after a few months the real questions are quieter: can you stay long term, will the city ground you or wear you down, and can you build routines here instead of just memories?
If you’re wondering what the city feels like after dark, the Hanoi by night story captures the mood when the crowds thin out.
This is for anyone past the honeymoon phase (or heading toward it with open eyes).
The Cost of Living (Yes, It’s Cheap, But That’s Not the Point)
- Studio apartment in Tay Ho with kitchenette, desk, and partial lake view: $320 USD/month.
- Local leases start around $150–250 USD for furnished apartments.
- Phở around $1.50, bánh mì around $1, coffee everywhere.
- Daily spend on food, drinks, coffee, transport: $10–20 AUD.
- Grab bike rides across town: ~$1 USD. Sleeper buses and trains are cheap and comfortable.
- Gyms from $38 AUD/month, with Muay Thai, boxing, and jiu-jitsu gyms everywhere.
All of this is real. But cheap living alone will not make you stay.
If this saved you time or money, there’s a coffee link below.
Video: Cost of Living in Hanoi
A real-world breakdown of what it costs to live in Hanoi day to day.
Video: Independence Day in Hanoi
A look at the atmosphere and celebrations around Independence Day in the city.
Why Hanoi Works for Me Right Now
I came back to Hanoi after spending time in Japan. Japan was incredible but intense, structured, and expensive in subtle ways. Vietnam feels looser and more forgiving. Hanoi feels lived in rather than curated.
Tay Ho gives me enough international energy to collaborate, while still feeling local enough that I am not stuck in an expat theme park. I can walk the lake, train, film, and sit in cafés without being rushed. Routines matter more than novelty once you stop treating travel like a highlight reel.
Visas: The Reality That Shapes Everything
Vietnam is not set up for indefinite casual residency. Most people live on 30 or 90-day tourist e-visas, and the rules change often. Extensions are unreliable, visa agents are not a sure thing, and border runs are no longer a plan you can build your life around.
Flights & Why Hanoi Is a Serious Base
Hanoi connects you to Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Australia with frequent, affordable flights. It is a base that makes living globally feel practical, not just aspirational.
Getting Around Day to Day
Hanoi is not a walking city. Sidewalks are broken, blocked, or parked on. Motorbikes make the city functional, and Grab makes them accessible even if you never drive. Traffic looks chaotic, but it has an internal logic you learn over time.
The Motorbike Ban Question
Hanoi plans to restrict or phase out petrol motorbikes in central areas by 2026. Details are still unclear, and the rollout will be gradual. Electric bikes and public transport will replace petrol bikes over time. It will change the city, but not overnight.
Pollution, Noise, and the Physical Reality
Air quality can be bad, especially in winter. Some days are fine. Some days are not. You feel it in your throat and see it in the sky. Noise is constant. Construction never really ends. Honking is communication, not aggression.
Long-term residents adapt with masks, air purifiers, and lower expectations. If you need pristine air and silence, Hanoi will drain you. If you can accept background chaos as the price of entry, it becomes manageable.
Scams, Friction, and Daily Annoyances
Hanoi is not dangerous, but it is opportunistic. Taxi scams exist if you avoid Grab. Some landlords disappear with deposits. Some services quote one price and charge another. Most scams rely on confusion, not sophistication. Calm skepticism is the best defense.
Who Actually Lives in Hanoi (And Why)
After a few weeks, patterns become obvious. The expat population is not as diverse as blogs suggest. Most foreigners fall into a few groups:
English Teachers
The largest group by far. Teaching provides a legal visa pathway, predictable income, a routine, and a social circle. Some stay a year, others a decade.
Digital Nomads
Freelancers, remote employees, creators, and online business owners who want something more grounded than Bali and less party-driven than parts of Thailand.
Families & Relationships
Foreigners married to Vietnamese partners or raising families here. They have the most stable legal pathways and a more neighborhood-focused version of Hanoi.
What You Don’t See Much Of
You do not see many foreigners in standard corporate roles. Vietnam invests heavily in its own workforce. If you are not bringing your job with you, teaching English or working online are realistically the two main paths.
Community & Social Life
Meeting people is easy. Staying connected is harder. Hanoi has a revolving population, so the people who last build routines, not just novelty. Facebook groups, coworking spaces, and gyms are where real friendships form.
Work, Money, and Mental Health
Hanoi is forgiving if you earn online or have savings. It is less forgiving if money anxiety is constant. The city will not structure your life for you. If you lack routine, Hanoi amplifies that. If you have routine, Hanoi supports it.
Pros
- Low daily costs without sacrificing comfort.
- One of the best food cultures in the world.
- Easy social entry and a constant flow of new people.
- Excellent regional travel base.
- A city that does not demand perfection.
Cons
- Visa instability and constant calendar pressure.
- Pollution and noise are unavoidable.
- Infrastructure fatigue from sidewalks and traffic.
- Long-term uncertainty unless you secure a legal pathway.
- A tendency to drift without strong routines.
Why I’m Still Here
Hanoi works for me because I am honest about what it is. It is not paradise, not a forever plan, and not a productivity hack. It is a place where my money stretches, my routines hold, and my life feels grounded enough to keep building.
If you are thinking about moving here, the real question is not whether Hanoi is good or bad. It is whether its trade-offs match the season of life you are in.
I don’t sell courses or hype. If this helped, you know where the button is.
Comments & Questions
If you have questions about Hanoi or want to share your own experience, leave a comment below. I read every message and reply when I can.