This is an update to our previous comprehensive guide to Hanoi’s districts – the first look at the new map of Vietnam’s capital following administrative boundary changes which took effect on 1 July 2025 as part of Resolution No. 60.
Hanoi – the historical city of many contrasts – has undergone noticeable transformation over the past two decades as it welcomes an influx of modernity in co-working spaces, startup culture and new developments.
And now, nearly half of the country’s previously 63 localities have been merged and consolidated into just 34 provinces and centrally-governed cities in a move hoping to streamline governance, improve efficiency, and cut bureaucratic barriers to investment as Hanoi looks to secure its place as a modern, smart capital by 2030.
The three-tier system of local government has also been cut down to two, meaning the district system no longer exists and local addresses have changed.
We did a similar pre-merger and post-merger guide to Ho Chi Minh City’s map as part of our guide to Vietnam series, which you can check out if you’re heading to the country’s southern business capital instead.
Let’s dive in.
Hanoi City unaffected by provincial boundary changes, but no more districts after July 2025
Looking at the big picture of the provinces first – Hanoi was one of 11 provinces and cities which remained unaffected by the July merger, retaining its status as Vietnam’s highest population density city with a population of 8.7 million across a nearly 3,360 km² area.
Before the restructure, Hanoi’s 30 districts contained 526 smaller administrative communes, wards, and townships. Following the elimination of the district system, there are now only 126 administrative units across Hanoi, comprising 51 new wards and 75 communes.
A “ward” (phường) serves urban populations living closer to the city’s core, while a “commune” (xã) is the designation offered to units operating in more rural areas.
An overview of central Hà Nội
Inner city Hanoi was previously split into 12 urban districts, with a primary core of six districts comprising the highly-populated areas surrounding Hanoi’s Old Quarter. According to The Hanoi Times, while that area covers only around 9% of Hanoi’s total area, it’s home to 42% of the city’s population.
In our previous guide, we focused on the highlights of what to see in Hanoi’s six primary districts: Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da and Cau Giay.
Here’s how they’ve changed.
Ba Đình District – now merged from 10 wards
Ba Dinh, west of the Red River, remains the political heart of Hanoi – now consolidated into a larger ward from 10 separate wards and naturally occurring areas:
Quan Thanh, Truc Bach, Dien Bien, Doi Can, Kim Ma, Ngoc Ha, and parts of Cua Nam, Thuy Khue, Dong Xuan and Cua Dong.
Many embassies and government offices, including the Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam, are located here.
Lovers of history are advised to visit the historic Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum within which the embalmed body of Vietnam’s former president Ho Chi Minh rests in a protected glass case. Vietnam’s upcoming national Independence Day celebrations on 2 September find a connection to this iconic square, which served as the historic backdrop for Vietnam’s declaration of independence from French colonization in 1945.
Here you’ll also find the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, and the Presidential Palace, where government meetings still take place today.
Hoàn Kiếm District – now merged from 14 wards and separated into Hoan Kiem & Cua Nam Wards
Hoan Kiem on the Red River’s west bank is home to Hanoi’s major attractions – now merged from 14 separate wards and naturally occurring areas:
Hang Bac, Hang Bo, Hang Buom, Hang Dao, Hang Gai, Hang Ma, Ly Thai To, Cua Nam, Dien Bien, Dong Xuan, Hang Bong, Hang Trong, Trang Tien, and parts of Cua Dong.
Of Hanoi’s six primary districts, Hoan Kiem area is the smallest in size at just 5.17 square kilometers, despite the many attractions it is home to. Here you’ll find the lively matrix of the Old Quarter’s 36 ancient streets, the tranquility of Hoan Kiem Lake, and the historical sights of Ly Thai To Monument and Hoa Lo Prison.
In the past, each street within the criss-crossing maze of the Old Quarter was dedicated to a specific kind of merchandise. Today, it continues to draw crowds of visitors and locals alike for the spectacle of its narrow tube houses and street food vendors. Locals hope the banning of gas-motorbikes within the city center by 1 July 2026 will provide the breath of fresh air needed to sustain the precinct’s life and charm.
South of the Old Quarter is Hanoi’s famous Hoan Kiem Lake – literally translated to “the Lake of the Returned Sword” – the geographical center of Hanoi symbolizing Vietnam’s fight for independence. Further south of the lake are the relics of French-time colonial rule: Saint Joseph’s Cathedral and the Hanoi Opera House.
Tây Hồ District – now merged from 9 wards
Tay Ho, framing Hanoi’s biggest lake at its core, remains a relaxing respite from the crowded city – now consolidated into a larger ward from 9 separate wards:
Buoi, parts of Phu Thuong and Xuan La, the remaining parts of Nhat Tan, Quang An, Tu Lien, Yen Phu, Nghia Do and Thuy Khue.
With the Red River framing its northern tip, the Tay Ho (literally “West Lake”) area is considered one of the most scenic areas of Hanoi’s formerly twelve districts. It’s also Hanoi’s least populated inner urban district, with a reported population of only around 167,000, allowing plenty of air and breathing space.
Tree-lined Thanh Nien Street winds a scenic path between the famed West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, while Trich Sai Road offers picturesque views of the central lake for itinerant travelers keen to catch some breeze via motorbike.
The “expatriate hub” of Xuan Dieu Street and Ngoc Van Street is characterized by its crowd of freelancers and digital nomads. For lovers of Western food, lakeside cafe views and wine bars, the Tay Ho neighborhood is well-known for its abundance of high-end restaurants, French bakeries, and luxury hotels.
Hai Bà Trưng District – now merged from 5 wards
Hai Ba Trung, tucked further south of Hoan Kiem and away from the bustle of Hanoi’s main tourist spots, offers a glimpse into authentic local living – now merged from five separate wards:
Bach Cang, Le Dai Hanh, Nguyen Du, Thanh Nhan and remaining parts of Pham Dinh Ho.
Well-known for its shopping, the Hai Ba Trung area contains two of Hanoi’s largest malls: the Vincom Center. Outside the commercial and boutique shopping experiences, the Hai Ba Trung area is often referred to as Hanoi’s “working district” for its many businesses and office buildings.
Fans of authentic local Vietnamese coffee can visit the streets of Trieu Viet Vuong, Le Dai Hanh and Thai Phien for a taste of the traditional cafe experience. Conveniently located within a 10-minute walk is Thong Nhat Park, one of the biggest green spaces in the city worth visiting for a view of Hanoi at leisure.
Đống Đa District – now merged from 6 wards
Dong Da is the cultural and academic brain of Hanoi, characterized by its universities and busy residential beat – now consolidated from 6 wards:
Thinh Quang, parts of Quang Trung, Lang Ha, Nam Dong, O Cho Dua, Trung Liet.
The Vietnam National Academy of Music, Foreign Trade University and Hanoi Law University find a home in the Dong Da intellectual hub, which conveniently features cheap rent and affordable food options for the neighborhood’s largely student population.
The notable Imperial Academy, built in 1070 as Vietnam’s first national university, also sits as a part of the larger Temple of Literature complex in Dong Da’s northern precinct. An institution worth visiting for its five spacious green courtyards, clear ponds, and topiary sculptures if you’re after a quiet oasis away from the bustle during your time in Hanoi. Students from schools all over the university can be seen flocking to the temple to pray for luck during the final exam season every year.
Cầu Giấy District – now merged from 6 wards
Similar to neighboring Dong Da, Cau Giay is a densely-concentrated neighborhood drawing young intellectuals and home to three of Hanoi’s most selective high schools – now consolidated into one from 6 separate wards:
Dich Vong, Dich Vong Hau, Quan Hoa, My Dinh 1, My Dinh 2, Yen Hoa.
Over the years, the Cau Giay neighborhood has become an increasingly attractive neighborhood to settle in, characterized by the stamp of Hanoi’s most selective high schools – Hanoi Amsterdam, Pedagogical High School and Foreign Language Specialized High School – and the abundance of new residential and commercial developments such as Indochina Plaza and Landmark 72.
Notable sights in the neighborhood include The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, home to an extensive collection on the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam as depicted through a series of well-curated exhibits. The museum’s outdoor collection showcases well-preserved traditional dwellings such as Ede’s Long House, Ba Na’s Tall House and Gia Rai’s tombs – worth visiting if you’re a fan of history and culture.