Maison D'Hanoi Boutique Hotel

"This affordable 38-room hotel on a bustling Old Quarter street is as vibrant as its surroundings. Painted iron tables and chairs out front enable guests to soak in the rich street life—watch roadside food hawkers sell their wares and locals and visitors chow down at small sidewalk stations. The jazzy lobby has a parquet ceiling that resembles a giant chessboard, an eclectic mix of furniture, and a front desk with an intricately carved wooden backdrop. Rooms are a step above basic yet comfortable, decorated in mostly white hues and shying away from ornamentation, with glossy wood floors, feather mattresses, and glass-covered dressing tables. Get settled, then follow resident Hanoians to the restaurants and bars that bustle nearby."