🇻🇳 Vietnam · City guide
Moving to Hanoi: Language & First Steps
Vietnam's historic capital, with a growing expat and teaching community.
Living in Hanoi
Vietnam's historic capital, with a growing expat and English-teaching community; Tay Ho (West Lake) is the classic expat base, with the Old Quarter for a livelier feel. It's affordable, and a little Vietnamese goes a long way.
To settle into Hanoi you'll need Vietnamese — and the practical kind: temporary residence registration with local police (often handled by your landlord) and your TRC or visa, opening a bank account, and seeing a doctor. Here's what to do first and the phrases to learn.
Sources: Language Lab's Vietnamese curriculum & culture notes; city/official processes vary — confirm with Hanoi's local authority. · Join the beta →
What to do in your first week in Hanoi?
- Register your address / residency — temporary residence registration with local police (often handled by your landlord) and your TRC or visa.
- Open a local bank account so you can get paid and pay rent.
- Register with a local doctor (GP) and sort health insurance.
- Get a local SIM / mobile plan and set up any required digital ID.
- Learn your transport options — tickets, passes and routes.
Vietnamese phrasebooks for Hanoi
For the full country picture, see our guide to moving to Vietnam.
Arrive in Hanoi ready.
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