Tay Ho (West Lake) is the Brooklyn of Hanoi.
Tay Ho (West Lake) named the Brooklyn of Hanoi
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Tay Ho (West Lake) the Brooklyn of Hanoi.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Hanoi's verdict went to Tay Ho (West Lake) ahead of Truc Bach, Hoan Kiem (French Quarter edge) and Ba Dinh, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Tay Ho the Brooklyn of Hanoi. It is where the city exhales: a huge lake, a slower pace, and a coffee and craft beer scene built by young creatives who wanted more room to work with. Hanoians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Tay Ho (West Lake)'s independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Hanoi verdict: brooklynof.com/hanoi
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/hanoi
Runner-up neighborhoods: Truc Bach, Hoan Kiem (French Quarter edge), Ba Dinh
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.