May Residence-800m from Opera House

May Residence-800m from Opera House Overview

Look, I’ve stayed in a lot of places in Hanoi, and May Residence just gets it right in ways that honestly surprised me. It’s tucked away on this narrow little alley off Thi Sach Street – you know, one of those spots where you walk down thinking “am I going the right way?” but then you realize that’s exactly why it works so well. The whole Hai Ba Trung area has this quieter residential feel compared to the chaos of the Old Quarter, but you’re still just an 800-meter walk to the Opera House. I mean, that’s like ten minutes on foot, and you get to cut through some really lovely tree-lined streets that most tourists never see.

What really struck me about this place – and I’m not just saying this because they have a 9.8 rating, though honestly that makes sense now – is how they’ve managed to feel both polished and personal at the same time. The rooms have this clean, modern vibe without being sterile, if you know what I mean. The staff actually remembers your name after the first day, which is rarer than you’d think. And here’s something I really appreciated: the building itself is narrow (typical for Hanoi) but they’ve used the space intelligently. The elevator is tiny but it works, the hallways don’t feel cramped, and somehow the rooms feel bigger than they probably are on paper. Plus, being on that side street means you’re not dealing with the constant motorbike noise that can drive you crazy in other parts of the city – though you’ll still hear the occasional early morning vendor, which is just part of Hanoi’s charm.

The location thing is actually pretty genius when you think about it. Sure, you’re not right in the thick of Hoan Kiem Lake madness, but that’s… good? You can walk to the Opera House in less than ten minutes, hop over to the French Quarter easily, and when you want to hit the night markets or grab some street food, it’s all totally doable on foot. But then you come back to this quiet little alley where you can actually get some sleep. I stayed there during Tet season – which, let me tell you, is not a quiet time in Vietnam – and it was still peaceful enough to rest properly. The whole Thi Sach area has some excellent local restaurants too, the kind where you’re the only foreigner and the pho is legitimately perfect. There’s this little café about two blocks away that does the best ca phe sua da I had in the entire city, and the woman who runs it started recognizing me after three days. That’s the kind of neighborhood experience you get staying here instead of in some big chain hotel in the tourist zone.

May Residence-800m from Opera House Accommodations

Reviews of May Residence-800m from Opera House

• Leen from United States – 12 May 2025 (10/10)

  Owner very helpful and kind, spoke English well.
  She takes pride to have clean place.
  Big apartment.
  Stores nearby.
  Location of apt secluded in alleyway, not scary to walk through. .
  There was a helpful area guide printed for guests
  ATM nearby.
  
  What could be improved: Laundry two floors up using an outside spiral stairway. If you can't walk well or is stairs or don't like heights, this might not be something that's comfortable for some people.

• Shanty from Indonesia – 26 April 2025 (9/10)

  The location, the helpfulness, and the swift response of the staff.

• Alisa from Russia – 22 April 2025 (10/10)

  May Residence is the perfect apartment if you're looking for a long-term stay that’s not too far from the Old Town.
  
  This apartment is so well equipped that we were genuinely surprised by the level of thoughtful details—it really makes you feel at home. A place of this size is quite rare in Hanoi, so don’t miss the chance to stay here!
  
  Thao is an amazing host—responsive, kind, and incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for all your support!

• David from Canada – 1 January 2025 (10/10)

  We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Mrs. Thao’s rental! From the moment we arrived until we left, Mrs. Thao was an exceptional host—kind, friendly, and always quick to respond to any question or request. She even went the extra mile by arranging a lift from the airport for us, which made our arrival smooth and stress-free. Her warmth and attention to detail truly made us feel at home.
  
  The apartment itself is spacious, clean, and perfect! It’s fully equipped with nearly everything you could need, from a fully-functional kitchen to convenient laundry facilities. The space is immaculately clean and thoughtfully designed, making it both cozy and practical.
  
  One of the biggest highlights for us was the location. The apartment is tucked away in a quiet, safe alley within a vibrant, bustling neighborhood. It feels very "local," allowing you to experience the authentic charm of Hanoi while still being just a 15-minute walk from the iconic French Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s the best of both worlds!
  
  We also loved the pretty outdoor space—it was a peaceful spot to enjoy our morning coffee or relax after a day of exploring. The apartment's tranquility was unbeatable, which was important to us, and the neighborhood is lively and welcoming.
  
  We’ve enjoyed our stay so much that we’ve decided to extend for another three months! If you’re looking for a comfortable, well-located, and peaceful place to stay in Hanoi with an amazing host, look no further.
  
  Highly highly recommended!
  
  Thank you, Mrs. Thao!
  😊
  🙏

• Sebile from Germany – 11 December 2024 (10/10)

  The place was very spacious, sparkling clean and had everything you could wish for. The alley was very quiet and the bed comfortable so I slept very well! The host was super friendly and helping. I had a wonderful stay!

• Carola from Canada – 3 November 2024 (10/10)

  We returned twice to May's residence and stayed in two different apartments. Both are spacious and offer a kitchenette, strong AC, large beds and comfy couches, and a desk to work on. One of the apartments had a bathtub, the other a walk-in shower should you have a preference for either. Wifi was also strong and reliable, which makes May residence a formidable choice for digital nomads. Light cleaning and laundry service was offered, and we could also utilise the washing machine, which is a big plus for longer stays. Filtered water was generously provided throughout our stay, and there is free use of bikes The host, Mrs. Thao and her two adult children are exceptional and attentive hosts, who all speak English fluently. They immediately responded to any inquiries and went out of their way to make our stay comfortable. Check-in and check-out was easy. The apartment is located in a large multi-apartment home in an alley, thus not facing major noisy streets and consequently fairly quiet. We mostly commuted by Grab, a ride to the Old Town taking about 10 minutes. We also enjoyed the neighbourhood, as non-touristy (apart from the small restaurant visited by Bourdain & Obama) and with loads of eateries, a French boulangerie with heavenly baguettes and croissants, banks, supermarkets etc all in walking distance. We would definitely return if in Hanoi again. Highly recommend.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Dong from United States – 29 May 2024 (10/10)

  I had a short but very pleasant at Thao’s place. The apartment is much nicer than the photos and is very comfortable. The area is very walkable and there are a lot of restaurants nearby. Thao is a very helpful and friendly host.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was great. Nothing to complain about!

• Devon from United Kingdom – 9 May 2024 (9/10)

  Very reasonable price for what you’re getting. The property had a well equipped kitchen and comfortable living room.
  
  What could be improved: Everything was great! One thing I will say is that the cupboards and fridge could do with a clean out.

• Sengkeo from Laos – 22 April 2024 (9/10)

  The host contacted us beforehand and provided information about the check-in. The host greeted me at check-in and went through the safety and access to the apartment procedure, which was useful. Throughout the stay, the host took care of us very well. The apartment itself was spacious and had a fully equipped pantry. The hot shower was excellent, some key toiletry items were provided as well. Nicely clean and well-placed furniture. Safety is their number one priority.
  
  What could be improved: It was understood that it was rainy days before we arrived and the quilt covers were damp, so we asked for a replacement to fix it. However, the damp smell in the room was still around. We believe the owner did best with that, and we appreciate it. But we had to mention here for improvement.

• Maria from Canada – 10 March 2024 (10/10)

  Thao is an incredible host and very helpful and friendly. The apartment is much nicer than the photos and very spacious and comfortable. There is access to a shared laundry area on the top floor and Thao was kind enough to offer to wash our items for us if we wanted (for a small fee). The area is very walkable and there are a lot of food and coffee options nearby. The apartment was also fairly quiet, given how noisy Ha Noi can be and we never heard any of the other tenants.
  
  What could be improved: The only downside is that the internet wasn't quite as fast as I needed for video calls (about 50-55mb/s upload and download), so it would often lag or get choppy. The internet was suitable for streaming and other use.

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