Sumitomo 18 Apartment – Lane 551 Kim Ma street

Sumitomo 18 Apartment – Lane 551 Kim Ma street Overview

You know what surprised me most about Sumitomo 18? It’s tucked away in this narrow alley off Kim Ma street, and honestly, I almost walked past it twice on my first visit. But that’s actually part of its charm – you’re staying in a real Hanoian neighborhood, not some tourist bubble. The apartment building looks pretty standard from the outside, but step inside and you realize someone put serious thought into making this place work for travelers.

The thing about Kim Ma street is that it’s perfectly positioned if you actually want to experience Hanoi like a local. I mean, you’ve got the motorbike chaos and street food stalls right there, but you’re also just a quick xe om ride from the Old Quarter when you want to do the tourist thing. What I loved was walking out in the morning to grab bánh mì from the vendor who sets up right at the corner of the alley – she’s there every day around 7 AM, and her pork rolls are honestly better than anything I found in the touristy areas. The Ba Dinh district itself is where a lot of government buildings are, so it feels more… substantial, I guess? Less transient than some other parts of the city.

The apartment itself – well, it’s got that 9.7 rating for a reason. Everything just works, which sounds basic but you’d be surprised how rare that is in budget-friendly places. The wifi actually handled my video calls (I was working remotely for part of my stay), the hot water kicks in immediately, and the air conditioning doesn’t sound like a dying helicopter. Small details, but they matter when you’re trying to sleep off jet lag or cool down after walking around in Hanoi’s humidity. The kitchen setup is pretty complete too – I ended up cooking a few meals with ingredients from the wet market about ten minutes away on Giang Vo street. There’s something satisfying about making your own Vietnamese coffee in the morning instead of always hunting for cafes. The only minor thing is that being in an alley means it can get a bit echo-y when the neighbors are moving around, but honestly, that’s just city living. Plus, it’s way quieter than being directly on Kim Ma street would be – those motorbikes never really stop. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, none of that awkward waiting around while they figure out your reservation. The host actually gave me her phone number and said to text if I needed anything, which felt genuine rather than just polite.

Sumitomo 18 Apartment – Lane 551 Kim Ma street Accommodations

Reviews of Sumitomo 18 Apartment – Lane 551 Kim Ma street

• Quoc from Vietnam – 11 February 2025 (10/10)

• Ánh from Vietnam – 9 January 2025 (10/10)

  Nhà cửa sạch sẽ gọn gàng

• Takehide from Japan – 7 January 2025 (9/10)

• Linh from Vietnam – 1 January 2025 (10/10)

Surroundings

Facilities