Finding a House

Our arrival in Hanoi has been an easing into life in Hanoi. We are starting out with a month in a serviced apartment in a very nice complex near the lake Ho Tay, Sedona Suites.

Complete with a pool, tennis courts and friends for the boys, life here is pretty easy.

Our plan is to spend this haitus looking for a house while waiting for our household goods to arrive from Dubai.

We looked at about 15 houses. Apparently there is a season for househunting in Hanoi, and this isn't it. The district we are looking at is Tay Ho which is located in the northern peninsula of the Ho Tay (West Lake) lake. The hotel is located in this area and it is a popular place for expats (European and American) to look for houses.

The houses are generally very tall and narrow - 3 to 4 stories with very high ceilings. The architecture is very much Euro-inspired. Combined with the luxurious vegetation that is possible here, the result can be very beautiful. This picture was taken at one of the nicer parts of the lakeside.

After visiting many houses, each with their special brand of "no way will we live here", we found the perfect place.

A small (relative to huge) house with views of the lake from every room, beautiful palms in the front yard, and very close to our beloved Sedona Suites, where we can join the club to take advantage of the amenities. I've met the current renters who have nothing but good things to say about the neighborhood, the landlords and the house. So we are very excited.

Our things arrive just in time for our Dec. 1 moving date.

For all Google earth afficianados, go to coordinates: Lat. 21° 3'38.25"N, Long. 105°49'9.41"E. That's our house's exact spot. The area is called Xom Chua.

Click around and look at the pictures provided. They give an excellent idea of the area.
This photo is taken from the small square lake just south of our house. Our house is directly behind the large house on the left. The vegetation in the foreground hides several small houses and gardening shelters. Our landlord lives in one of those. On the map you will notice green areas to the east of us. These are orchards where manderines, bananas and lord knows what else are grown. Very bucolic!