Celebrating New Year’s Eve & Tet in Hanoi – How Is a Serviced Apartment Different from a Hotel?

What Is a Serviced Apartment, and How Is It Fundamentally Different from a Hotel?

A serviced apartment is a fully furnished living space designed like a private home. It typically includes a living area, a kitchen or kitchenette, a dining table, bedrooms, a washing machine (in-unit or shared), a refrigerator, cooking facilities, and basic kitchenware. Alongside this are hotel-like services such as regular housekeeping, maintenance, security, reception, and guest support.

Traditional hotels, on the other hand, focus mainly on the bedroom and bathroom, sometimes with a small work desk or minibar. Meals, social gatherings, and celebrations usually happen outside the room—in restaurants, cafés, bars, or event spaces.

In a serviced apartment, however, you can cook, set up a festive table, and host a year-end gathering right in your own space. You still enjoy professional services and on-site support, but the way you use the space feels far more like living in a home rather than staying somewhere temporary.

New Year’s Eve: A Hotel Feels Temporary, a Serviced Apartment Feels Like Home

Whether it’s Western New Year or Lunar New Year, New Year’s Eve always revolves around a few meaningful moments: sharing a final meal of the year, counting down together, watching fireworks, and reflecting on the year that’s passed. This is where the difference between hotels and serviced apartments becomes most apparent.

In a hotel, you may have a comfortable bed, a clean bathroom, and professional service. But if you’re traveling with family or a group of friends, a single room rarely offers enough space to lay out food, sit around a table, exchange wishes, play board games, or let children move around freely. Most of the celebration happens outside, and the room becomes simply a place to sleep afterward.

In a serviced apartment, you usually have a shared living area—living room, kitchen, dining table, balcony, or large windows. Families can shop together, cook a few dishes, set up a small festive spread, play music, chat, and set a timer to count down to midnight. When fireworks light up the sky, you can step out onto the balcony, watch the colors burst above the city, then return inside to continue the conversation.
That feeling is far closer to being “at home,” even if you’re only staying for a few nights or weeks.

Space Matters: A Hotel Room vs. an Apartment with Kitchen, Dining, and Living Areas

In terms of size, serviced apartments are usually much larger than hotel rooms in the same price range. More importantly, the layout is different. Hotel rooms revolve around the bed and bathroom, while apartments are divided into multiple functional spaces that adapt to different moments of the day.

During New Year’s Eve, this difference becomes especially valuable. A private kitchen gives you full control over your year-end meal—you can cook, order food in, or mix both. There’s space for snacks, fruit, drinks, and decorations; children can have their own corner to draw or play; adults can sit, talk, and raise a glass together. No one feels cramped in a room built around a single bed.

For families with elderly members or young children, staying in a quiet apartment building—without crowded elevators and noisy hotel corridors during peak holiday periods—is also a major advantage. Serviced apartments, particularly those in low- to mid-rise buildings, often feel calmer and more private.

Location: Close to Fireworks Without Diving Into the Crowds

In Hanoi, areas around Hoan Kiem Lake, Trang Tien, and major central zones are often where countdown events and fireworks take place. Many hotels position themselves right on main streets, which can become overwhelmingly crowded during these days.

Serviced apartments offer a different kind of advantage. It’s easier to find buildings that are close enough to the action, yet slightly removed from the chaos. You can choose an apartment:

• In the city center but tucked away on a quiet street or alley, just minutes from the main festivities.

• Near West Lake, where you can enjoy open views and a festive atmosphere with more breathing room.

This balance allows you to experience New Year’s Eve fully—step out briefly to soak up the energy, then retreat to a peaceful, private space whenever you need.

Experience: Hotels “Serve,” Serviced Apartments “Accompany”

One subtle but important difference lies in how guests are cared for.

Hotels deliver standardized service: check-in, check-out, daily housekeeping, room service, and a 24/7 reception desk. You are a guest in the classic sense—arrive, be served, and leave.

In well-established serviced apartment systems, the relationship often feels more personal. Staff tend to be more flexible and approachable—offering suggestions for hosting a small in-room gathering, recommending less crowded firework-viewing spots, or helping with light decorations for a family year-end meal.
For longer stays, staff may remember your habits, routines, and preferences, creating a more natural, less formal experience.

During Tet, small gestures—extra flowers, a thoughtful gift, a handwritten greeting, or a simple conversation about your holiday plans—can make New Year’s Eve feel much warmer, especially for those far from home or foreigners spending the holidays in Hanoi.

Cost: It’s Not Just About the Nightly Rate

If you compare nightly rates alone, hotels and high-quality serviced apartments in the same area may not differ significantly. However, when considering the total cost of the experience—especially for groups of three to four people or more—serviced apartments often offer better value.

Instead of booking multiple hotel rooms, you can rent a two- or three-bedroom apartment with shared living space. Dining costs are also more flexible, as you can prepare some meals yourself and combine them with dining out. When looking at accommodation, food, and overall experience together, many people find that serviced apartments help them manage their budget more effectively—particularly during holidays when spending can easily add up.