While it may not be the tallest building in Vietnam, Lotte Center is still a prominent skyscraper that completes Hanoi’s skyline. This sharp-edged, modern architectural style structure rises 65 floors, providing visitors with an elevated view of the city.

Featuring a multi-use design, the Lotte Center boasts offices, residences, a hotel, spa, department store, various restaurants, and an observation deck.

2nd Tallest Building in Hanoi

Lotte Center Hanoi. Photo:

The third tallest building in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Lotte Center is located in the Ba Dình District. Further away from the waterfront, this skyscraper puts visitors in the heart of the city.

Nearby park space enhances the view, and being that there are no other buildings of a similar height, the Lotte Center has a clear line of sight to the Red River.

Quick stats:

Developer: Vietnam Company Limited
Construction: 2010-2014
Opened: September 2014
Height: 272 meters/892 feet
Observation Deck: 267 meters/876 feet
Floors: 65
Floor Area: 2,727,601.164 square feet
Features: Offices | Private Residences | 5-star Hotel | Spa | Retail |Restaurants | Observation deck

Design

Sleek and tapered, the Lotte Center was designed by the American architectural company, Callison. The building fuses tradition and culture with design by featuring a structure that is similar in appearance to an ao dai.

Lotte Center Hanoi. Photo: geekoftheweek

Two prominent towers of the building were designed to resemble the panels of the ao dai, with a vertical line down the center that represents a slit or break in the fabric. Although hardened by its glass structure, it isn’t hard to imagine the building as the pleated skirt of a dress.

Another unique element of the building’s design is its positioning. Laid out on a southwest-northwest axis, this alignment ensures that towers are exposed to minimal direct light, reducing heat absorption, and keeping the building cooler in the summer.

Observation Deck

The Lotte Center has a prominent observation deck on the building’s 65th floor. While the indoor observation area has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Lotte Center’s main attractions are the open-air rooftop bar and the small restaurant.

With no roof cover the 65th floor, visitors will get amazing views of Hanoi and its landscape. A unique section of the observation deck features a glass floor, which overhangs to give visitors a true bird’s eye view of the city below.

The view from the upper floors of the Lotte Center Hanoi. Photo: Cha già José

Divided into four zones, the Lotte Center’s observation deck is an all-encompassing experience. Visitors can choose between the Attraction, Welcome, Experience, or Romantic zones while they spend time on the Top of Hanoi.

What to Do

Home to 65 floors, there is plenty to do when visiting the Lotte Center. While the first few levels are reserved for retail, the upper floors are used for offices, private residences, a hotel, and the observation deck.

Peruse the Aisles

The Lotte Center in Hanoi is truly a one-stop shop. The first six floors house a department store, with a hypermarket on the first floor. Fashion, home goods, and accessories fill out the other five floors, boasting over 250 regional and international brands.

The Lotte department store in Hanoi. Photo: Lotte Department Store Vietnam

Food lovers will enjoy the hypermarket on the first floor. Laid out with both pre-made and made-to-order culinary options, visitors can take a break from their activities to enjoy a snack or beverage.

Furthermore, for those who prefer to experience Vietnamese food culture, various stations within the hypermarket cater to local flavors and delicacies.

The outdoor entrance to the Lotte Department Store. Photo: Lotte Department Store Vietnam

Service at the shopping center is professional and friendly. Their excellent attention to clientele has earned Lotte Center a place at the top of everyone’s list as “one of the best places to shop in Hanoi”. Additional services within the department store include gift wrapping and a lounge.

Life of Luxury

The vast majority of visitors to the Lotte Center are typically interested in a short-term stay or day activities. However, the building does have a few floors that are reserved for luxury and private residences.

Enjoy incredible views of Hanoi. Photo: Lotte Hotel Hanoi

With fully serviced high-end condos and apartments, visitors could live at the Lotte Center if they made the investment.

Guests who would like to stay in one of the residences can reserve a space online. As a full-service establishment, guests have access to a swimming pool, restaurant, lounge, and fitness center.

High Rise Hotel

If booking a private rental does not suit your taste, head to the Lotte Hotel. With 318 rooms on the upper floors of the Lotte Center, the hotel delivers excellent service with a magnificent view.

The reception desk at Lotte Hotel Hanoi. Photo: Lotte Hotel Hanoi

A mix of standard rooms and suites ensures that any guest can afford a night of luxury in this hotel.

With ample amenities, the Lotte Hotel has a 5-star rating. Guests can choose to ease their woes at the pool or head to the spa for a relaxing day. Moreover, guests have full use of the gym facilities and basketball court as well as a playroom for youngsters.

Massage beds in the spa facility at the Lotte Hotel Hanoi. Photo: Lotte Hotel Hanoi

Finally, guests can take their pick and dine at one of the four on-site restaurants, including one with a one Michelin star. Known for having some of the best-rated restaurants in Hanoi, visitors can enjoy a quality meal before heading to one of the two bars at the hotel.

Restaurants and Bars

Utilizing the upper floors, since they provide a better view of Hanoi, a few of the Lotte Center dining establishments are located within the hotel and residences.

Top of Hanoi Kitchen & Bar. Photo: Top of Hanoi

One of the highlights of this building is the rooftop bar and restaurant called Top of Hanoi. As part of the observation deck, the open-air restaurant provides guests with a chance to take in the city from up in the clouds.

Just below the rooftop establishment is the Lounge Sky. With large windows and a calm atmosphere, the lounge is a popular choice amongst guests and residents.

Sip a cocktail at The Lounge Sky. Photo: The Lounge Sky

Additional options at Lotte Center Hanoi include:

The Lotte Center’s shopping mall has quite a few dining options as well, ranging from sit-down style to fast food joints. As a part of the mall, these restaurants are less formal than the upper floor establishments, making them perfect for visitors who want to grab a quick bite.

See for Yourself

With a little bit of everything, the Lotte Center has become one of Hanoi’s top attractions. Home to world-class restaurants and excellent shopping, this building has grown to become a destination location. Boasting consistent high ratings, Lotte Center is truly worthy of its 5-star reputation.