I got a lead on an apartment near the Old Quarter. An older Vietnamese woman artist has a house she renovated and wants to rent out the two bedrooms to artists. It is near the Hilton Hotel and the opera house. The place is still being renovated but so far it is looking pretty posh. First floor is going to be like a living room. Second and Third floors are bedrooms and the 4th floor is a kitchen, which I haven't seen yet nor the roof top terrace. About the only thing I can talk about is the bedroom with is very large and has its own bathroom - a posh western-ish bathroom with a small Jacuzzi style tub! How long has it been since I had a tub - well a nice one that I would actually sit in. The floors are wood and being redone. My main concerns are that it smells like varnish and paint, and the neighborhood which is not so great for me. Not bad but not great. But it is huge, maybe too huge, I might be afraid to be alone there. I think it will be all inclusive, and furnished, for $250, but the owner is rich so I might be able to get it for less.
I saw another place today, around the corner from where I am now i.e. in the Old Quarter, tourist central. The place is a funky Vietnamese apartment. It is based around an open courtyard, with a roof top terrace. There is a large bedroom, with a bit of water seepage on one wall, a kitchen that is basically open air and a small bedroom. The drawbacks are that it is funky, not furnished, no refrigerator and not available until June. It is also $250 plus about $25 in utilities. I could get a roommate if I wanted. But I love the open air feel and furnishings, including refrigerator, won't be too much. But because the open air thing, it doesn't feel secure necessarily. However it is funky in that way I love. I guess no one in Hanoi will rent for a period less than 6 months which is a problem since I only need it for 3. A Vietnamese artist used to live there, and may be coming back about the time I will be leaving which could work to my advantage. If we can get the original artist guy to say he will come back in September, then it will probably be ok, otherwise, probably not. Also, if he is going to come back there is a tiny bit of furniture and furnishings that I would guess would stay.
The current resident is to contact the original resident, then the landlord. We shall see.