Yoga in Hanoi: Classes in Tay Ho, by West Lake

The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Hanoi runs daily classes in Tay Ho, a few minutes from West Lake. Classes are open to anyone, the first one is free, and the timetable starts at 6am. This page covers what a class involves, what else runs at the centre, how to find it, and what to do if you want to stay nearby.

It is written for people living in or passing through Hanoi. If you read Vietnamese, the same information is on trang tiếng Việt.

Where it is

The centre is at 26, ngõ 12/2/5 Đặng Thai Mai, Quảng An, Tây Hồ — off Dang Thai Mai, in the quieter lanes behind the main road, about a ten-minute walk from West Lake.

Tay Ho is where a large part of Hanoi's foreign community lives, so for many readers this is a local walk rather than a trip across the city. Coming from the Old Quarter or from Ba Dinh, it is a short ride.

The lane is narrow and numbered in the Hanoi way, so the map pin is more useful than the address on its own — the centre page has a map you can open directly.

Opening hours

Those are the hours the centre is open, not the class times. Which classes run on which days changes, so check the current week on the centre's Facebook page, or message the centre — WhatsApp and Zalo are both on (+84) 339 904 698.

What a class involves

The classes follow the Sivananda system, which is a form of Hatha Yoga built around a fixed sequence. The order does not change between classes or teachers, so after a few sessions you know what is coming and can stop watching the front of the room.

A class moves through initial relaxation, seated breathing practice, Sun Salutations, and then the twelve basic postures, each held and followed by a short rest, before a longer guided relaxation at the end. Breathing practice comes before the postures, which surprises people who have practised elsewhere.

Every posture has an easier version, and those versions are the expected form for a new student — nobody is going to put you into a headstand on your first day. The full sequence is described in the beginner's guide, and the breathing practices in the page on prana.

What runs at the centre

• Open classes — daily, for all levels. Drop in for a single class, or take a weekly or monthly pass.
• Trial class — free. A first session to see whether the practice and the room suit you before committing to anything.
• Classical Yoga beginner course — a structured introduction to the foundations: Proper Exercise (Asana), Proper Breathing (Pranayama), Proper Relaxation (Savasana), Proper Diet, Positive Thinking and Meditation. These are the five points the whole system is built on.
• Adaptive yoga — gentler, therapeutic practice for those working around an injury or a health condition.
• Workshops — held regularly, on classical yoga, Ayurveda and related subjects.
• Community satsang — free, every Wednesday and Sunday. Meditation, kirtan, and a talk on yoga philosophy.

On satsang: kirtan is call-and-response singing. Sheets are handed out and joining in is entirely optional — sitting and listening is normal, and most people do exactly that at first.

Looking for a yoga retreat in Hanoi?

Most people searching for a yoga retreat near Hanoi are asking one question: can I practise and sleep in the same place, instead of commuting to class from a hotel?

The centre can help with somewhere to stay, but it is not a packaged retreat with a published rate. It is arranged case by case, in conversation. If that is what you are after, contact the centre directly and ask:

Worth knowing either way: nothing about the classes depends on staying there. The open classes, the free trial and the satsangs are all available to anyone who walks in.

Coming for a few days as a visitor

If you are travelling and want to keep practising, a drop-in class needs no arrangement — turn up. The free trial class is the usual way to start.

Two practical notes. Classes are quiet and phones stay outside the practice room, which is worth knowing if you are used to a studio where that is looser. And the earliest slot starts at 6am — for anyone still on a different time zone, that first week can be the easiest time to make an early class.

Practical details

Common questions

Do I need to book a class?

Not for an open class. Message the centre on WhatsApp or Zalo — both on (+84) 339 904 698 — if you want to check what is running that day, particularly on a Monday, when the centre is only open for the early morning.

Is the first class really free?

Yes. The trial class exists so you can see the room and the style before paying for anything.

What do I bring?

Loose clothing you can move in. Mats are at the centre; bring your own if you prefer.

Are classes taught in English?

The centre teaches both local residents and international visitors. Ask on WhatsApp before you come — and note that the sequence is fixed and demonstrated, so language matters less here than in a class built around verbal cueing.

I have never done yoga before. Is that a problem?

No. Every posture has a beginner version and those versions are what a new student is expected to do. There is also a structured beginner course if you would rather start with one.

Can I stay at the centre? Is there a yoga retreat in Hanoi?

Accommodation can be arranged, but there is no published retreat package and no listed rate — ask the centre directly using the contacts above.

Where exactly in Tay Ho?

Off Dang Thai Mai in Quang An, a short walk from West Lake. The map on the centre page is the reliable way to find the lane.

Further reading: Yoga for beginners · The Five Points of Yoga · What is prana · Yoga in Vietnam