frees1spirit - how long ago was that? If you lived here, you should know that laws can change VERY frequently. Also, Hanoi is not HCMC. It's a lot more regulated here, which can make things much harder.

The location of the new school, ISV, will be hard if you are on Westlake, for sure. I would not travel that far each day. It is easily 45mins in a car... perhaps 30 on a bike if you are alone and prepared to ride like a maniac (not that I ever do, of course...). Depends on what time you are traveling. Sheer distance would be an issue, as would be the daily increases in traffic here.

A suggestion would be Trung Hoa residential area, with many nice high-rise apartments on offer. If you have the big bucks you could try the Manor, a new fancy apartment style area far south, but it's pricy. Perhaps around Hoan Kiem district would be your best bet? Not too far from the city, and not too far from the school. Either that or southern Ba Dinh area. Either way, living in the expat grotto on Westlake, whilst nice with it's many white faces, would make your life a commuters misery. Don't do it. Go there for an outing on Sundays, perhaps.

Again, try www.newhanoian.com for their real-estate section, or PM me and I can give you info about some real estate agents here who are not dodgy! :)