The district currently has 18 wards (phường), covering a total area of 5.29 square kilometres (2.04 sq mi).

The Hanoi Metropolitan People's Committee is located on Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, adjacent to the Hoàn Kiếm lake.

Its northern half houses the Old Quarter with small street blocks and alleys, and a traditional Vietnamese atmosphere.

The southern half has distinctive French-style villas and broad avenues, and is sometimes called the "French Quarter" in modern travel literature.

Hoàn Kiếm's southern-half has distinctive French-style villas and broad avenues, and is sometimes called the "French Quarter" in modern travel literature.