Contamination levels and distribution patterns of ten typical phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were investigated in various types of water samples collected from Hanoi metropolitan area in Vietnam. Concentrations of 10 PAEs in bottled water, tap water, lake water, and wastewater samples were measured in the ranges of 1640–15,700 ng/L (mean/median: 6400/5820 ng/L), 2100–18,000 ng/L (mean/median: 11,200/9270 ng/L), 19,600–127,000 ng/L (mean/median: 51,800/49,300 ng/L), and 20,700–405,000 ng/L (mean/median: 121,000/115,000 ng/L), respectively. Among PAEs, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) accounted for a major proportion of total concentrations (45%) in wastewater, followed by diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP, 10.3%), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP, 9.53%). Concentrations of PAEs in wastewater decreased significantly with distance from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Concentrations of PAEs in surface water samples did not vary greatly between locations. PAEs were found in bottled water in the following order: DBP (22.4%), DiBP (22.3%), benzylbutyl phthalate (BzBP, 20.1%), and DEHP (15.5%). The estimated mean exposure doses of 10 PAEs through consumption of drinking water for adults and children in Vietnam were 254 and 256 ng/kg-bw/day, respectively. Capsule: Highest concentrations of PAEs were measured in wastewater, followed by lake water, tap water, and bottled water. Display omitted •Elevated concentrations of PAEs were measured in wastewater samples from Vietnam.•DEHP was a major compound found in tap water, lake water and wastewater samples.•DiBP and DBP were the dominant PAEs in bottled water.•PAE concentrations in drinking water and associated exposure doses were below the reference values.