Hanoi, Vietnam - Eat, Drink, See, Do, Shop (Last updated July '15):
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USD 1 = 21,000 (Informal money changer)
Noi Bai Airport to centre of Hanoi = VND 350,000-400,000 (USD 17-20)
Centre of Hanoi to Noi Bai Airport = VND 200,000-300,000 (USD 10-15)
VND 80k-90k to change the inner tube.
VND 15k to fix a puncture
Language:
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O ô ơ = o oe uh
U ư = oo euh
A â ă = a érr á/er
Hòa đơn = receipt
Food:
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Thùc đơn - menu
Hoá đơn - receipt
Mâng về - take away
Ngô chiên - deepfried corn
Com binh dan (zan) - rice with lots of other foods
Mam tom - Tofu, pork-rice nuggets, rice noodles and cucumber with shrimp dip (very smelly)
Banh mi pate - baguette with egg and pork mince
Bun mien moc - glass/vermmeccelli noodles with pork balls
Ban xuan - pork in steamed rice rolls
Banh chung - steamed rice cake with meat inside (breakfast).
Bun chan gio (zoh) - boiled pork soup
Nem ran (pronounced nem zan) - deepfried spring roll.
Pho cuon - summer rolls (have around the almost island on the eastern side of Truc Bach lake)
Banh cuon - pork wrapped in steamed rice paper with slightly sweet garlicy dip (breakfast) at Thanh Van (with ca cuong aka insect juice for the dip), 14 Phố Hàng Gà), 14 Hang Ga
Banh ram (zam) it - cracker with sticky rice ball and Nem lui - rice paper wraps (Net Hue, 204b Hang Bong)
Thit chung mam tep - Pork and shrimp accompaniment to rice
Nhà hàng cơm gà Cơm Viên (rice and Xa xiu, rice and curry, roast pork, and noodles, average price VND 58k), 11 Đình Ngang (off Nguyen Thai Hoc) & B1 Family Foodcourt, Keangnam
Nem chua ran (20 x VND 5k) and ca bo (strange sweet fish fry for 1 x VND 10k, 38 Ngo Tam Thuong (off Hang Gai st)
Cơm gà rán (1 suất VNĐ 55k), 29 Ba Triệu (near Delio cafe and close to Tran Hung Dao)
Miến ngan (vermicelli with goose) place, 56 Lý Thường Kiệt
Chinese Dumpling Place (and chilli beef), Sui cao de nhat dong bac, Phố Huỳnh Thúc Kháng 102 (opposite Pho24)
Softwater Restaurant (Traditional architecture and beautiful garden by the river), 49, Road 9, F361, An Duong, Yen Phu, Tay Ho
The KAfe (funky dining, medium-high priced, 7am-11pm), 18 Đien Biến Phu
Egg pizza and rice pizza like snacks (aka bánh tráng nướng), 3 Hàng vải, old quarter
Pizza Cone or Pizza oc quay (VND 29k for 1 + VND 6k for extra cheese), 148b Bui Thi Xuan (near Vincom Towers)
Nộm (sweet-ish salad with Chinese pork and dry beef) and bánh bột lọc (clear shrimp, pork and mushroom dumpling), 23 Hồ Hoàn Kiếm, old quarter
Chen Beo (VN beef steak place), (riverside of) 192 Nghi Tam.
Meli Pizza (2 for 1 takeaway/delivery pizzas on Tuesdays & Fridays, large = VND 160k), Ngách 72-82 phố Quan Nhân, off La Thanh (on the left after the most southern flyover), 0439992942 or 0473029669 or 0903251917
4 cheeses pizza @ Capricciosa (VND 189k large), 5th Floor ofVincom Towers, 191 Ba Trieu.
Hoa Vien Brauhaus (Czech dark beer (1L), snacks (smoked stringy cheese), and food), 1A Tang Bat Ho (at the end of Tran Hung Dao)
Da Paulos Italian Restaurant, (average spend USD 50 for 2) Quảng Khánh, Quảng An, Tây Hồ
El Gaucho Argentine Restaurant (steak with blue cheese, average spend USD100 for 2), at the Morthern end of Xuan Dieu.
Cơm chay Hà Thành (VN vegan place with false meat) @ Ngo 166, (Doi Can/North side) Kim Ma then first left and it's the first building on the right with an open-air driveway that has a star fruit tree.
Bun cha place @ 102 Thụy Khuê, Tây Hồ.
Hu tiu kho (with nice crispy batter with meat inside) for 35k/bowl @ the tree on the corner of Hang Bo and Hang Can streets, just north of Hoan Kiem lake.
Bít Tết (grill plate with beef, egg and bread) street, Hoè Nhai (ride between old quarter and Monaco, Ba Dinh.
Cutisun (cheap steaks and chips, 65k-75k VND), 3, Ngo 120, Hoang Hoa Tham (Near Doi Can).
Com chay @ Nguyen Khang, Cau Giay
Sen Tay Ho, 614 Lac Long Quan (300k buffet but lots of variety)
Golden Spring, 87 Nguyen Truong To (Mid-range VN food)
New Day, 72 Ma May (Cheap VN food - good ribs), top floor balcony table is best
Swing Restaurant (nicely decorated and cost effective), 21 Tràng Tiên
Bánh giò (bì steamed bánh cuốn for VND 10k), 15 Doãn Kế Thiền, near Cau Giay.
Banh xeo and nem lui, 172 Doi Can (opposite the airforce museum).
Nha Hang An Nhan Viet Trung (VN-CHN place with good 20k VND dumplings aka sui cao nhan thit cau thao), 102 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Đong Đa.
Namaste Indian Food, 47 Lo Su
Ky Y Japanese restaurant, 166 Trieu Viet Vuong, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi
Ngao (shells in broth) và ốc (snails), 61 Xuan La
Bun Bo Nam Bo, 67 Hang Dieu (Street food)
My sao bo and che/caramel for lunch (chi Thuy's friend's mum's place), 34 Phan Bội Châu
Pho bo cua quẳy, 13 Lo Đuc
Spaghetti Box, 90a ngõ núi trúc, Ba Đinh
Cam Chan (Singaporean & Malay food), 108 K1 Giang Vo, Dong Da.
H3Q Pizza Mikki (random bakery, food, art, and clothes shop), 69 Ding Nai.
CLOSED Lean and Green (veg restaurant), 15B Trang Thi St., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi.
Good pho cuon, pho xao, chips and fried corn, 25 Ngu Xa, Truc Bach.
Bun thit nuong (tasty beef, sweeter than bun bo nam bo), 3A To Hien Thanh, just of Ba Trieu.
Good com binh (common man's lunch) place, 5 Dinh Ngang, off cua nam, Hanoi, VN.
Xoi yen (great place for xoi with all sorts of diff toppings), 35b, Nguyen Huu Huan, hoan kiem.
Snail and noodles (bun cua oc chuoi dau), 202f Doi Can.
Chicken St. (Fried chicken and fried pho noodles with beef aka pho xao bo), Ly Van Phuc, off Nguyen Thai Hoc.
Bun Bo Nam Bo (southern beef and noodles), 116/27 Lun dinh qua, dong da.
Hu Thiu - spiced pork with noodles and won ton soup on side (97 Tran Hung Dao, next to Quan 17 Cowboy Saloon, 30,000vnd).
Huong Lan Hai San Bien (seafood place), 45 Duong Nghi Tam. Good mien and grilled baby squid.
Caphe CCCP (Russian restaurant with perogis + Russian vodka and beer), So 103, Ngo 84, Phố Ngọc Khánh
Golden Malt Beer and Food (authentic Czech beef Gulash and 1L fresh dark or light beer), 34G Phố Trần Phú
Hang Thung (North of hoan kiem lake).
Quan an ngon (the market), 18 phan boi chau.
Chuon Chuon Quaa aka Dragonfly (old crumbling house), 5 Hoi Vu St., off Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, VN (+84439382555).
Quan Kien, good mixed fried rice and grilled squid with garlic, onion and mint leaves.
Eel rice porridge and depletable spring rolls place, near Dragonfly.
Highway 4 (locusts with fried lemon grass and pepper), tay ho but the chain started along the CHN-VN border.
Cha Ca La Vong (fried fish) restaurant, 107 Nguyen Truong To, truc bach, hanoi, vn.
Koto social enterprise restaurant (good fried prawn samosa-like rolls), off nguyen thai hoc and next to the Temple of Literature.
Saint Honore French restaurant (good baguettes, cheese and meat cold cuts with wine), Xuan Dieu
7 Miles (Western tourist place with a good carbonara), 25 Ngo Huyen (near Nha Tho Lon), Hoan Kiem.
Bulgarian Restaurant (rice and meat stuffed in vines leaves, rakia aka Bulgarian grape brandy), 125 Nghi Tam.
Sweets:
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Chè in an old VN house, 2 Cat Linh
Quà vặt Online (Order Chè online on website/Facebook, free delivery), 0936 27 27 69 or 0936 27 27 96 or 0462 93 07 15
Tofu (deserts with tofu, not too sweet), 318 Phố Huế OR 105 3C Nghĩa Tân OR 12 Hàng Luọc
Xu kem - sweet vanilla filled donut/ dumplings.
Creme caramel (caramel in VN), VietMac, 80 ly thuong kiet, Dong Da
OR 29 hang than, Hoan Kiem.
Sua Chua (Mit) aka Yoghurt with jelly and ice (and jack fruit), hoa qua, 24A Ba Trieu.
Icecream in a coconut (70,000) and good views at Baooanh cafe, on the nghi tam side of the truch bach-Tay Ho road.
Cafes:
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M2C (Modern Meets Culture), 4B Le Quy Don, Q3
Commune (co-working cafe), 201 Trich Sai.
Hanoi Social Club (English Breakfast Tea, ales, cider), 6 Hoi Vu, off Hang Bong
Chi Ngoc's Teashop (Yoghurt ice cream & black jelly milk tea), Ngõ 347 Cổ Nhuế, Từ Liêm
Chat & Cafe (small and good views of the Temple of Literature), East side of Van Mieu
Mint cupcake shop (hot chocolate with marshmallows), 4B Nguyễn Thái Học, after the railway track and on the left.
Hiên trà Trường Xuân (Traditional teahouse) at 13 Ngô Tất Tố (very close to Văn Miếu).
Business/Heri Tran's Classic Car Cafe, 545 Lac Long Quan, Ho Tay.
Tea Talk (Games night every weds), House no: 9, Lo 1G, Trung Yen 11C, Cau Giay (Directions: Come to 91 Trung Kinh. Turn right and Tea Talk is just 50 meters from that junction.)
Cafe Giang (Egg coffee place), Nguyen Huu Huan
Echoes Rock-themed Cafe, Ha Hoi Alley, Dong Da.
Da Chi Tra Quan (Serene tea house), 90C Nui Truc, pho Giang Van Minh st.
Cong Cafe (political cafe), corner of Dien Bien Phu and Le Hong Phong, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Cookie Jar Cafe (Nice chilled and colourful Cafe), 79d Ly Nan De, Hoan Kiem/Ba Dinh district. 25k vnd for a vn coffee.
Cafe Giang 1946 (egg coffee), 106 Nau Trung Sua (north-south highway, east of Hoan Kiem), hanoi, 15,000vnd.
Joma Bakery Cafe, Old Quarter and Tay Ho
Bars:
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Ray, Quan (railway bar), along the railway between Le Duan and Tran Quy Cap
The Bank Entertainment (F Bank - House Music; T Bank - Hip Hop; and Sky Bank - lounge), 6th Floor, Capital Building, 41 Hai Ba Trung
Funky Buddha, 2 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem
Face Club, 6 Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem
Taboo (pricey boat club with table service), South-West corner of Ho Tay.
Vuvuzela Bar (live music on weds or thurs), 11 Đường Nguyễn Khánh Toàn
Golden Malt Beer and Food, 34G Phố Trần Phú
Swing Lounge (live music every day between 21h and 23h), 21 Tràng Tiên
(CLOSED) Heresy Rock Club, 42 Trich Sai, Tay Ho
Sax and Friends (Live jazz every evening from 8pm), 286 Trich Sai (Near Heresy).
Noc Bar-La Scala (rooftop bar), 19th Floor, Viglacera Building, 671 Hoang Hoa Tham (West end of the street), Ba Dinh
Make Some Noise (live music bar), 46 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem.
Thwaites English Ale from 23d Hoi Vu, Hoan Kiem. 600k vnd for a mix of 12 bottles.
Bar Betta, 34c cao ba quat, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vn.
CAMA ATK cocktail bar, Hoan Kiem District.
21DegreesNorth, on the southern tip of the same small island that Thang Loi Hotel is on, Ho Tay.
District 7 bar, behind the wall along Yen Phu highway between the Sofitel and Long Bien bridge.
Press club near opera house, 1st friday.
Bao Tang Ho Chi Min bia hoi
International Bia Hoi Corner, Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen
To do:
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Swimming pool at the Military Technical Academy (VND 30k-40k, public swimming 5-7:30hrs or 15:30-19hrs),100B Hoang Quoc Vietnam, Cau Giay
Indoor swimming pool and gym (VND 35k, 6am to 7pm), Hanoi National Sports Training Centre (VN national teams train here), Xuan Phuong (behind Nhung's industrial park), Tu Liem.
VN People's Air Force Museum (Mon-Thurs 8-11hrs and 13-16hrs, VND 20k), Truong Chinh st., Bach Mai district.
Habeco Brewery, 183 Dương Hoàng Hoa Thám, Ba Dinh
B52 Billiards Bar, 3rd Floor, 5 Ngo Gạch, old quarter
Flower Garden (Vườn hoa Nhật Tân), 264 Âu Cơ, Tay Ho
Fixed n Friends fixed gear cycling group
Son Dong wooden carving craft village, lang Son Dong, Hoai Duc, Hanoi (15km from Hanoi)
Dong Ho Traditional printing and painting village, Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh, Hanoi
Dinh Cong silver jewellery village, Hoang Mai, Hanoi
Viettime Golf Club (100k for 100 balls + 20k per club hired), Yen Hoa House Of Culture, where Mễ Trì, Trung Kính and Trấn Thái Tông meet.
Dong Xuan traders and general Market, 36 Dong Xuan, HK, Hanoi
Ceramic painting, opposite 24 pho yen thai
HCM Trail Museum (VND 20k), on QL 6 (to Ha Dong), in Ba La (just after where QL 218 meets QL 6)
Hypershop.vn (DJ shop), anh Long Rui works there, Cua Bac
Hanoi Cinemathique, 22 Ha Ba Trung, Ba Dinh (50k vnd, 8pm, 0439362648).
Monaco Pool Hall, pho Duc Chinh, Truc Bach.
Bat Trang pottery making and painting (10km east of Ha Noi and costs 30,000vnd for entry and one pot).
Vac bamboo craft village, south of hanoi.
Tam Quat ngươi mư (visually impaired massage with Lop, 70k VND), 23 Ngach 50, Ngo 612, De La Thanh OR Ngo 112 Ngop Khanh, Dong Da.
Hoa Binh Thanh Xuan Village Orphange for agent orange sufferers, 35 Nguyen Huy Tuong, Thanh Xuan Trung, Hanoi, +8445580214 and +8445583402.
Khoang Xanh Suoi Tien (waterfall swimming and water park, VND 100k/person + VND 20k per motorbike), off Road 84 (East of Ba Vi National Park), Van Hoa commune, Ba Vi
Food shopping:
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How & Qua (fresh fruit, salmon, and American/Aussie beef), 293 Tran Dang Ninh, Cau Giay
Hotels:
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Western Hanoi Hotel (USD 30/night, room 702 with jacuzzi bath tub - REQUEST UPON BOOKING), Ngo 2, Tran Thai Tong, Cau Giay.
Sofitel Metropole, Room 304 in the Old Wing has a balcony, spa is overrated, bomb shelter tour is excellent, Sapa cocktail in Angelina's is great
Living and shopping:
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Motorbike wash in the Old Quarter, VND 25k, 15mins, 6 Nha Hoa.
Electronics shops (Authorised Apple retailers), FPT shops, everywhere.
Electronics shops (Authorised Apple retailers), Tran Anh, 1174 Lang St., Dong Da OR 2 Dai Co Vietnam, Hai Ba Trung OR 9 Pham Van Dong, Tu Liem.
Electronics shops (Authorised Apple retailers), MediaMart, 166 Pham Van Dong, Tu Liem.
Korean Clinic (VND 200k for a general check-up) in St. Paul's Hospital (near Van Mieu on the road parallel to Nguyen Thai Hoc.
Ruby Plaza (diamonds and jewellery), 44 Le Ngoc Han, Pham Dinh Ho, Hoan Kiem
High heels, North end of Phan Boi Chau
Church of the True Light (formerly City Lights, Anglican, Eng 7:30am & Vn 9:30am, 23 Do Quang (near Big C)
Apple Approved Service Centre - 208 Xa Dan, Dong Da, 0432115274
Hanoi International Fellowship - Sundays from 10-11:30am at The Hanoi Club, Yen Phu St AND Detech Tower, near My Dinh Bus Station
Anh Phong's Church - Sundays from 10:30-11:30am, Aim Cafe, Linh Lang St.
Bản sao kê - bank statement
Anton's Bikes, 108 Hang Bong, Old Quarter
Second-hand bicycles, 118 Ven hồ, Thuỵ Khuê
Dream and Win motorbike repairs and sale (USD 230-250), anh Thanh (+84 97 8060818), 95 Phố Hàm Tử Quan
antiq (fitted clothes), 18 Dien Bien Phu (under KAfe)
Time City Mall, (Water park, park, cinema)
Royal City Mall (Water park, ice rink, cinema, and bowling)
Mua Sắm (Opticians), 38C Tràn Nhân Tông
Opticians St, Ton Duc Thang (near to the University of Health)
Nice wool sweaters from Canifa shops (300k-400k VND)
Plain clothes from M2 (made in Vietnam shop), Tran Hung Dao.
Shoe tailoring at 52 Hàng Cân, close to Lương Văn Can, Hoan Kiem.
Bedding shops, Tay Son St.
Large cardboard boxes (VND 35k each), 9-11 Hàng Cân, old quarter
Cheap watch repair shop (battery change VND 100k), on the corner of the alley on the right just before the Van Mieu traffic lights on Nguyen Thai Hoc.
Passport photos (VND 55k for 6 printed photos), Nguyen Binh Studio, 42 Hai Ba Trung (meets Ba Trieu).
Passport photos, Digital Minilab Nguyen Cau (VND 60k for 4 photos), 19 Ba Trieu st. (Where Ba Trieu crosses Hai Ba Trung)
Short trips from Hanoi:
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Đồng Mô ethnic group village, Son Tay District, Hanoi
Ho ham lon (1hour away)
Ha Giang (like Sapa)
Tam Dao (like Sapa)
Co To island (beaches)
Bai Chay beach, Near Ha Long City
Hai Tien beach
Phong Nha caves
Son Doong caves
Thung Nai, Hoa Binh (like Ha Long)
Hoa Binh reservoir
Cuc Phuong
Longer Trips:
Train between Hue and Da Nang is beautiful, lush green hills on one side and beautiful sea and cove views on the other. There's also a small road that hugs the coastline and would be great for riding by bicycle/motorbike.
