An often-asked question on the Travelfish.org Vietnam forum is, “Should I book my flights in advance or when I get to Vietnam?” The answer depends on a number of factors, most notably when and where you want to fly, how flexible your flight times are and what your budget is. So it’s not an easy … read the full post

In my quest to bring you alternative perspectives on Hanoi, I met with Ian Paynton, deputy editor-in-chief of Word magazine. Word is two bilingual publications aimed at foreign residents and locals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is available free at various locations around town as well as online. We met one drizzly … read the full post

Hanoi‘s social scene has been undergoing notable change for some years now, with new bars and restaurants springing up all over the place despite the reasonably strictly enforced curfew. The problem with this proliferation of venues is that there aren’t actually enough customers to go round. New bars open and, if they’re any good, they … read the full post

Continuing on from where I left off on my last “36 streets” post, Lan Ong (traditional medicine street) turns in Hang Buom. While the streets around the edges of Old Quarter tend to be oriented towards local life, Hang Buom smoothly makes the transition into tourist-land. Hang Buom originally sold sails. There’s little demand for … read the full post

Quyen Van Minh is Vietnam‘s best-known jazz saxophonist, having fallen in love with the music some 30 years ago and developing his own style of Vietnamese jazz. Now he teaches young musicians at the Hanoi Conservatory and runs a popular jazz club in Hanoi. For years, Minh’s Jazz Club was on Luong Van Can Street … read the full post

Given I eat it at least once a week I thought a post about Indian food in Hanoi was due. Also, perhaps surprisingly, there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Hanoi – perfect for when you’re after a change of cuisine. My regular is Foodshop 45. Not because the food is the most authentic or … read the full post

After my enjoyable visit to Bamboo Village (Bang So) I was really looking forward to the trip to Vermicelli Village (Cu Da); I love food and am always keen to learn more about it. I was not disappointed, as not only was it fascinating to see and hear about the production of vermicelli but I … read the full post

My previous post on teaching English in Hanoi focused on how you should prepare yourself in terms of qualifications and expectations. But what about actually finding a job? Most of the teachers I know in Hanoi found work once they arrived, rather than setting up a job in advance. As long as you have a … read the full post

HanoiKids was set up in 2006 and is a student-run organisation offering free city tours in Hanoi. The programme provides students with the opportunity to practise their English and provides visitors with a great value guide to Hanoi. The organisation says it hopes to bring to travellers insights into Vietnamese culture, tradition and sightseeing. Tempted … read the full post

Hang Vai, which runs off Phung Hung, was traditionally Hanoi’s main textiles street. Nowadays its main attractions are twofold: firstly, it’s got a pleasant vibe about it, with few tourists and little traffic but plenty of onstreet action such as sugar cane juice spots, pho restaurants, tea stands and street vendors; secondly, it’s home to … read the full post