A few places in Hanoi worth a visit if you’re interested in its military history

Our 36 streets series looks at streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, originally settled by artisan guilds, to see what is produced there today. Coming through the arch of Hanoi’s Old City Gate, the road straight ahead is Hang Chieu. A dozen or so shops have stayed reasonably true to the street’s original wares – Vietnamese grass tatami mats — … read the full post

As I stood at the bar of one of several popular backpacker venues in Hanoi on Sunday afternoon I overheard some customers discussing how they missed cheese and red wine, so I thought a blog about where to buy those goodies from home that you miss while travelling was in order. Of course, wine is … read the full post

Here’s one for the ladies — or the hairy, callous-footed gentlemen. When you’ve had enough of attempting to shave your legs while balancing on the toilet seat in your wet-room shower, it’s time for a wax. Fortunately, reasonably priced, good quality waxing is available in Hanoi. My venue of choice is Top Spot on Au … read the full post

Ask any foreigner in Hanoi, particularly one who’s already tried to learn the language, and you’ll be told how difficult it is to master. Well, not just to master: even to speak more than a few words. I came to Hanoi full of positive expectations: I was top of the class at languages at school, … read the full post

A few months ago I wrote about Dong Xuan Market, perhaps the best known market to tourists in Hanoi. However, Hanoi’s a city full of markets so there are a lot more worth exploring. Food markets can be found all over town. Despite the growth of the supermarket, most shopping is still conducted at local … read the full post

Many hotels in Hanoi will include breakfast in the room rate, be this an egg in a bread roll – most common in the cheaper places – or a full breakfast buffet. But what if your hotel doesn’t or you’re just not up early enough? The cheapest option is to eat with the locals and … read the full post

An overview of what can be found on two of the Old Quarter’s 36 streets.

Cheap and pricey gyms in Hanoi – you get what you pay for.

A rundown of some of the regular events being held at Hanoi’s bars