Christmas may not be a Vietnamese holiday, but you’d never guess it: Hanoi is already decked with holly and baubles, and for those of you from the northern hemisphere the weather’s the right side of 20 degrees Celsius as well. Enjoy your Christmas in Hanoi at one of the hotels or restaurants or attend a … read the full post

While not a must-visit destination, if you’re not in a rush and are keen to explore less touristy spots in Vietnam, Tam Dao hill station is worth an overnight from Hanoi, especially to escape the capital’s summer heat. Here’s some advice on how to spend your time there. Leave Hanoi after breakfast — by bus, … read the full post

Getting a delivery meal to your hotel room might not be what travelling and a holiday in Hanoi is all about, but sometimes a quiet night in front of the TV with a pork chop and rice is a welcome break from shopping and sightseeing. Now getting a delivery in Hanoi is as easy as … read the full post

Tam Dao, a cooler-clime retreat you can easily get to from Hanoi, is so chock-full of hotels that it can be difficult to know where to start. Here’s our guide to a few places that might fit the bill. Although Tam Dao prices are on a par with, if not pricier than, Hanoi hotels, there … read the full post

At 80 kilometres northwest of Hanoi, Tam Dao hill station makes for a good overnight or one-day respite from the chaos of the Vietnamese capital. You can get to the cooler area, where there are plenty of hiking trails and pretty scenery, by bus, motorbike, taxi or private car; here’s a little about how to … read the full post

If you need a break from the chaos of Old Quarter, wander down to Hanoi’s French Quarter, where wide open streets, majestic buildings and high-end hotels, restaurants and shops await. Hanoi’s French Quarter lies to the southeast of Hoan Kiem lake. In the late 19th century, when the French occupied Hanoi, they demolished many of … read the full post

If you love street food but want to try something other than pho and bun cha for lunch in Hanoi, head down to Ngo Trang Tien near the Opera House for an enticing array of goodies. Ngo Trang Tien is a narrow street running between Nguyen Khac Can and Phan Chu Trinh, to the south … read the full post

Maybe Hanoi’s Church Boutique Hotel heard me complaining about it looking tired and dated when I last passed through here for Travelfish.org, as not only have they opened another hotel on nearby Hang Gai Street, the original Nha Tho location has been completely refurbished — and my jaw hit the floor when I saw the … read the full post

Au Trieu is one of my favourite spots in Hoan Kiem and thus, despite not being one of the 36 streets, deserves its very own post; spend a few hours here enjoying the shopping, eating and activities for an enjoyable Hanoi experience. Au Trieu was the nickname of Le Thi Dan, a female revolutionary of … read the full post

A visit to Hanoi would be incomplete without a wander around Hoan Kiem Lake, the centrepiece of the city. Whether early morning, an afternoon stroll or after dark, the lake is surrounded by activity and points of interest — not to mention, it’s really pretty. Ho (lake) Hoan Kiem means “Lake of the Returned Sword” … read the full post