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

A hotel in the centre of Hanoi‘s Old Quarter that positions itself on a platform of “US$12 double room” is bound to cause a few cynical looks: after all that’s almost as cheap as it gets in Hanoi nowadays, so surely either it’s a clever ploy to entice punters in or the rooms are really … read the full post

The busy streets and hectic traffic in Hanoi make it less than child-friendly, but don’t let that put you off: the city offers many activities that children will enjoy. Here’s a selection you might want to consider during a stay. Most people want to explore Hanoi’s atmospheric Old Quarter, but walking around the area with … read the full post

Banh my (or banh mi in Saigon) — bread — is a staple breakfast and lunch dish in Hanoi when served with a filling of pate, egg (trung) or cured pork (cha). Although banh my pate stems from the French colonial era, a more recent addition to many menus here — banh my kebab — … read the full post

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but midrange Classic Street Hotel — also known as Pho Co Hotel — on Hanoi’s lively Hang Be Street in Old Quarter hides some well-furnished comfortable rooms within. From the street, you can see straight into a gloomy basement dining area and reception is up a short … read the full post

Narrow Blah Blah, on Hanoi‘s Hang Be Street, may be difficult to spot, but you’ll be glad you did: it’s intimate, friendly and well-priced. My first experience of Blah Blah bar was on Lunar New Years’ Eve (Tet) earlier this year and afterwards I had two memories of the bar: one, it was small and … read the full post