With a relaxed vibe, eclectic decor and wholesome food, The Hanoi Social Club has etched out a unique positioning for itself and is a perfect spot for a tasty lunch, naughty afternoon cake or chill-out with a beer. When a new place opens in Hanoi we give it a while to settle down and to … read the full post

Hanoi Asia Star Hotel, located on Hanoi’s busy Dao Duy Tu Street, is a reasonable value midrange hotel with a almost-too-good-to-be-true Halong Bay special offer. First impression on our visit was that the hotel was well staffed. The reception area was full of activity, with uniformed staff milling around at the door, behind reception and … read the full post

Sitting under a tangle of evergreen climbers, directly opposite a huge banyan tree on the busy street food area of Tran Cao Van Street  — take a left at the Tech Com bank on the corner of Tran Hung Dao — you’ll find Hoi An’s pretty White Sail Seafood Restaurant, serving up consistently good Vietnamese … read the full post

Anyone who spends more than a few hours in Vietnam will notice the many white statues of a divine woman usually holding an upside down vase. It’s not some feminine looking Buddha or an “Asian Virgin Mary” — it’s Quan Am (aka Kuan Yin, Kuan Shih Yin, Guanyin or Kannon), the bodhisattva of compassion. In … read the full post

If you don’t mind the slightly out of the way location, Hoa Su, a five-villa resort located next to the river on Cam Thanh, makes for a serene, top-range retreat away from the madding Hoi An crowds. The man behind Hoa Su was involved in the building of Vietnam’s most exclusive resort, the Nam Hai. … read the full post

Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, getting into Vietnam is slightly more difficult, requiring most foreign travellers to apply for a visa weeks before visiting. Instead of visiting their nearest Vietnamese embassy, many fliers opt for Vietnam’s visa on arrival. However, the visa on arrival process at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat can be confusing, especially … read the full post

Hang Quat is one of the most colourful streets in Old Quarter and its time for coverage in our 36 streets series has now finally come. Quat means fans, and that is of course what was traditionally made on this street, be they from bamboo, paper or palm leaves. Villagers set up shop in the … read the full post

For my final street food tour adventure I opted for a budget-priced tour, joining a lunchtime trip with Food on Foot, operated by Vietnam Awesome Travel, with a great guide and plenty of stops. Usually pick-up is at your hotel, but given I haven’t lived in a hotel since first arriving in Hanoi three years … read the full post

With a name like “Grand” and a description on the website that reads “we have created this Hotel masterpiece and can safely assure an experience like no other” you might be expecting something special from Hanoi Grand Hotel. And that’s what you’ll get, though not in the way you might be thinking: it’s just simply … read the full post

Vietnam is a fast-food nation based around slow-cooked food. Breakfast and lunch is taken on the hoof — it’s pho to go and rice on the run until you sit down for dinner with the family at the end of the working day. Street food is king, with mobile snacking a close second. Here’s our … read the full post