Showing 1-21 of 21 results
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Apocalypse Now
This place has lost some of its lustre since moving a long way south in town. However, it remains a popular place of pilgrimage for Hanoi's hedonists. Definitely one of the more gay-friendly clubs in town.
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Au Lac Cafe
Au Lac's shaded front patio is a pleasant spot for an afternoon coffee. You've got a French villa behind you and, to keep you in touch with modern Hanoi you've got the blur of traffic whizzing before you. You can also order a light bite or the mixed drink of your choosing.
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Bia Hoi 68 Hang Quat
Generally, bia hoi (draught beer) is a watered-down product sold cheaply. Here, they don't water it down, and it's still damn reasonable (around ₫4500 a glass). The atmosphere is hardcore, with tiny tables and parked motorbikes sharing a covered alleyway. For company you have cadres of old men who seem willing to exchange a toast. Have a few rounds, skip the food.
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Cafe Des Artes
On a rooftop terrace overlooking the Temple of Literature, Cafe des Artes' Francophone owner has created a literary atmosphere. It's a literary salon of sorts, with a library, European espresso drinks and fine teas from Vietnam and China. Out the back, an appealing wooden house sits on the roof, providing a traditional environment for drinking tea.
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Cafe Nhan
Nhan is right in the armpit of the curving Hang Hanh backpacker ghetto, which, if you've come this way, is exactly where you want to be. It has a fine vantage point of the street, and it looks and feels like a spin-off of Rick's, from Casablanca . It's a lively place for a cup of coffee.
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Cafe Pho Co
Hidden sanctuaries are all over Hanoi, and finding them is a triumph, particularly when the setting is as rewarding as this one. There's no sign - look for the address and walk through the curio shop. Order your coffee at the secluded courtyard counter, carry it up several flights of stairs, and enjoy a show-stopping view of Hoan Kiem Lake.
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Central Circus
The huge permanent tent at the northern end of Lenin Park is home to Hanoi's Central Circus. The Russians introduced circus arts during their era of influence here, and the Vietnamese have retained a fondness for it. The Sunday morning show is geared towards children.
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Club 51
The downstairs lounge at Club 51 (also a restaurant) is a live-music venue where acoustic ensembles and some of Vietnam's best cabaret singers perform to an adoring crowd. You can also get a mean martini here.
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Hanoi Opera House
With a capacity of under 1000, there's really not a bad seat in Hanoi's legendary Opera House. If there's a show on, take advantage because it is a magnificent space and makes for a grand evening out. Performances occur irregularly and vary fairly widely, with classical music being most common.
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Ho Guom Xanh
No place better represents the slick, contemporary side of Hanoi's nightlife. The cheerily uniformed bar staff peddle steeply priced bottles of Johnny Walker Black with the persistence of used car salesmen, and the wildly gyrating go-go dancers are a throwback to Paris revues - naughty, but not X-rated. When the singers come out, however, it's plain that Hanoians are as sentimental as ever.
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Jazz Club Minh
This is the grown-up, late-night side of Hanoi you probably never thought existed. Cool, mustachioed Quyen Van Minh is Hanoi's sax maestro - a cool cat who blows a mean horn. He holds court in his smoky jazz club nightly, often playing host to guest performers from around the world.
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Lan Chin
This pavement beer hall has dozens of tables lined up beneath a corrugated tin arcade. It's just outside the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution. The draughts are decidedly superior to the swill sold on Bia Hoi Corner, and you can also get decent food - hot pots, fried fish dishes and such. If you're travelling with friends and you like beer, you'll have a raucous time here.
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Le Club
With its twirling ceiling fans and 'Champagne bar' billing, Le Club, in the Metropole Hotel, harks back to the leisurely French period, as does its signature drink, the ruby-hued Graham Greene Martini. (Greene stayed at the hotel and doubtless drank at this bar.) Le Club's appeal broadens significantly at tea time ( to ) when it offers its irresistibly decadent chocolate buffet.
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Legends Beer
This is no bia hoi joint; rather, it's a microbrewery that produces decent lager, dunkel (dark beer) and weizen (wheat beer). It's in the homeliest building overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, offering a fine excuse to grab a table on its 3rd-floor balcony - you get to look at the lake instead of the building. You can also order from a decent menu.
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Mao's Red Lounge
With a relaxed vibe and unfussy décor, Mao's is a good spot to duck into for a few cold ones with friends. Its owner, Mr Mao, prefers to be addressed as 'the Chairman', and his refreshingly ironic attitude naturally adds to the atmosphere. Drop by Sunday night for a complimentary taste of Mao's hot-pot cooking.
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Moca
If the local drip coffee doesn't float your boat, head here to find the type of coffee you're used to. Moca roasts its own beans, and regulation-size tables and chairs are up to foreign standards - no squatting required. The atmosphere ain't at all bad, especially when staff stoke up a fire in winter.
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Mosaique Livingroom
This intimate nightspot books touring artists from around the world. Expats appreciate the Livingroom because it caters to Western preferences, so if you're hankering for a taste of home, head here - the vibe can be very positive. It's a private club that opens its doors to the public fairly often.
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New Century
Young Hanoians pack into this huge dance hall and shake it up to loud techno and hip-hop-influenced beats. The place draws an adoring crowd when popular singers from HCMC take the stage. DJs are accompanied by shimmying go-go dancers. A multitude of bars afford space to enjoy a relaxed drink or sing karaoke.
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O Quan Chuong
Just down the street from the Old East Gate is this friendly spot for good coffee. It's a contemporary take on the classic Old Quarter coffee house. Western-scale tables and chairs make the foreigner feel welcome, but it's really a local hang-out.
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Paddleboats
From the boat launches along Thanh Nien you can sail out onto Truc Bach or West Lake in your own private plastic goose. It's a paddleboat, actually, so you'll have to do some work to get it moving. Locally, riding a giant goose is considered romantic, so bring along your honey-pie and paddle to bliss.
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Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
You can't leave Hanoi without seeing a traditional water-puppet show. The shows, which appeal to all ages, are charming, picaresque entertainments accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese pit orchestra. Order your tickets early in the day for the best seats. Your hotel can probably help.
Showing 1-21 of 21 results
