Entertainment in Hanoi
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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C
Hanoi Opera House
This magnificent 900-seat venue, dating back to 1911 and built in wonderfully elaborate French-colonial style, has been restored to its former glory. On 16 August 1945 the Viet Minh–run Citizens’ Committee announced that it had taken over the city from a balcony on this building. Performances of classical music and opera are periodically held here in the evenings – a wonderful experience. The theatre’s Vietnamese name appropriately translates to ‘House Sing Big’.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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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 (15:00 to 17:30) when it offers its irresistibly decadent chocolate buffet.
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F
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.
reviewed
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Cheeky Quarter
Quirky, sociable little bar owned by a Vietnamese–English couple, that comes complete with patterned wallpaper and intriguing framed portraits (that look vaguely like they’re depicting some eccentric titled family). Table footy (foosball) is taken very seriously here and the tunes are contemporary: drum ’n’ bass or house music. It’s at the top end of the Ta Hien strip.
reviewed
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Studio
Quite possibly the most beautiful space in Hanoi, this sleek and sexy new lounge bar-cum-restaurant has a Le Corbusier–influenced modernist design with subtle lighting and soaring white walls that form a blank canvas for the statement art. The cocktails are wonderful, the music is chilled and contemporary, there’s a fine food menu and prices are relatively moderate.
reviewed
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Cafe Giang
With bland chains taking over Hanoi's café scene, ancient holes such as this one have become revered treasures. To be sure, Cafe Giang's timeworn patina is almost a bleak exaggeration of communist-era non-chic. The front is wide open to frenetic Hang Gai, but within, amid chatty intellectuals congregating over strong drip coffees, it feels a half century away.
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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.
reviewed
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Cafe Lam
Around the corner from the Temple of Literature is one of Hanoi's most unassuming cafés, with space for two tables inside and enough pavement for two more out the front. The little café is sometimes singled out by expats for its fine street-watching vantage point. There are others like it, sure, but not so near the Temple of Lit.
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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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Le Pub
Sociable and enjoyable, Le Pub is a great place to hook up with others, as there’s always a good mix of travellers and foreign residents here. There’s a cosy, tavernlike interior (with big screens for sports fans), street-facing terrace and a rear courtyard. Bar snacks are served and the service is prompt.
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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.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Egypt Club
There’s a vaguely Egyptian theme running through this bar-club, including shisha pipes to puff on. You can get a coffee here during the day, but this is primarily a club venue; DJs spin electronic music and club anthems in the rear section, which has a decent-sized dance floor.
reviewed
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Roots
Primarily a reggae bar, this is the place for some serious bassline pressure (though other musical genres are tolerated, and played) and can be a riot on the right night with plenty of dance-floor skanking. Lock-ins have been known. Hosts a salsa/latin night on Wednesdays.
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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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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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Loop
Opening in late 2008, this hip new place created quite a stir by flying in hip electro DJs (including Jonty Scrufff) in its opening weeks. The sound system is terrific and it attracts a good mix of Westerners and locals. Postmidnight dance-floor action has been known.
reviewed
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Jazz Club Byquyenvan Minh
This atmospheric venue is the place in Hanoi to catch some live jazz. There’s a full bar, food menu, and high-quality gigs featuring father–son team Minh and Dac, plus other local and international jazz acts. Nonsmokers will suffer though, as the ventilation is poor.
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Cay Cau
Live music is performed daily at the Temple of Literature. Upmarket Vietnamese restaurants in central Hanoi are also good places to catch traditional Vietnamese music. CayCau in De Syloia Hotel and Club Opera are two spots to hit.
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Mocacafé
A large, stylish cafe-restaurant on chic Nha Tho, Moca really looks the part and is a good bet for a coffee or a civilised beer (brewed on the premises). The menu has both Western (from sandwiches to steaks) and Vietnamese food, though both can be a little bland.
reviewed
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Municipal Water Puppet Theatre
Performances are held at the Municipal Water Puppet Theatre. These shows are a real treat for children. Multilingual programs allow the audience to read up on each vignette as it’s performed. Book well ahead, especially during high season.
reviewed
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Bia Hoi Viet Ha
For the best quality bia hoi, try Bia Hoi Viet Ha, which is well loved by Hanoi insiders, as it has the biggest chillers in town. It recently relocated to a much bigger premises on Hang Bai, but it’s still hard to get a table.
reviewed
