HOÀN KIẾM DISTRICT

1. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel (5-star)

Built by the French and opened in 1901, it is not an exaggeration to say Sofitel Legend Metropole is a one-of-a-kind hotel where visitors will most likely want to stay at least once to experience the luxury of royalties. Despite having been through several renovations to bring in a more fashionable design, Sofitel still retains its French architectural essence in harmony with more recent choices of style.

Website: http://www.sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com/
Tel: (+84) 243 826 6919
Address: #15 Ngô Quyền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

2. Melia Hanoi Hotel (5-star)

Another 5-star hotel that you will be likely to put into your list of choice is Melia Hanoi. Bearing a modern and minimal style of architect, Melia though seems moderately luxurious but still bring peace to the mind of visitors along with a sensation of extreme relaxation.

Website: https://www.melia.com
Tel: (+84) 808 234 1953
Address: #44B Lý Thường Kiệt Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

3. Apricot Hotel (5-star)

Apricot is also among the most chosen hotels by visitors. Its highlighted feature is its proximity to the lake. For those who want to enjoy a little bit of sunshine in the morning and cool breeze of lakeside wind, Apricot is definitely not a bad choice.

Website: http://apricothotels.com/
Tel: (+84) 243 828 9595
Address: #136 Hàng Trống Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

4. Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi (5-star)

Located near Hanoi Opera House, Hotel de l’Opera is a splendid accommodation. The hotel comes with all the convenient amenities and services deserving of the brand of 5-star. Restaurant, bar, four-season swimming pool are all-ready just for you.

Website: www.hoteldelopera.com/
Tel: (+84) 246 282 5555
Address: #29 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

5. Hanoi Pearl Hotel (4-star)

Hanoi Pearl Hotel is among the best and most luxurious hotels in Hanoi. The hotel bears a nostalgic feel of nobility with the smart arrangement revolving around dark-shaded colors. Although one might not often associate minimalism with elegance, the Pearl’s perk is its ability to bring out the best of minimalistic design. Nothing more; nothing less; everything is perfect the way it is.

Website: www.hanoipearlhotel.com/
Tel: (+84) 243 938 0666
Address: #6 Bảo Khánh Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

6. The Palmy hotel and spa (3-star)

The Palmy quite stands out compared to the others for its richness in Asian architecture. Such fact is hardly surprising, however, given its name – “The Palmy hotel”, which was derived from the use of palm, bamboo and other wood materials as patterns and decorations in the interior. If you want to sink yourself in the Asian sensation right here in the center of the capital, the doors of Palmy are always open waiting for your arrival.

Website: www.thepalmyhotel.vn
Tel: (+84) 972 546 622
Address: #4A-#4B Bảo Khánh Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

7. Hanoi Imperial Hotel (3-star)

“We take you home away from home” is what written on the hotel’s website page. Despite not being a high ranked accommodation compared to those above, Hanoi Imperial is still very suitable for those who want to enjoy a moderation in price but hospitability, honesty and a great service are always maintained.

Website: www.hanoiimperialhotel.com
Tel: (+84) 243 933 5555
Address: #44 Hàng Hành Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

8. See you at Lily’s Hostel and Travel (3-star)

If you are a backpacker, Lily’s is definitely the place for you. Here in Lily’s, you will have the chance of getting together with your backpacking pals from all over the places. In fact, given the number of backpackers, one might as well associate Lily’s with the ultimate backpacker’s hub here in Hanoi.

Website: www.seeyouatlilys.com
Tel: (+84) 120 306 2715
Address: #16 Ngõ Huyện Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

9. Hanoi Backpackers’ Hostel

Located in the Old Quarter, Hanoi Backpackers Hostel is home to travelers who have been looking for backpack spirit. It has a shared lounge and a bar where you can communicate and make friends with other backpackers. Popular destinations nearby are Ngoc Son Temple, Dong Xuan Market, and St. Joseph Cathedral.

Address: 13 Hàng Muối, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam

TÂY HỒ DISTRICT

1. InterContinental Hotel (5-star)

There is no need to say much about InterContinental’s reputation in Hanoi. Known as one of the best and most luxurious hotels in the capital and nationwide, its package encompasses a wide range of top-notch facilities and service. Either chill with other folks in a bar or resting on a lakeside bench, time at InterContinental is time spent for good value. The hotel truly lives up to its 5 stars and is definitely worth your budget.

Website: www.intercontinental.com/Hanoi
Tel: (+84) 246 270 8888
Address: #5 Từ Hoa Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

2. The Hanoi Club Hotel and Lake Palais Residences (4-star)

Located on the shore of Westlake, Hanoi Club Hotel holds all the beauty of a magnificent sunset in a view. With the extreme convenience of amenities such as prestigious elite membership club, boutique, bar and so on, the hotel definitely offers the best of both worlds for those who want to experience luxury but lack the budget for extra premium hotels.

Website: www.hanoiclub.com/
Tel: (+84) 243 823 8115
Address: #76 Yên Phụ Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

3. Hotel Victory (4-star)

Victory is another lakeside hotel in the area. Hotel Victory or “Thắng Lợi” is one of the best hotels here with a friendly living environment, ready-to-serve staff and wonderful amenities of bar, meeting room, golf field and 185 rooms. Like the Hanoi Club Hotel, Victory also offers a high-quality but at a cheaper price than other 5-star hotels. If you are on a budget and coming to Hanoi for the first time, definitely consider Hotel Victory!

Website: www.thangloihotel.vn
Tel: (+84) 243 829 4211
Address: #200 Yên Phụ Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

4. Westlake Home Hotel (3-star)

If luxury and breathtaking designs aren’t make-or-break when it comes to choosing accommodation, then do consider Westlake Home Hotel. Although it lacks a few stars compared to others on the list, the full package still offers a wonderful lakeside view, a whole lot of services, and lots and lots of love and care from the staff team. And since the Home Hotel does away with the flashy designs, prices are definitely affordable even for the most tigh-fisted visitors!

Website: www.homehotels.vn
Tel: (+84) 243 266 8993
Address: #156 Yên Phụ Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

5. Hanoi Eco Youth Hostel

Hanoi Eco Youth Hostel is located in Hanoi is 1 km from West Lake and a 12-minute walk from Tran Quoc Pagoda. Rooms at Hanoi Eco Youth Hostel also feature a city view over the lake. All rooms have a shared bathroom and breakfast is available every morning with either American and Asian options.

Address: 272 Nghi Tam Street, Tay Ho District, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam

The post Where to Stay in Hanoi – From Budget and Fun Hostels to Luxury Hotels appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

1. Chợ Đêm Hàng Đào – Đồng Xuân Night Market

According to the oriental culture, there is no better way of understanding a city rather than visiting its markets which is called “Chợ” in Vietnamese. “Chợ” is where people from all walks of life go shopping and earn a living. There are hundreds of things that are sold in the markets: from household things, clothes, foods to toys, and souvenirs. They even have some activities like making traditional paper pictures or listening to folk music performances. If traditional markets are often daylight ones, “Chợ đêm”- night market, lives up to its name. Dong Xuan – Hang Dao Night Market long set and opened at weekends from Fridays to Sundays between 18 pm and 23 pm. There are quite lots of night markets in Hanoi but Cho dem Hang Dao – Dong Xuan is one of the oldest and busiest. This 14-year-old market takes its name after “Hàng Đào” street, also where it is held. The word “Đào” in “Hàng Đào” means red in Vietnamese” and this street has this name because it was once where cloths dyed with red tone color were sold. Although nowadays they no longer sell cloth here, clothes in general instead, still keep this calling. Our night market starts at “Hàng Đào”, stretches over “Hàng Ngang – Hàng Đường” before finally ends at Đồng Xuân street. The market is most crowded and bustling from about 20:00 PM so do not come too early, just take your time!

2. Gam Cau Roast Food Street

“Gầm Cầu” is somewhat a quiet street running beneath the foot of Long Biên bridge for a century. It is such a narrow one that is just about 1.5 meters wide and has no pavement. The locals lay goods, mainly sets of cups, dishes and bowls, right on the street for selling in the morning, and when the night falls, it turns into a bustling alley with lots of street roast stores. This tiny street is divided into 3 parts and what I am mentioning here is the one facing Hàng Lược and Hàng Giấy. They start selling from about 6 pm but the busiest time is at 8 pm when dozens of groups of young people or families come and have dinner. Here you can order beef or cow’s organs, but if you do not feel like eating the organs, just have the roast beef which I highly recommend.

3. Phùng Hưng Hotpot Street

You definitely cannot miss this spot. Considered one of the oldest hotpot streets of Hanoi, Phung Hung hotpot street is always crowded, especially at weekends and in the winter. Running along this street are dozens of hotpot stores, offering all kinds of hotpot from Thai, beef, chicken to mixed ones. There are also some restaurants here but I personally prefer street stores with plastic tables and chairs laid outdoors. Enjoy the hotpot with friends in the bitter cold of Hanoi’s winter is such an amazing experience.

4. Milk Tea Shops

Bubble milk tea has become so popular in the past few years in Hanoi that you can almost spot one milk tea house every few blocks. Imported into Vietnam through franchised chains, the number of milk tea brands is so large that it makes even a local like me confused. As it is an easy beverage with a reasonable price while the stores are well decorated and equipped with air conditioners, they are an ideal place for a big young crowd in Hanoi. Such pearl tea houses are busy all day but the high time is in the evening, especially at weekend. You will hardly find any spare seats and have to queue in line even up to 30 minutes. My favorite makes are Gongcha and Heekcaa, which are both in Lý Thường Kiệt street and near the Sword Lake. Come by and try Alisan tea and Cheese foam in these 2 stores respectively. Oh, do not forget to order white pearl as topping for your drink (which charges between 5000 and 10.000VND more) as well as the level of ice and sugar at will.

Address:

1. Gongcha – 56 Lý Thường Kiệt street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
2. HEEKCAA – 42C Lý Thường Kiệt street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi (there are quite many “fake” stores so just come to this address and check the brand name carefully)

Open – close:
1. 8:00 – 22:00
2. 09:30 – 22:30
Phone number:
1. 024 3756 8989
2. 0994.359.436

Link:

5. Hoàn Kiếm Walking street

Newly opened to Hanoians since September last year, this walking street is of no less bustle and crowded than the old one in Cho dem Hang Dao – Dong Xuan. Attracting a big number of locals, it is a perfect spot for walking while enjoying cool gusts of wind and the lovely scenery of Hoan Kiem lake. Moreover, there are also many entertaining games along with traditional music shows. After walking for hours, you can make your way to Trang Tien street, buy yourself a sticky rice ice cream or come over the book street nearby, in Nguyen Xi St. Or another choice is, if you are around Dinh Tien Hoang section, and you drop by the old small Thủy Tạ ice cream shop which faces the Nine West store, try a mint lime ice cream and feel its amazing cool taste.

This “street” (covering Dinh Tien Hoang, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, Hang Dau, Trang Tien, Bao Khan st., etc) is opened from 19.00 on Friday to Sunday every week. Fasten your shoelaces and let’s go!

6. Bình Minh Jazz Club

It was once considered to be insane to open a jazz club in Hanoi during the early 21st century, but it is not the case of musician Quyền Văn Minh. Making it his dream work, the originator and maestro of Vietnamese Jazz opened the former of Bình Minh jazz club – Hanoi jazz club in Lương Văn Can St in 2004, hoping to spread the love of jazz to the dynamic young of Hanoi at the time that Pop started to lose its heat. After changing locations for a few times, the club is finally housed in no 1, Tràng Tiền St since 2014 as a cafeteria serving breakfast and lunch in daytime (until 4 pm); and a club for the jazz lovers every evening from 9 pm. The music is focused mainly on standard and traditional jazz, which is performed by a band including 3 – 4 saxophone players, 1 pianist, 1 drum and 1 bass player. A special performance that you should not miss is the duo of the Quyền’s father and son, both of whom are one of the finest jazz players. The show is always overcrowded, so do come early and save a seat!

Address: no 1, Tràng Tiền St, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Open – close: 7.00 – 23.30
Price: 100.000 VND – 200.000 VND

7. Water puppet show ( Múa rối nước)

Water puppetry, a traditional art of Vietnam, dates back to over 1000 years ago in the Red River delta, together with the formation of the wet rice cultivation during the Ly dynasty. This art has been passed down through generations and soon became a formal but also a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. It is performed as an inevitable, charming part of almost all the festivals of the Viet people, telling the legends, folk tales or just the very ordinary life of villagers. In the fast-paced lifestyle these days, spending a night watching water puppet show in such old theaters is not only a way of entertaining but also a way of preserving the country’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Address: Thăng Long water puppet theatre, 57b Đinh Tiên Hoàng St, Hoàn Kiếm district, Hanoi
Peforming hours: 15.00, 16.10, 17.20, 18.30, 20.00 (whole week)
Price: 100.000 VND/adult – 60.000 VND/children(under 1.2m)

8. Toilet Bar & Club ( formerly Bank club)

“If the music is too loud, you’re too old”.

Situated in one of the best spots of Hanoi with modern, large interior, one-of-a-kind music, finest DJs, good services, the Bank-now renamed the Toilet Bar & Club is definitely on top of your must-visit lists. On every Wednesday night, the club offers a lady night – buffet and free entrance for all girls, which is a well-preferred activity of the night goers. Toilet bar now adds to its soundtrack more Hip-hop music besides EDM, making the club hotter than ever before. Just in case, if you somehow cannot stand the vibe, move to the balcony for a cool gust of wind or only to admire the beauty of Hoan Kiem lake and downtown of Hanoi, then come back, well.

Address: 6th floor, Capital building, 41 Hai Bà Trưng St, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Open – close: 20.00 – 3.00
Price: 200.000 VND – 550.000 VND

9. Cafes with live music

As claimed in a blog post of CNN: “In Hanoi, it’s all about egg coffee”; well, to be frank, it is not only egg coffee but coffee, in general, is beloved by Hanoi people just like the way the English adore their tea. Having a cup of this amazing, enchanting beverage while listening to live music is one of the most favorite habits we, the Hanoians, take ourselves for over 2 centuries since the day the French stepped onto our country from the Son Tra coast. Why coffee is so preferred like that, how or where to have a true cup of coffee, all lies in my previous article especially writing for Hanoi coffee. To find out which coffee shops offering live music, click to read this article

The Best Places with Live Music in Hanoi

10. The West Lake

Hanoi is of favour to have many natural lakes, one of which is the West Lake. This lovely reservoir does not just put its name on the map for its amazing scenery during sunset or delicacy like ice cream or shrimp cake but for the ideal path curving around itself, an ideal spot for walking with your love by night. Holding hands tightly, crossing fingers, having a romantic but peaceful night is all West lake will offer you! Or else, hide a matt blanket, order some beer and grilled cuttlefish, enjoy the last few hours of the day by the pavement!

Here is an album of the West Lake we captured:

Sunset at West Lake

The post Hanoi Nightlife Guide | All About Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

View All Content

Bánh Tôm Hồ Tây
Bánh Tôm Hồ Tây (Shrimp cake) comes from a famous restaurant located in Ho Tay District, Hanoi. If you ever drop by this district, don't forget to try this typical and authentic food, though some waiters there are seen as not so friendly ones in their customers' eyes. Well, just never mind about it, go grab some shrimp cakes wrapped in batter and get some beers! 
Address: Thanh Nien, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Bánh giò Thụy Khê
Bánh giò (Vietnamese pork pyramid dumpling) is a Vietnamese cake wrapped in banana leaf and made by glutinous rice flour and tapioca starch with meat, onions, mushrooms and spices inside. Vietnamese people say that Banh gios Thuy Khe are the largest cakes offered in Hanoi. Take two plastic stools, getting one as a table and the other as a chair and enjoy the cake like a local.
Opening hours: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
Price range: 12 000 - 25 000 vnd
Address: #5 Thuy Khe, Tay Ho, Hanoi

All photos on this post taken by Tu Vu

The post What and where to eat in Tay Ho District, Hanoi? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

View All Content

Tran Quoc Pagoda
1500 year-old-Tran Quoc Pagoda (Chùa Trấn Quốc), one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam with great architecture, located on an island in the east of West lake.  Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and you can capture people sincerely sitting and praying in the Hall.
To pray at a pagoda or a temple, most of Vietnamese people press their palms together and bow three times.

Opening hours: 7:30 am to 11:30 am; 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Address: Thanh Nien, Tay Ho, Hanoi.

Tay Ho Temple
Tay Ho Temple (Phủ Tây Hồ) is dedicated to the Mother Goddesses. Heading to Tay Ho Temple, you will enter the gate, take a look at a golden buffalo, and walk inside the temple. Pathways here are packed out with stalls selling fruits, flowers, incense, joss paper and other offerings for worshipers to buy and place them on the altars. More appealingly, you will get to see some elders writing prayers in Chinese characters on sheets of thin papers for the visitors to send to the Gods.

Address: Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi.

All photos on this post taken by Tu Vu.

The post What to do in Tay Ho District, Hanoi? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.