Fast Food: KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King

Such famous fast food restaurant chains as KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King in Vietnam still open over Tet Holiday to serve all fast-food lovers. IN Vietnam, Lotteria and KFC are the most popular brands of all the mentioned giants. Korea’s Lotteria is well-known for its signature soybean chicken whereas American KFC offers its crispy spicy chicken. Let’s have some fast food in Vietnam and see how different it is from what you eat in your home country! All the spices are actually changed when the franchise moves into a new country to meet the locals’ taste buds.

Highway 4

The chain of Highway 4 restaurants offers Vietnamese cuisine. It is where you can eat the local food even though it happens during the Tet Holiday. They also often offer lucky money for the very first customers coming to their restaurants at the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

Pizza: Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn

When it comes to popular foods to choose from for a franchise business, pizza would always appear on the top of the list. There are many franchise options – but pizza continues to be loved by families everywhere – anytime! Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn are the best pizza franchises in Vietnam.

Gongcha Milktea

Gong Cha is a Taiwanese drink shop franchise. It expanded to Vietnam in 2014 and it has been doing a great job in the country, becoming one of the top milk tea brands. Gong Cha serves a total of more than fifty different drinks that can be divided into different types: signatures, brewed tea, milk tea, “Creative Mix”, coffee, “Healthy Series”, etc. They also offer drinks in medium and large sizes.

Cộng Coffee

Cong coffee chain is famous among both locals and expats in Vietnam. The coffee shop is explicitly designed in Viet Cong style, or we call The Vietnam Communist design. It recalls the days of state ownership and all communism and propaganda themes. Seen through Westerners’ eyes, Cộng‘s style is quite provocative but still worth a visit after all. The best drinks in Cong Coffee is their signature Coconut Coffee. Don’t miss it!

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks open over Tet Holiday to serve people craving for some arabica coffee! Let’s have a cup of espresso in any of the last few days of the year or the first few days of the New Year!

The post What’s open in Vietnam during Lunar New Year – Restaurant and Coffee Chains and Franchises appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Events at Tết

This year, do not forget to find yourself some great events to take part in this Lunar New Year in Hanoi. If you have not known where to go or what to do, just check out this list of two outstanding events!

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition (6th – 12th Feb 2018)

Giảng Võ’s Spring Exhibition has become somewhat a “tradition” of people around the capital. The exhibition attracts millions of people each day going shopping to prepare for Tết. There will be a wide range of products of good quality with numerous of cultural activities for you to take part in so do not miss it!

Address: Viet Xo Friendship Labour Cultural Palace, 91 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: 9:00 – 21:00
Entrance fee: Free

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology’s Happy Lunar New Year (24th – 25th Feb 2018)

This Lunar New Year, Vietnam Musem of Ethnology will bring yo some surprise with an exciting event held at the campus. You can either participate in the event as a volunteer of the Cuisine team or just a visitor enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of spring. At the event, you will have to chance of tasting Bình Phước’s cuisine as well as other ethnics’ such as Khơ me, Xtieng and so on.

Address: Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi
Opening time: 8:30 – 17:30 every day (except Monday)
Entrance fee: 40.000vnd (College students: 15.000vnd/ Highschool students: 10.000vnd)

Flower Festivals

One of the most exciting events at Tết in Hanoi is probably the flower festival. Every year, around the capital at this time of the year, most of the places will hold such events. It is like a special imprint of Hanoi that will definitely take your breath away.

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hoàn Kiếm Lake is a popular place for a weekend hang out, especially at Tết. Annually, there will be big flower festival around the lake at Lunar New Year. There is also Tết Flower Market in Hàng Lược Street if you want to enjoy the beauty of peach blossoms or buy some to bring to your hometown.Tết in Hanoi always bring home to mind, especially to Hanoians, this is the time when they can truly return to their childhood. Hoàn Kiếm Lake’s Flower Festival will not be a bad choice if you want to find the breath of Tết around the capital.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Time: Every Friday to Sunday

Ecopark

Lying on the South-Eastern side of the capital, not only is Ecopark a worth-living city but it is also an amazing place for relaxation with evergreen gardens and beautiful manmade nature. Owning the 500-hectare yard, Ecopark will definitely be the perfect place for this spring’s flower festival.

Address: Rừng Cọ Street, Long Biên – Xuân Quan, Bát Tràng, Văn Giang, Hanoi

Times City

This year, Times City is predicted to hold another flower festival as the last year. Right now in Times City, hundreds of lanterns have been hung. From the bridge to the Times Mall, an arch tunnel has been made and decorated with flickering lights and two lines of beautiful cherry blossoms. You can come to the city at any time to enjoy this beauty.

Address: #458 Minh Khai Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Holiday Resorts near Hanoi

Tết is a holiday time for Vietnamese people. If at Christmas, most foreigners want to spend their time with their family, Vietnamese would like to make a getaway in nearby resorts with their family or even alone.

Đại Lải Resort

Only takes an hour or so to get to the resort, Đại Lải is a really perfect place for such short family vacations. If you want to go a little bit expensive, you can book a room in the well-known Flamingo in Đại Lải Resort. Flamingo has even nominated as one of the most beautiful resorts on the planet by Designboom.

Address: Ngọc Thanh, Phúc Yên, Vĩnh Phúc Province

Ba Vì

Besides Đại Lải, you can also enjoy a day-out at Ba Vì or Ba Vì National Garden. The place is popular for is a wilderness of various kinds of flora and fauna. Going to Ba Vì, you can also go to other wonderful destinations such as Thiên Sơn Suối Ngà, Khoang Xanh – Suối Tiên, Ao Vua (The King’s Pond), Ba Vì’s traditional trade village and so on.

Tam Đảo

Tam Đảo is a great destination for vacations near Hanoi. Only takes you about 2 hours by car, Tam Đảo is definitely an ideal location for family outing. Going to Tam Đảo, you can take a look at these destinations: Tam Đảo’s stone church, Silver waterfall, Trúc Lâm Zen Buddhist Temple and so on.

Temples and Pagodas

In Lunar New Year, it is more like a ritual than a tradition that Asian in general and Vietnamese in particular go to the pagodas or mostly temples at Tết. This comes from the belief that human and/or Gods and Buddha are connected through the sacred places such as the churches or temples. It is also added that people believe that by going to the temples and having ceremonial offerings will help them to have a safer and happier new year. In addition, it also helps to keep you away from bad spirits.

Temple of Literature

Since this is the most well-known place in Hanoi, there is nothing much left to say here. If you want to wish for a happy new year for you and for your kid’s studying career, go to Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature)

Address: #58 Quốc Tử Giảm Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi

Hương Pagoda

This is the most-come location at Tết of all Vietnamese, especially Hanoians. In Lunar New Year, people will flock like birds from everywhere just to get the chance of having offerings in Hương Pagoda. This is not because there is any mystery or supernatural things about the place, but it is more like a habit of most Hanoians whenever Tết comes.

Address: Hương Sơn Commune, Mỹ Đức suburban district, Hanoi

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Trấn Quốc is a pagoda lying near the capital center. There used to be a poem about the beauty of it which is now still remembered by many generations from young to old. Trần Quốc is located on an island to the South of West Lake and was one of the most renowned wonders under Lê Dynasty. Trấn Quốc is very popular for its sacredness and used to be the place that the King came at every Lunar New Year.

Address: Thanh Niên Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Ngọc Sơn Temple

Ngọc Sơn is probably the most-mentioned destination along with Hoàn Kiếm Lake – a symbol of Hanoi. Ngọc Sơn used to be the locations where the martyrs of Hà Bắc came to ask for being praised in the studying ladder.

Address: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Hà Pagoda

Hà Pagoda is the most popular place for love offerings. If you are having trouble finding the other half, just go to Hà Pagoda, you will have one in no time! Well, at least that is what they say. However, you should also be careful that if you have already had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, do not dare to go to this place or you will regret it!

Address: Dịch Vọng Ward, Cầu Giấy District, Hanoi

The post Things to Do during Tet Holiday in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Words and photos by Chi Le

The post Nhat Tan Village – The Best Flower Forrest in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

The first day of Lunar 2018 – the first day of Tet is on 16th of February 2018

Clothing Shopping

Just like Christmas or the New Year’s Eve in European countries, Tet to all Vietnamese is the time for family’s gathering and crazy shopping! However, do not worry too much about your budget because everything at Tet is fully sale off! If you go to the stores, especially clothing stores, you will find that most of them offer sale off up to 50%. For other things, the price is also comparatively and competitively low so you can be sure that there will be a wide range of choices for you.

If you are interested in clothing stores in Hanoi, glance through this list of locations:

Germe Shop

Germe is now offering from 10% – 30% sale off for all clothes in store from 2nd – 5th February 2018. Especially, if you are interested in Áo Dài, this will be a terrific opportunity to drop by Germe. Germe is now having 11 stores in Hanoi so you can check out its website or facebook page to know more information.

Website: www.germe.vn/
Facebook: Germe Shop
Address 1: #258 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Address 2: #64 Hàng Nón Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Address 3: #273 Xã Đàn Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Magenta Vintage

Magenta will be a perfect place if you love a little bit of vintage style. Magenta offers both new and used clothes with vintage design and style. You can also buy other accessories from scarfs, hats and shoes here. The price is considerably high compared to other stores but you know what they say: “You get what you pay for”.

Facebook page: Magenta Vintage
Address: 2nd Flr, 6 Hàng Đậu Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi
Price: From 300.000vnd

Boo

Boo is a well-known clothing store in the country. It offers a variety of clothes with all styles but mostly sporty, street and casual for target customers from 15 – 25 years old. There are many BOO stores in the city so below are a few locations suggested.

Website: www.bosua.vn/
Facebook page: Bo sua by BOO
Address 1: #308 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Address 2: #93 Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street, Đống Đa District, Hanoi
Address 3: #64 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Decao

If you like to go punk, Decao is definitely not a bad choice! Decao offers fantastic street-styled clothes for target customers from above 15 years old. Here in Decao, we go weird and extraordinary!

Photo via znews-photo-td.zadn.vnAddress: #280 Huế Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Facebook page: DECAO

Zara

Foreign visitors will definitely love to hear this name. This is the first year of Zara in Hanoi and if you are a fashion lover, do not miss this chance!

Website: www.zara.com/
Address: #191 Bà Triệu Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Local Market

Before Tet, the Vietnamese will go shopping for foods and treats to keep in storage because all stores and markets will close at Tet. This will be a great chance if you want to experience the atmosphere of the people bustling preparing for Tet in the country. You should drop by some supermarkets; however, markets are still advisory since everything is cheaper they are just the place for everyone!

Đồng Xuân Market

Đồng Xuân is the most popular in Hanoi. You can get everything you need here, especially foods. For many children as well as many adults, Hôm market is a memory of childhood where they were taken here by their parents to enjoy delicious treats.

Address: Đồng Xuân Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

For more markets in Hanoi Old Quarter, read our article here

Hôm Market

If you want to buy accessories and clothing, just go to Hôm market. This place is praised as the heaven of cloths in the city. Most tailors usually go to this market to buy accessories for their clothes. Of course you will find many other things in this place but it is quite small so there is nothing much you can explore except for… cloths!

Address: Huế Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi

Long Biên Market

Lying near the foot of Long Biên Bridge, Long Biên Market is indeed a place that most housewives will come at Tet. Long Biên is one of the biggest markets in the city. It is very popular especially for fruits sold at night. The market is divided into many sections from seafood, poultry to cattle meat.

Address: The foot of Long Biên Bridge, behind Trần Nhật Duật Street, Hanoi

Flower Market

Nhật Tân

Nhật Tân is a flower market near Tây Hồ (West Lake). Before Tết, many families will spend their time in Nhật Tân to contemplate the beauty of all the flowers before entering the special time of the year. Many people also go to Nhật Tân to pick up some beautiful peach blossom trees, marigolds or kumquats to décor their houses at Tết.

Address: Âu Cơ Street, Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Quảng Bá

Quản Bá is a night flower market. Despite its small size, Quảng Bá still brings customers a dear feeling to the customers. Quảng Bá is unique, not only for its opening time at night but also for a very traditional sensation that it brings to all visitors. Before Tết, Quảng Bá is also one of the must-come places of Hanoians. The place is the most crowded at night from 1 – 2 am.

Address: Tây Hồ District, Hanoi

Hàng Mã Street

Hàng Mã is also a suggested place to go before Tết. If at Midfall festival, the street is decorated with thousands of sparkling floating lanterns, then before Tết, the whole street is covered in the yellow and red shades of votive paper (used as symbolic items to burn for the dead or ancestors at Tết), as well as things to decorate Vietnamese houses. The votive paper has many shapes and sizes. They can be a car, a house, a bicycle or dollars, and Vietnam Dongs. People believe that if they burn these, the ones from the other side (heaven) can receive them.

Address: Hang Ma Street, The Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi.

Events before Tết

Hanoi Looktique (2nd – 4th Feb 2018)

This is an annual garage sale held in Hanoi. Here you will find everything you want from clothes, accessories, bags, shoes and even foods, especially snacks and Korean.

Address: #36 Lý Thái Tổ Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hanoi

Tết event in Lotte Mart (3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th Feb 2018)

If you do not know what to do before Tết, try dropping by Lotte Mart to participate in great Tết event with lots of interesting activities such as coloring old Đông Hồ paintings, shaping tò he (an edible children’s toy made of rice flour), writing in Chinese calligraphy and so on.

Address: 1st Flr, Lotte Department Store, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Time: 14:00 – 18:00

Exploring Vietnamese traditional clothes (1st – 15th Feb 2018)

This season, Lotte Mart again brings you some excitement with a fashion gallery of Vietnamese traditional clothes. Coming to the event, not only can you feast your eyes upon amazing fashion show of Vietnames Feudal Clothes, but you can also explore the wonder of Vietname’s culture hidden in layers of traditional silk.

Address: 1st Flr, Lotte Department Store, 54 Liễu Giai Street, Ba Đình District, Hanoi
Fashion show time: 19:30, 10th Feb 2018

The post Things to Do Before Tet 2018 in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Shot and edited by Chi Le

The post One Minute Around Au Co street during Tet in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.