The 10 best bars in Hanoi
Unmissable city highlights include the various quan bia hoi, Vietnam's answer to a Spanish tapas bar, though instead of munching on papas bravas and sipping cañas, patrons wash down stir-fried greens and deep-fried tofu with fresh, locally brewed beer. From beer halls to cocktail and whisky bars, and live music to entertainment venues, here are the best places to go in Hanoi after dark.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best bars in Hanoi. Find out more below, or for more Hanoi inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, coffee houses and things to do.
In this guide:
Best beer bars
Standing Bar
Bia hoi reigns supreme in Hanoi, but craft beer has made serious inroads, with several local breweries popping up across Vietnam over the past decade. Standing Bar, a proud free house, pays allegiance to no one, which means they have one of the largest selections of beers in the country. While most are brewed in Vietnam, some come from further afield. For award-winning national brews, ask the knowledgeable bartenders for a recommendation from Pasteur Street Brewery or Heart of Darkness.
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The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Why Vietnam is becoming more appealing to older travellers
'Hi, please can I have a conversation with you?' asks a 12-year-old Vietnamese boy named Peter, along with his younger brother Ethan, as I squeeze my way through a dense crowd of people in Hội An, the charming, well-preserved ancient town in central Vietnam. The pair started learning how to speak English six months ago and were keen to practise with foreign travellers seeking a combination of comfort, culture and adventure. Before we are interrupted by the pervasive motorcycle culture – forcing both locals and tourists to be street smart – Peter and I exchange a few basic questions and answers in English, as his father beams with pride from across the street. As I pass market stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, electric fans, phone accessories, lanterns, knock-off designer clothes and bags, and painted coconut shells, I make the mistake of catching the eye of a business-savvy Vietnamese woman who lures me over and asks me if I want to buy any of the jewellery and trinkets she has made. Hội An is also renowned for its tailoring industry, offering a wide range of custom-made clothing at affordable prices. Yaly Couture was founded by 51-year-old Quynh Trinh, and has since become the place where locals and tourists visit to get their bespoke tailoring done quickly – sometimes as little as three hours thanks to her 486 members of staff – and at traditional value. Celebrity fans apparently include TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, 65 – who Trinh says 'ran laps around her shop' due to his excitement – and musician Mick Jagger, 82. I decide to have a Vietnamese -inspired navy blue linen two-piece sleeveless top and trouser set made, and Trinh gifts me with a bronze half-neck keyhole maxi dress inspired by one I found on TikTok. I'm assigned to one of her members of staff, who takes all of my measurements, helps me pick out appropriate material, arranges a fitting and makes both of my designs in less than 24 hours. There is still so much to do in Hội An. So to better understand the original ways of Vietnamese tribal culture, I am also transported to their enchanting world at Hội An Lune Center for the Performing Arts with a production of Teh Dar – one of the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus performances of Lune Production. During the performance, guests hear songs that have been sung deep in the forests and whispered around tribal flames for generations. It's also a great opportunity to hear how a buffalo horn sounds with other percussion instruments. Later, after a boat ride down the river, illuminated at night by hundreds of floating lanterns, I have a heartwarming five-course meal – which is gluten-free friendly – at the newly opened La Table Hội An restaurant, where French culinary tradition meets the soul of Vietnam. On my evening stroll, I'm also able to admire the unique architectural structure of the infamous Japanese Bridge, and understand the influence it has on the bridge that also features at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô. Over many years, Vietnam has built a strong reputation for being a backpacker's dream destination. But whilst spending time in Hội An, and at Angsana Lăng Cô and Banyan Tree Lăng Cô, both part of the Laguna Lăng Cô integrated resort, I'm certain it has more to offer. The resorts feature the 18-hole Laguna Golf Lăng Cô, designed by the legendary Sir Nick Faldo, and offers convenient access to all shared facilities and centralised services, including Terra Kids Club and Laguna Water Sports Centre. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô is dedicated to quiet luxury and creating intimate and romantic experiences for couples, and Angsana Lăng Cô is a 220-room safe haven for all of the family to enjoy. The first night at Angsana Lăng Cô set the tone of my time in Vietnam. I'm welcomed with a BBQ dinner party on the private beach – there is no private beach in Vietnam, but it's private at the resort – where all the seafood is sourced directly from the local Cù Dù fishing village, also known as Cua Van in Ha Long Bay. Cù Dù is a unique floating village where residents live in traditional houses on boats and rafts, making a living from fishing and aquaculture. I'm offered a glimpse into the local culture and the stunning natural beauty of the bay, whilst eating everything from lobster, oysters – which were cooked because of pesticides – squid, fish, and papaya salad with shrimp, just to name a few dishes. During a tour of both resorts, it is easy to see how much of the architecture is inspired by local culture. At Angsana Lăng Cô, I stay in the beach suite, which feels like a home away from home. There's a living room and dining area, and access to a private pool with timber deck sun loungers, a kitchenette and a separate bedroom. Every half an hour, from 8am, a Vietnamese-inspired boat takes you on a 10-minute journey down a fairy garden to Banyan Tree Lăng Cô. And at the entrance, there is a traditional cong used to welcome me and other guests. Banyan Tree Lăng Cô – where I end my stay – is where I experience the serenity of the beach pool villa – only a few minutes from the private beach. I have my own private infinity pool with a heated jacuzzi, a timber sun deck and a poolside sala pavilion, so I can truly relax. Indoors, in both rooms, there's a king-sized bed, bath and shower and other modern amenities. Vietnam has changed a lot over the last 10 years, both politically and economically. The commitment the country has to preserve its natural beauty is why older travellers deserve to experience it too, not just student backpackers. 7 nights staying at 5* Banyan Tree Lang Co, with flights and private transfers, from London Heathrow for 2 people is from £1,649. Beach suites at Angsana Lăng Cô are from £194, and beach pool villas at Banyan Tree Lăng Cô are from £497, based on two people sharing, inclusive of breakfast, taxes and fees.
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
The 10 best coffee houses in Hanoi
From narrow alleyway haunts to clandestine design spaces, Hanoi's coffee houses offer extraordinary variety. Punchy Robusta beans power iced Vietnamese coffee (espresso is usually made with Arabica), often sweetened with condensed milk, yoghurt, coconut or egg yolk. This creates a dark, syrupy brew that lands somewhere between dark chocolate and melted coffee ice cream. As Hanoi has become increasingly cosmopolitan, so too has the city's café culture, promising that an artisanal latte is never more than a few streets away. Coffee shops open early and close late, and many double as smoothie bars, tea houses, art galleries and music venues. The vibe is generally unhurried, the seating is usually diminutive, and the drinks are reliably affordable – rarely more than a pound or two. Here are the best places to sample the local brew, including cosy coffee shops for quiet reflection and a couple of bakeries for sweet treats. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best coffee houses in Hanoi. Find out more below, or for more Hanoi inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, bars and things to do. In this guide: Best for the local brew Bancong This former Art Deco townhouse is now a gigantic café restaurant spread over several floors. The balconies are the café's standout feature ('bancong' is balcony in Vietnamese), as they offer elevated views over one of the Old Quarter's busiest crossroads. You'll find a range of coffees on the menu, but it's hard to pass up the coconut coffee, made with condensed milk, coconut milk, dried coconut and crushed ice, making it more like a dessert. Café Nuoi This tiny one-room corner café is about as classic as it gets, with cream walls, wooden stools and a retro sign that has probably been around for decades. The menu is startlingly large for such a miniscule coffee shop: in addition to classic Vietnamese coffee, they also serve tea and hot chocolate, as well as smoothies and juices made with fresh tropical fruit. When it gets too busy inside, the family that runs the place lines the outside walls with little plastic chairs. Address: 32 Luong Van Can, Hoan Kiem Loading T This early 20th century building once belonged to a wealthy merchant, but was appropriated by the government in the 1950s and split into more than a dozen family dwellings. The façade, though faded, still has the grand imperial staircase and olive-green shutters that would have been the envy of neighbours 100 years ago. Lead barista and co-owner Hoang Tuan Son brews several of Hanoi's speciality coffees, but it's his egg coffee that earned the café its fame. Café Duy Tri This might just be the best traditional Vietnamese coffee in the city, and the house – a spindly, multi-floor structure that hasn't changed in decades – will leave a strong impression. They specialise in an aromatic traditional Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk, but you might want to opt for their homemade yoghurt instead. Pair this one-of-a-kind coffee shop with fresh rice dumplings from Banh Cuon Nong Ho Tay, which is just across the road. Address: 43 Yen Phu, Tay Ho Return to index Best quiet, cosy cafés Blackbird (5 Chan Cam) Opposite Loading T, Blackbird excels at espresso-based coffees, but there's also French press, pour over and cold brew scribbled on the blackboard menu. The streetside seating offers views of the magnificent townhouse opposite, home to Loading T, while the intimate interior is a cosy place to warm up during Hanoi's chilly winter months. Keep your eyes peeled for the several other Blackbirds dotted around the Old Quarter. Phin Bar by refined This coffee shop sits just steps away from the Temple of Literature, so you can pop in for a quick pick-me-up before or after exploring the iconic Hanoi sight. Refined, the parent café, specialises in premium grade Robusta beans selected from boutique farms. This is where you can see the true potential of traditional Vietnamese coffee. While Phin Bar offers some welcome calm, grab the outside table if you can – it affords views of the temple. Website: Toka Coffee Stand Toka is one of a handful of cafés tucked down a quiet street that is quickly becoming one of Hanoi's hippest, understated enclaves. Seating wraps around a gorgeously weatherworn colonial-era townhouse while the smiley young baristas conjure up photogenic cappuccinos inside – a skill not lost on the ever-present gaggle of selfie takers. Toka only has a handful of tables, so if it's too busy then continue down the street for a broader selection of equally alluring coffee shops. Memoire 15 Attached to the rooftop of a narrow tube house, Memoire 15 serves its carefully crafted coffees with sunset views over the Old Quarter. Parasitic architecture – when new extensions are attached to old structures – are integral to Hanoi's aesthetic, but Memoire 15 has literally taken the concept to a whole new level. If you're already overly caffeinated, try their salted apricot juice, a traditional Hanoi favourite. Best for sweet treats BAKED and Friends If you find yourself in West Lake looking for something sweet, tuck into one of the cookies or cupcakes at BAKED. Singaporean baker Sheereen Amran usually has one or two fusion specials on the go, like baklava cheesecake and banana Biscoff cupcakes. The café itself is a friendly neighbourhood spot tucked away on a side street set back from the lake and overlooking a scruffy pond. Gau Coffee & Bakery Gau serves French pastries and other baked goodies alongside its western and Vietnamese coffees. The café opens at 7am, so if you're up early to explore the lake at dawn, you might want to retire here for coffee and cake afterwards. The classic croissant rivals a Parisian boulangerie, but the almond croissant is just as tempting. A broad pavement section outside means you can watch the world go by while munching on breakfast. Return to index How we choose Every café and coffee house in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood roasteries to high street favourites – to best suit every type of traveller's taste – and consider the food, drinks, service, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Joshua Zukas I've spent two decades digging deep into Vietnam, with over ten years rooted in Hanoi. When I'm not unearthing new neighbourhoods in this ever-evolving city, I'm probably exploring backroads in Vietnam's farthest-flung corners.
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Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
Fringe Opera & Musical Theatre reviews: Midnight at the Palace + more
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Midnight at the Palace Gilded Balloon Patter House (Venue 24) ★★★★★ As the flower-power Sixties slumped into the Vietnam/Watergate Seventies, a group of misfits and non-conformists from a commune in San Francisco's notorious Haight-Ashbury district began to coalesce, staging raucous, shocking, gender- and sexuality-shaking shows for their own amusement, before taking the city by storm. You've probably never heard of the Cockettes – neither had I. But by the end of the outrageous, subversive, in-your-face but loving and affectionate Midnight at the Palace, you'll be in no doubt as to their role as short-lived pioneers in bending outdated notions of gender and sexuality to breaking point, and in embodying those freethinking ideas in their own wild lives. Midnight at the Palace | Damian Robertson More importantly at the Fringe, however, you might well have your jaw on the floor at the sheer energy blazing from the stage in writer Rae Binstock and composer Brandon James Gwinn's dazzling musical, which follows the Cockettes on their seemingly unstoppable rise and their nosedive back to the ground after their disastrous attempt to break New York. Well, attempt might be going too far: as Binstock and Gwinn point out, it was their shoddy, half-assed attitude to rehearsal that cost the Cockettes their chance at greater fame – and pointed to deeper rifts within the group between those with their eyes on the spotlights and those who doggedly retained their countercultural waywardness. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If Binstock and Gwinn supply a succession of memorable numbers that capture the spirit and sounds of the times, it's director/choreographer Paul McGill's eight performers who bring the show to vivid life, embodying the carefully crafted chaos that lies behind so many of its achievements. Song and dance numbers are bold and in your face in designers Max Allen and Elliott Adcock's teeming, apparently thrown-together set, complete with hand-written intertitles and naive paintings of the group's beloved home city. The cast is uniformly exceptional: the corrupted innocence of Baylie Carson's Pam and the preening confidence of Andrew Horton's ringleader Hibiscus stand out, but Gregory Haney's imperious Sylvester (the only Cockette you might have heard of, as the show admits) dominates every scene he's in. Midnight at the Palace is a whole lot of taboo-breaking fun, but – like the Cockettes themselves – it also joyfully embodies all the values that it celebrates. DAVID KETTLE until 24 August Sense – A New Musical About Dementia theSpaceTriplex (Venue 38) ★★★★☆ The Smits' family members are gathering for their annual Christmas Eve traditions, but things have changed. Grandpa Albert is struggling to remember his relations' names, and awaiting the arrival of his long-deceased wife with increasing agitation. Among the younger members of the family, too, there are strains and dark secrets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The late-night scheduling of sensitive musical Sense, from Antwerp's Plotfish company in collaboration with the Belgian Alzheimer's League, doesn't do it any favours, nor encourage the kind of close attention and consideration that the show seems to politely request. But don't let that put you off: it's a quietly spoken, poignant reflection on family ties, aging and mental decline, conveyed in a smooth, vivid production with excellent singing from its five-strong cast, and even – that rare thing on the Fringe – an elegant set (courtesy of designer Yannic Duchateau). Jens Goossens's storyline deftly sketches in some believable and relatable characters, while Femke Verschueren's music – though it remains on the inoffensive, easy-listening side of pop – is nonetheless memorable and offers plenty of opportunities for the singers to soar. Erik Goris has focus and fracturing gravitas as affable Albert, while Daan Keisse is likeably sparky as Albert's grandson Thomas, whose secret looks set to increase Albert's confusion still further. Composer Verschueren has a feisty, nimble role as Albert's remembered wife Elisabeth. With its perhaps overly careful treatment of its subject matter, you couldn't accuse Sense of breaking new ground or provoking new perspectives on Alzheimer's. And the wider fallout of Albert's decline on his family is perhaps left a little late to be fully explored. Nonetheless, it's a high-class, high-production-value show that tackles its everyday storyline with due sensitivity, and serves as a moving reminder of the universal values of compassion and family love. DAVID KETTLE until 22 August Falling in Love with Mr Dellamort C aquila (Venue 21) ★★★★☆ Wagner had Tristan and Isolde; Debussy had Pelleas and Melisande. Love, sex and death have been inseparable bedfellows in all the greatest works of musical theatre. And those iconic and doomed romantic duos from centuries past are now followed by … Jonathan and Sue? Okay, Jack Feldstein and Paul Doust's high-camp, strutting, preening musical comedy might not be quite up there with those masterworks of grand opera, but it has all the makings of a Fringe cult hit. And its gloriously silly storyline of seduction and destruction line it up right next to those operatic classics – with a hefty dose of Rocky Horror thrown in for good measure. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though he announces himself as the Angel of Death, the mysterious Mr Dellamort seems more concerned with tidying furniture and wiping crockery in his seaside B&B when he invites a trio of unfortunates to stay and to succumb to his considerable charms. That's until Manchester-bound Ms Grimshaw makes an unexpected appearance, however, and throws his carefully laid plans up in the air. In truth, though, Mr Dellamort's paper-thin plot is hardly its most attractive feature – even if it puts a nicely progressive spin on the age-old trope of strangers gathering in a spooky isolated house. More impressive by far is the sheer panache and over-the-top chutzpah of the performances, from Robert Tripolino's preening Dellamort to the sinister simpering of Grace Farrell's Grimshaw, all soundtracked by spooky swooping from Cornelius Loy's live theremin playing. There's plenty of vocal power on display (and no lack of subtlety too), and director Abigail Zealey Bess keeps the glamour high and the pace swift. Is there much here to challenge or provoke? Not really, but with its gothic excess, its dangerous flamboyance and its attention-grabbing performances, there's plenty to charm and seduce. DAVID KETTLE until 24 August Song Society Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) ★★★☆☆ until 25 August This is a charming and intimate one-woman musical which looks at memories, our connections to ourselves and our past. The story revolves around a wacky machine designed to erase unwanted memories that fill the mind, archiving them instead by turning them into song. Featuring acoustic folk-pop melodies, Florencia Iriondo fills the air with soothing vocals. As the Songkeeper who puts the memories into the machine she has a sweet, almost whimsical presence, aided by her gentle movement and floaty costume. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The memories being filed away appear to be low-impact moments, like the cringe-worthy embarrassment of calling your boss 'Dad,' or pronouncing the 'l' in 'salmon.' While these are far from life-changing, the story gradually reveals a memory from the Songkeeper's past that carries weight. The show is not quite absurd but it certainly includes some silly moments, particularly when Iriondo attempts to fix the machine with socks and a floppy baguette, adding a playful touch. Even the voice of Amy Sedaris bizarrely appears from the machine. Beneath the lightheartedness, the show offers deeper reflections. Like Pixar's Inside Out, it reminds us that our identities are shaped by moments and memories – both the silly and profound. It's a warm, accessible experience in an intimate venue, with a touch of audience engagement that makes us feel like welcome friends. SUZANNE O'BRIEN until 24 August Or Die Trying ★★☆☆☆ Dunedin Theatre at Braw Venues @ Hill Street (Venue 41) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Framed as a reading for the (presumed) late poet Leah McBride's final anthology – hosted by her friend Alice – Or Die Trying serves as a seance between a ghostly, resentful Leah and Alice's guilty conscience. Both actors embody their roles in a fully believable manner: Leah prowls around the stage as if stalking her prey, while Alice is evocative of Lady Macbeth, perfectly toeing the line between grief-stricken and unhinged. Sadly, the repetitive nature of the songs and script simply doesn't allow the pair to develop beyond their initial characterisations – leaving us underinvested in Leah's eventual fate. ARIANE BRANIGAN until 10 August
