have an ice coffee at Cafe Bon Bon
by richiecdisc
I have been drinking Vietnamese ice coffee in the US for about 25 years now so I was happy to finally get to have some on their local soil. These places vary quite a bit in style and price but the most local ones offer up the typical plastic tables and chairs that inexpensive restaurants do. If you see one like Café Bon Bon, crammed full of locals, stop in. It’s bound to be good.
Vietnamese ice coffee is a vestige of French Colonial habits though with a decided Southeast Asian flair. It is a roast bitter dark coffee that is mixed with sweetened condensed milk that not only sweetens the brew but also makes it creamy. It comes to the table in a little drip kettle that brews right there and you then pour the contents over ice in a tall glass. It is a tasty dessert and a nice pick you up in the afternoon if hot from all the sightseeing. You should be able to get one for 5,000 d (30 cents).
Hanoi: Le Loi, the King Arthur of Ho An Kiem Lake
by bpacker
If you love legends, you're gonna love this tale about how an emperor named drove out some Chinese bastards with a sword loaned from the Sea King. After victory however, the emperor decided to keep the sword and made the Sea King explode in fits. After Neptune calmed down, he sent a tortoise to retrieve his sword. Well, he didn't have to really, the sword magically flew from the scabbard into the mouth of the retriever. The lake became known as the lake of the restored sword ever since.
A sword on its back instead of its mouth! An artist's mistake displayed at the Ngoc Son.
Where: Entrance to Ngoc Son Temple, Ho An Kiem Lake
Paintings
by dunearn20 about A Dong Art Gallery
Very good paintings of rather unknown artists, therefore affordable.
Not the US $ 3000 range as elsewhere (see photo, bought last year in Saigon) but US$ 200 - 300.
Bought three paintings there, very happy now! Everything!
From the Airport
by Applelyn
You can take Bus 17 to reach Long Bien. Long Bien is just at the side of Old Quarters and the end of the bus ride from the airport. It takes about an hour to reach Long Bien but it will cost you about 5000VND. The interval for each bus is about 15mins. When you stepped out of the airport, turn to your left and walk till you reach a parking area for bus and wait under the expressway. Spot the locals gathering there and you will find the waiting spot.(There is no bus stand.) Be careful of the taxi-drivers. They tried to stop the passer-bys from telling me where the waiting spot was.
Give a helping hand, Hanoi.
by pfsmalo about Restaurant Hoa Sua.
This restaurant is essentially a school for young people in difficulty and helps them to learn a trade. Some learn baking or cooking or even to wait at the tables. All goes to help them move onto another restaurant when they have to leave. The price of your meal all goes to help these kids and leaving a couple of dollars tip will be most appreciated.
The school also has a bakery/croissanterie at 35 Quang Trung st.
Also an embroidery and sewing school at 63 A Trang Thi st. where you can get yourself some clothes made. As I say this all goes to help the underprivileged kids of Hanoi.
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Xe Om Guy and Greggor,Ha Noi,Vietnam.
Hang Ma street (Internet)
train ticket
Ask for Room No. 401
