Old Quarters
by imstress
If you dont mind being awaken early in the morning by honking of motorbikes and national athems or very loud sound or music over the public loud speakers on the street, this is the place to stay in.
We stayed at Phan Thai (Camellia 4) in the middle of Old Quarters.
Given a choice again, we will choose to stay south of the lake where the French Quarters and shopping centres are.
Money
by pez
Bring US dollars and plastic. Major hotels, banks (see ANZ near Hoan Kiem Lake), jewelry and gold shops all change money.
Freelance money changers descend on tourists all around the center of Hanoi...beware of them.
Current exchange rate is around 15,700 dong to the dollar, and informal exchange rates in restaurants, etc is about 15,000 per dollar.
Bring ATM cards for th best exchange rate. There are over 3000 ATMs everywhere in Hanoi. 3 years ago there was only 1!
Credit cards mainly at major hotels and restaurants.
Hanoi, Old Quarters: Traditional Bamboo Masks
by bpacker
The Vietnamese make their masks out of traditional materials like bamboo and coconut leaves. Used in the local traditional theatre, each mask express a different character and emotion.
Every kind of emotion can be found on the faces of traditional theatre.
Where:Hang Can Street
Water Puppet Theater
by muddybok about Water Puppet Theater
Tired of drinking and shopping? For a change, Water Puppet Theater is a great place to visit at night.
The art of water puppetry is unique to Vietnam. The puppets are made of wood and really do dance on water. The shows feature traditional Vietnamese music and depict folklore, myth and it normally last about an hour.
Motorcycle Around Hanoi
by Ewingjr98
Just like other areas of Vietnam, motorcycle is the way to go. Everyone is willing to give a ride to the "rich Westerner," so you never have to wander far until you find a willing driver. It is cheap, usually negotiated down to $1 or $2 per hour. These guys also know where the big tourist sights are so they may take you places you didn't know existed or hadn't planned to visit.