Hanoi Nightlife Tips by richiecdisc

Nightlife Spot: Bia Hoi Ha Noi

Bia hoi is the draft version of Vietnam’s beer and is thus the freshest example of the style you will find. Not only is it generally tastier but it is also much cheaper. In fact, it is only 3,5000 dong per glass (less than a quarter!) but that is not the best part of these bia hoi joints. What you really get is to experience the local hanging out scene. It is much like the coffee houses where mostly a male clientele sit around and share their daily experiences over a beer. You can get cheap snacks like peanuts too. It is great fun cheap entertainment and something not to be missed.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: These places are very casual but if you are a woman, even with a male, I would recommend dressing down quite a bit as to not attract too much attention.
Address: 25 Ly Quoc Su
Directions: This is in the Old Quarter and there are numerous ones scattered about. Just look for the sign, "bia hoi."

Nightlife Spot: Red Beer- Cafe illy


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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Though this was in the more touristy area of town and surely the prices were indicative of being a tourist trap, it was mostly frequented by Communist Party types. So, it was more interesting than it appeared from the outside. It was certainly a nice upscale place but the beer was run of the mill brewpub fodder, though for Vietnam this made it still one of the tastiest beers around. The Bia Do (Red beer) was a dryish hoppy beer and a nice change of pace from the bia hoi that had become my staple. The Bia Vang was lighter colored beer and not quite as tasty. They were pricey though at 15,000 dong ($1) a beer!
Phone: 04.8260.247
Address: 97 Ma May
Directions: Right in the Old Quarter, near all the backpacker cafes.

Nightlife Spot: Ankor

I spotted another beer joint near the train station and it looked very upscale compared to most of the bia hoi places I had been dragging D too so we stopped in for a quick one. Unfortunately, the beer was a bland tasteless lager that might satisfy those in need of a thirst quencher. In that case, I’ll take water. ;) I also came across a bottled beer across from the train station while waiting for our night train to Hue. It was called Laser Draft Beer (in a bottle?!) and though in a no-no green bottle, it was one of the tastier beers we came across in Vietnam.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Directions: I think it was on D le Duan but not sure. Definitely in vicinity of train station and only for people that HAVE to try every beer or those who know very little about beer in the first place.

Nightlife Spot: TET street festival

TET or Vietnam’s New Year’s cum Christmas festival is crazy enough during the day but if you are in town when it is going on, you have to walk the market area at night to really experience its colorful splendor. The streets are buzzing with people out buying supplies for TET and motorcycles whiz by you constantly, with everything from kumquat trees to sacks of rice on the back. Red is the color theme and all that glitters is noticed.

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: It is generally cool outside at night during the TET so wear something warm and try and look smart. Most Vietnamese do!
Directions: In the northern part of the Old Quarter, Hang Luoc and Hang Ma are best.