- Vine (tel. 04/719-8001): This chic little bistro north of central Hanoi (on West Lake) is a find. The atmosphere is hip San Francisco-style, and the food is a cunning assortment of the familiar, from good pizzas to great fusion.
- Restaurant Bobby Chinn (tel. 04/934-8577): Atmosphere and location -- like a performance-art space on the south end of central Hoan Kiem Lake -- Bobby's is the place to see and be seen in Hanoi.
- Cha Ca La Vong (tel. 04/825-3929): A Vietnamese institution and a tourist right of passage, really. A meal here is a memorable, do-it-yourself affair on the beat-up second floor of a restaurant as old as the hills (and it looks like it has never been painted). The food does all the talking: a unique dish of white fish flash-fried in lots of peanut oil with dill and turmeric.
- Mango Rooms (tel. 0510/910-839): The atmosphere is fast and furious as hip young owner Duc slings a unique brand of Asian-fusion fare, heavy on grilled items and delicious light ingredients.
- Le Rabelais (tel. 063/825-444): Fine French cuisine served with real panache at one of Vietnam's most luxurious rural hotels.
- Ngon Restaurant (tel. 08/829-9449): Its popularity has spawned a number of small offshoots, including a specialty restaurant focused on northern rice dishes and another new outlet for buffet dinners, but the original restaurant near the Reunification Palace is the best. A virtual survey course of authentic Vietnamese cuisine from every region of the country, this restaurant is the town's most atmospheric, friendly, and busy.
Vietnam Travel Experiences
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Southern Vietnam
How would you envision a modern communist country?Neon lights advertising discoteques? Open trading of produce? Young couples in love cru... Continue reading »
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Vietnam - North to South
We flew into Hanoi for our north to south journey through Vietnam. Our taxi driver clearly still had hopes of one day becoming an F1 driv... Continue reading »
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North Vietnam - Uncle Ho country
What a trip this has been! We have loved every region of Vietnam. The food, the smiles, the pride -- a resilient country. We held our bre... Continue reading »
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Viet Nam from Saigon to Hanoi
First night in Sai GonWell, we finally left Thailand and arrived in Saigon in Vietnam. I managed to get Lynne to travel light and I have... Continue reading »
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Fashion Queen
Looking out the bus window from the South, I watched families in cone hats working the endless rice paddy fields and reflected on how Cen... Continue reading »
