How to enjoy an evening in Hanoi

During a trip to Vietnam, many people, especially young people like to discover Hanoi in the evening when you can fully feel the bustle of the streets. Go to the old quarter, you will live a very lively nightlife, rich in emotions. Here we find a fairly remarkable cultural mix with people from all over the world but also from the locals. But what to see and do during your evenings in Hanoi? let yourself be guided by this article!

1. Eat street food
There is nothing better than a gastronomic discovery to get to know a country deeply. You could say that Vietnam is a gourmet paradise. According to the New York Times, this cuisine deserves the “new culinary star of Asia” and sees in it one of the 10 best gastronomies in the world. President Barack Obama appreciated it during his trip to Vietnam in May 2016.

If you want to taste authentic Vietnamese cuisine, do not miss the old Hanoi quarter. Hanoians actually take the habit of eating on the sidewalk: a table and a few plastic stools are already making a restaurant. Almost all the streets are filled with food stalls. You can therefore easily find a large number of well-known specialties at a reasonable price: nem, bun cha, spring rolls, pho, bo bun…

2. Have a drink
If you have an opportunity, go have a little beer in the alleys. The Bia Hoi (draft beer) is famous in Hanoi, it is a source of great pride for the locals. Everyone appreciates this beer, whether locals or travelers. It takes between 5,000 and 10,000 VND or between 0.20 and 0.40 € for a glass of beer. You can find Bia Hoi in all the streets, but go to the crossroads of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen, it is one of the best places where there is a lot of Bia Hoi shops that attracts both local people and western tourists (read more Vietnam tours).

In addition, Hanoians also like Tra Da which is an iced tea widely consumed in Vietnam. This unsweetened drink is drunk very cold at any time of the day and for very little money (count between 3,000 and 10,000 VND or 0.10 to 0.40 €) Tra Da is a healthy drink, detox, refreshing and very good for the line. If you like a little sweet tea, you can drink Tra Chanh, the same type of iced tea as Tra Da to which is added a slice of lemon and sugar which creates a kind of flat lemonade very refreshing and full of tastes . You will find an ideal place outside the Saint-Joseph cathedral, affectionately nicknamed “Tra Chanh Nha Tho” (lemon tea from the cathedral), a real hub for the local pastime.

For coffee fans, it is advisable to taste a Vietnamese coffee once. ! It is stronger than the one we can find in Europe reveals incredible aromas. Many like to consume coffee often with a little sweetened condensed milk to balance the flavor. It is called “cafe sua”. Particularly, there is yet another cafe. It is egg coffee which is considered a Hanoi specialty. We assemble eggs in snow, then pour this mixture on the substantial coffee. You will be passionate about bitter coffee, fatty egg and its charming smell.

3. Walk around and visit the night market
After filling your stomach with delicious street food, you can take a tour of Hoan Kiem Lake for a nice evening breeze or go shopping for souvenirs at Hang Ngang - Hang Dao - Dong Xuan - Night Market. All the streets are closed to traffic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, allowing you to take a leisurely stroll.

4. Sing Vietnamese karaoke or go to the bar
Karaoke is the most popular activity among Vietnamese residents, especially yourger people. It is considered an ideal way to spend time with friends. Foreigners can choose English songs in karaokes in the old quarter. Generally, the locals reserve a room accommodating ten people with microphone, beer and food. Remember that you will have to pay for what you eat and drink at the end of the night.

If you don't like karaoke, it's not hard to find the bars in the city center. Many night clubs and bars open at night and close at midnight.

Come discover Hanoi your way!.