HANOI
NATURAL STATE.
Have you ever fallen in love with chaos? I have, and I regretted it. But then, I found it again in Hanoi and didn't regret it this time. This town has been slaughtered with history and has only become more resilient in its aftermath; some of the best food I have ever had in my life, some of the best shopping, and some of the kindest and vibrant people. We explored this town from top to bottom. Conquered by the French, occupied by the Japanese, and then set the stage for the Vietnam War. However, the night after we landed in this exemplary town, the Vietnamese beat Qatar in the Pan Asian Pacific Cup resulting in them being the first Asian country to qualify for the Cup Final. On this evening, the town erupted in masses on the streets in celebration of this victory. It was as turbulent and energetic as a seeming coup d'etat, however this was nothing of the sort, and led to no destruction of any kind.
It was very clear, this town belonged to its people and nation in wild triumph and loving chaos.
STAY. OH THE PLACES YOU CAN GO
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, 15 Phố Ngô Quyền, Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 010000, Vietnam $230 historical, gorgeous, best Bamboo bar in the biz, can be a bit stuffy, you can't make a lot of loud jokes if thats what you are looking for lol
La Siesta Hotel Hanoi, 94 Phố Mã Mây, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam $75 where we stayed, a quiet, clean, lovely hotel with great breakfast and fabulous spa, get the hot stone massage and face massage
Hanoi Pearl Hotel, Số 6 ngõ Báo Khánh, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam $75 clean, cute, colorful wood-paneled walls
Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi, 29 Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 010000, Vietnam $200 looks like the set of Crazy Rich Asians
Essence Hanoi Hotel & Spa, Old Quarter, 22 Tạ Hiện, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam $106 this little light blue dream in the old quarter has charming rooms and a great breakfast
O'Gallery Premier Hotel & Spa, 122 Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam $75 swanky, clean and cool this place sits as the more trendier places to stay these days
The Chi Boutique Hotel, 13-15 Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam $80 groovy design and rooftop bar
Vietnam Backpacker Hostels - The Original, 48 Ngõ Huyện, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hàng Trống Hoàn Kiếm Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam $12 make friends, and chill in this iconic hostile
Maison D'Orient, 26 Ngõ Huyện, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hanoi La Selva Hotel, 57 Lò Sũ, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam $38 quirky, cool, not expensive looks like the Hanoi version of a Friends set
DO. SAVE A HORSE RIDE A VESPA
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 2 Hùng Vương, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam eerie Mausoleum where you can see the embossed body of Ho Chi Minh, who arguably did not want his body to remain this way, regardless it is a true experience, do not miss
Hoa Lo Prison Memorial, 1 phố Hoả Lò, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam built by the French as a prison for the Vietnamese, and then a prison for the Americans including John Mccain, this place is horrifying, the conditions and the lack of respect for the human soul, wander through this museum with a heavy heart and knowledge to rewrite the past
Van Mieu Mon aka Temple of Literature, Quốc Tử Giám, Đống Đa, Hanoi, Vietnam a Confucius Temple and entrance to Vietnam's first University
St Joseph's Cathedral, 40 Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam have a moment of this silence in the French constructed Catholic Church
Bat Trang Ceramic Market, Bát Tràng, Gia Lâm, Hanoi, Vietnam our wonderful waiter named Top Tim, from the evening prior took us serendipitously on motorbikes with his roommate and sister to the Bat Trang Ceramic Village, the ride was epic and I got 12 plates for 3 dollars each that I had sent back to US for $300 dollars but whatever I love them and eat on them everyday
EAT. PHO SHO
Bun Cha Nem Cua Be Dac Kim, 1 Hàng Mành, Hàng Gai, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam I ate eleven spring rolls, and had one of the best meals OF MY LIFE, the pork balls are insanity oh and Obama and Bourdain ate here together. Sit down, have a beer and a bun cha, smile to yourself in a moment of silence.
Pho Ly Quoc Su, 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam the best Pho i’ve ever had, dont forget to ask for extra cilantro
Ngon Villa, 10 Tống Duy Tân, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam perfect for dinner, also where we found Tip Top, ask for him and try your luck to have them take you to the Bat Trang Ceramic Market
The Hanoi Social Club, 6 Ngõ Hội Vũ, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam take a ginger tea and feel like you are in Good Morning Vietnam at this ex-pat hangout
Green Tangerine, 48 Hàng Bè, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam gorgeous, French decor, bistro a la Vietnam
The Bamboo Bar, 15 Phố Ngô Quyền, Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam epic and beautiful bar at the Sofitel Metropole, a MUST
La Verticale, 19 Ngô Văn Sở, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam french and easy
Old Town Garden Café, 11 Hàng Gai, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam old world scene for Coffee
Cong Caphe, 54 Hang Dieu, Ha Noi Vietnam the starbucks of Vietnam, however way cooler in terms of coffee options, design of the stores and the culture of Vietnamese youth that pass the time there
Cafe Kinh Do, 1A Tràng Tiền, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam pastry shop approved by Catherine Deneuve
Fanny’s Ice Cream, 02 Hàng Bài, Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
SHOP. THE JADE’S NEVER DONE PLAYING US TRICKS
May Shop, 7 Nhà Thờ Hàng Trống Hoàn Kiếm Hà Nội the very first bucket hat was purchased here, as well as lovely dumpling velvet evening bags, linen bags for underwear and embroidered napkins
Tomo Decor, Dương Hà Gia Lâm Hà NộiVietnam, beautiful hand carved wooden plates, cutting boards, cups, COORDINATES 21.075640, 105.930300 https://www.facebook.com/ByCongOc/
Huong's Jewellery Shop, 62 Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam for silver and pearls
Hang Gai Street (Silk Street) + Khai Silk , Hàng Gai Hoàn Kiếm Hà Nội Vietnam buy all of the silks here, all of them
T.N.D Lacquer Store - Lantern Store, 71 Hàng Trống, Q.Hoàn Kiếm, Tp Hà Nội, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam all of the lanterns in a beautiful array of colors and shapes
54 Traditions Gallery, 30 Hàng Bún, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam for your inner Indiana Jones, get beautiful artifacts here
Collective Memory, 20 Nha Chung, Hàng Trống, Hanoi, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
City Owls, 27 Phan Đình Phùng, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Old Propaganda, 4 Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam get reproductions of old war posters
Ngọc Việt Nam, 83 Ô Chợ Dừa - Đống Đa, Chợ Dừa, Hà Nội, for jade jewelry
