by joanna on June 9, 2010
What to buy and where to buy it in Hanoi
I travel a lot and I am tempted by so many stunning Asian goods and textiles. When in a country which has a famous good, e.g. Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Tea, Chinese Silks, Thai teak, etc. it is a wonderful reminder of the trip to bring something home. However, having been in Asia for a while now I believe something must be very special in order to add kilos to my luggage and make it home into my personal collection. With that said I think there are some special shops and items in Hanoi worth checking out. [keep reading…]
by Paul on February 18, 2010
Ah Bia Hoi. No trip to Northern Vietnam is complete without at least a couple glasses of the stuff. Forget Saigon, 333, or any of the other local beers. Look instead for a small, street-side shop selling locally brewed versions of this light drink.
[keep reading…]
by joanna on February 9, 2010
A good value hotel located in the heart of Hanoi’s Lake District
Everyone agrees the Sofitel Metropole Hotel in Hanoi is the nicest, most luxe hotel in the city. But it is also $200-300 USD a night. So it is a bit of a splurge in a city where one can stay elsewhere for $30 – 80 USD a night. OK – sure, if you are a backpacker you can stay for $10 a night, but those days are over for us personally 
So the Church Hotel, which is very well located in the Hoam Kiem Lake District, represents a good value hotel when visiting Hanoi. [keep reading…]
by joanna on February 8, 2010
Something for everyone at this well-priced Vietnamese restaurant
We are always tempted to eat a lot of French food in Vietnam – all the amazing baguettes and well-priced wines and cheeses. These are not easy to find in other places in SE Asia and when you live abroad for a while it is hard to say no to a perfectly ripe cheese and a slice of bread. However, on our recent trip to Vietnam, we vowed to avoid sliding into this trap and we wanted to have a deep dive into Vietnamese food. And I am glad we did. The Bahn My sandwich was the sandwich of my dreams, Bia Hoi and boiled peanuts hit the spot as an afternoon refresher and Quan Com Pho restaurant was an excellent way to try lots of local foods with our large group. [keep reading…]
by joanna on December 17, 2009
Visiting the celebrity chef’s signature restaurant in Hanoi
Bobby Chinn is one of the most celebrated chef’s in Asia. If you watch the Travel & Living channel, there is no doubt you have seen his show Bobby Chinn Cooks Asia. Beyond that, he is regularly featured in newspaper and magazine articles and even recent Sony handycam commercials. We wondered if after all the media exposure, if his restaurant could really live up to all the hype. [keep reading…]
by joanna on December 15, 2009
2 days and one night aboard a luxurious boat on Indochina Sails on Halong Bay
One of the must do’s if you are visiting Hanoi is a side trip to Halong Bay. I personally have done it twice – once on a bit of a budget and most recently in style on Indochina Sails. Indochina Sails presents a truly elegant cruising experience on its lovingly restored, lacquered wood, antique junk. [keep reading…]
by Paul on December 1, 2009
Bahn My: the darling sandwich & craze of the US foodie movement. If you read food sites such as Serious Eats you’d think there was no food more synonymous with Vietnamese cuisine than Bhan My… more so even than the beloved Pho. Is this hipster sandwich as prevalent in Vietnam as it is stateside? No. Could it possibly be as good as everyone says? OMG, YES!
[keep reading…]
by joanna on March 17, 2009
