One night in Hanoi - evening guide
Hanoi becomes alive at night
If you’re looking for a wild party scene after dark, then unfortunately Hanoi is not the place to look. Plenty of entrepreneurs open late-night venues (either bars or night clubs), but the police crack down on any that stay open after midnight, apart from a few that are located in flash hotels, which get an extension until 2:00.
Even so, Hanoi is not a cultural wasteland after dark and there are plenty of activities and venues to keep you busy up until the witching hour. The city’s most unique form of evening entertainment is the water puppet show. The best tickets are 60,000D and the second-best are 40,000D. Whether you are traveling with kids or not, the presentation is well worth watching for its light-hearted and universal humour.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe present shows every afternoon and evening (15.15, 17:00, 18.30, 20:00, 21.15) at the Kim Dong Theatre, (57b Dinh Tien Hoang, tel: 04/3936-4335). The deft way the puppets move and play with each other, seeimingly floating above the water, is marvellous to behold.
Another type of place unique to Vietnam is the bia hoi bar, of which there are several scattered around the centre. The attraction here is the locally-made draught beer, which sells for as little as 3,000D per glass, as well as the authentic atmosphere of Vietnamese relaxing after a day’s work.
These bars also serve snacks with the drinks – a kind of Vietnamese tapas - which is perfect for keeping your stomach lined on the cheap before hitting the town.
It’s a good idea to spend some evenings shopping, as your days will be packed with sightseeing and it’s often too hot to think about shopping before sundown anyway. Many street stalls and boutiques in tourist areas stay open till 23:00, and bargaining is the order of the day. The Old Quarter is the best place to stroll, keeping your eyes open for gifts and souvenirs.
For most people, however, nightlife means enjoying a cocktail in a trendy bar or taking in a set of live music. The Old Quarter has the lion’s share of the city’s top bars and music venues. Minh’s Jazz Club at 31 Luong Van Can presents slick jazz nightly and I-Box at 32 Le Thai To features live music on many evenings; it also has cosy sofas that are ideal for chilling out after a busy day of sightseeing.
