Nightliffe in Hanoi

The fact is that Honey is not a world famous party capital and after 10 PM the city is usually not full of people partying and having fun out. However, if you go to the Old Quarter or area around Hoan Kiem Lake, you will many crowded spots with loud music and friendly atmosphere. In this article we will guide through the nightlife of Hanoi to make your visit to the city even more memorable! North Vietnam tours

Bars
Visiting bars is, probably, the most common way of spending free time among locals. People come here with a company of friends, for a drink after work or for any other occasion. The bars are usually pretty full during weekends and open till late night or early morning. MEKONG EYES

Nightliffe in Hanoi

Le PUB
The bar is located in the heart of the Old Quarter, and it also has outdoor seatings, so you can enjoy watching the street action while having you drink. It has a good selection of drinks and several options for a lunch/dinner, including the variety of Vietnamese food. Le PUB is definitely the place with a friendly service and positive atmosphere. Jasmine Cruise
Address: 25 Hàng Bè, Lý Thái T?, Hoàn Ki?m, Hà N?i, Vietnam
Hours: 7:00 am – 12:00 am

Mao’s Red Lounge
Another great spot in the Old Quarter of Hanoi with a cozy and ambient atmosphere and a big choice of well-priced drinks. Plays a wide range of rock, dance, funk, Latin and reggae music. Moreover, if you don’t like the choice, there’s a possibility for you to play music from your own CD! A good place for meeting with friends and chilling after a long day.
Address: 7 T? Hiên, Hoàn Ki?m, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 4:00 pm – 12:00 am

The Rooftop
The Rooftop is a bar on the 19th floor of the capital’s Pacific Place Tower. It has a fantastic view on the Hanoi, especially during the night time, when the city is illuminated with millions of lights. The bar has an elegant interior design, fine cuisine and a good choice of drinks, It also regularly hosts special events and DJ’s performances.
Address: 83 Lý Thu?ng Ki?t, Tr?n Hung Ð?o, Hoàn Ki?m, Hà N?i, Vietnam
Hours: 11 am – 2 am

Clubs
In Hanoi clubs are not so popular among people for spending their nights out, what actually makes the existing places even better: there’s always a lot of people, but there’s no a crowd, what makes your staying there more pleasant and comfortable.

Funky Buddha Club
It is a small, trendy club that mostly plays house, trance and electro music. The club is full of local people and tourists, and during weekends may be even crowded, as it is located in the very centre of Hanoi and is actually one of the most famous in the city, especially among young people.
Address: 2 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am

Nutz Bar
The Sheraton Hanoi Hotel's Nutz Bar turns into a nightclub with live entertainment and DJs. It is popular with Hanoi expats and visitors staying in the hotels around. This is a right place if you want to spend your evening in multicultural environment and meet both, locals and travellers. The club is quite pricey and there is an informal dress code.
Address: 11 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dragonfly
Dragonfly is a favorite place among locals and expats. The club has a big bar, dancefloor, cocktail and shisha lounge. Moreover, for special sport events it can even offer table football, pool tables and big-screen TVs! No wonder, that it had been popular for years and always has visitors!
Address: 15 Hang Buom, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 6 pm – 2 am

Music
Local people often visit concerts in their free time. And Hanoi has many things to offer for music lovers: from jazz and swing to rock music! The only thing you have to do is to decide how you would love to spend your evening!

Minh’s Jazz Club
A place with jazz music that will touch your heart, soul and awake the deepest feelings. It hosts live performances and jam-sessions every night at 9 pm. The bar owner, Minh, is a saxophone teacher at the Hanoi Conservatory, who also moonlights here. As a bonus – a really great menu with a big choice of food and drinks, and with reasonable prices. Minh’s Jazz Club is one of the best places in Hanoi, according to travellers’ rate.
Address: No.1 Trang Tien, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 8:30 am – 11:30 pm

Swing Cafe And Lounge
Swing Zafe is a fancy retro-style cafe by day and a popular live music venue by night. Surprisingly, the music played here is not only swing! In the evenings you may enjoy live performing of Vietnamese songs, as well as worldwide English hits! It also hosts concerts of famous Vietnamese singers and cabaret-shows. Open till late night, this is definitely a “must” if you are searching for a place with a style!
Address: 1, Tràng Ti?n, Hoàn Ki?m, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hours: 7 am – 3 am

Hanoi Rock City
Hanoi Rock City is the capital of Vietnam’s independent music and is one of the most popular concert venues nowadays. Every weekend it holds special events and concerts, so you can have a great time and discover the local nightlife having a drink and enjoying actually great music!
Address: 27 Tô Ng?c Vân, Qu?ng An, Tây H?, Hà N?i, Vietnam
Hours: 4 pm – 2 am

Things to do in Ben Tre

Ben Tre, the fertile land of Mekong Delta cruise is an exotic destination for those who would like to explore an abundant of tropical plants and busy villages on waters.

Vietnamese call Ben Tre is the land of coconut, a peaceful and poetic destination with shaded villages’ paths and immense orchards. We would like to share with you some important guide to travel to Ben Tre, Vietnam.

Ben Tre is the land of coconut

How to go?
There are 4 directions to get to Ben Tre, the first one is from Saigon, the second one is from other Southern provinces, the third is from Central provinces and the other is from the Northern provinces. However, the most convenient and popular way is from Saigon. Thus, wherever you are in Vietnam, the best way is traveling to Saigon and taking a drive to Ben Tre. Travel in Vietnam
By Public transfer
In Saigon, you can buy a bus ticket to Ben Tre at Western Bus Station. Price from $5.
However, few people choose this way, they tend to choose a 1 day Mekong Delta tour package to Ben Tre provided by a travel company including transfer, lunch and sightseeings.

Ben Tre doesn’t offer many places for sightseeing; you can explore the whole destination within only 1 day tour. Or if you want to spend more time exploring local life, you can book a homestay experience for 2 or 3 days. Jasmine Cruise

When to go?
You might ask yourself which season should we visit Ben Tre. Actually Ben Tre is beautiful all year around, but if you visit the province during summer time (from June to August) you will have a chance to enjoy colorful picture with delicious tropical fruits.

Things to do in Ben Tre

Ben Tre – Exploring local life

There are two big festivals in Ben Tre is Phu Le Temple Festival and Nghinh Ong Festival in the third and eleventh month in Lunar Calendar.

Where to stay
Not many people stay overnight in Ben Tre. So there are not many options for decent accommodations here. There is no luxury hotel but vast options for hostels and homestay.

What to eat?
Ben Tre is famous for its system of rivers and springs with various seafood species, some only live in coconut forests. Ben Tre people used them to cook many traditional dishes for a long time and create one of the most intricate cuisines in Mekong Delta.

In Ben Tre, travelers enjoy different dishes in different season of the year, which people call seasonal food, such as each month, Ben Tre residents have a special fish that taste the best.

Shopping
Taking about Ben Tre, tourist talk about famous coconut candy flavors and other products made from coconut such as coconut oils, coconut wine, coconut jelly, coconut soaps, and handicraft items. You can buy them at each workshop or handicraft farms during your visit (if you book a Ben Tre tour, visits to traditional villages, workshops are included in the itinerary). Another address is Ben Tre market.

If you domestic travelers or international visitors staying in Vietnam some days more, you can buy some favorite fruits: bananas, durians, oranges, mangos, grapes, etc.

Where to visit?
The highlight of Ben Tre is the rustic paths paved by abundant orchards. You can enter to visit the orchards and harvest fresh fruits from the trees. More funny activity is catching fish and cook your own “achievement” for lunch.

Don’t forget experience local cruise in Mekong Delta, enjoy the calm and charming water of various waterways within the province.

Visit Vam Ho bird garden is a nice activity for those who love to explore the nature. Located 52 kilometers from Ben Tre city, Vam Ho bird garden is home to various species of birds and other rare animals.

Top 7 Things to do in Halong Bay Vietnam

Many travellers to majestic Halong Bay spend a day cruising the emerald waters admiring the mysterious limestone rocks that rise up majestically. But there is so much more to do in Halong Bay such as kayaking, exploring the caves and hiking on the islands.

Over 3,000 amazing islands rise up from the Gulf of Tonkin, some with their own caves, beaches and inlets. It’s this stunning and mystic landscape that earns Halong Bay its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.  Many visitors spend a day or two on a traditional junk, bobbing along on the serene waters, watching everyday Vietnamese life going by. North Vietnam tours

Spot the Wildlife and Birdlife on Cat Ba Island

There are many larger islands within Halong Bay, including Cat Ba Island, which is the largest and home to a lush national park, teeming with over 30 different mammal species and 70 bird species. The Cat Ba National Park offers fantastic opportunities for hiking and maybe spotting the rare golden-headed ‘Cat Ba Langur’ monkey. The primate is thought to number less than 100 and is officially the most engendered monkey in the world, despite local conservation efforts. The park covers both land and water and keen walkers can spot giant oriental squirrels, wild boar, the civet cat and deer. Bird species include cuckoos, hornbills and hawks. Try climbing the peak viewing tower which is a two hour round trip, cool off at one of the many pristine beaches and take a boat trip over to Monkey Island. Pelican Cruise

Chill out on Lan Ha Bay’s beautiful beaches

Whilst Halong Bay has many inlets and caves, it doesn’t have many real beaches, except at Lan Ha Bay, which has around 100 deliciously sandy stretches of beach. Pitch up for a few days to take in the stunning views, explore the floating villages and enjoy rock climbing, scuba diving, swimming and kayaking. Or simply chill out on one of the beaches and watch daily life go by.

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Walk through the Cave of Wonders

Don your most comfortable walking shoes and climb through the Dau Go Caves, aka the Cave of Wonders. Lit up in various colours, the caves systems offer an insight into the intriguing natural rock formations. The caves offer respite from the fierce hit with their eerie atmosphere, where natural daylight rarely pokes through the rocks.

Top 7 Things to do in Halong Bay Vietnam

Spend a day kayaking in Halong Bay

Slow the pace down somewhat with a kayaking trip, which allows you to meander through the giant limestone rocks. It’s a great opportunity to get away from the crowds, explore some of the quieter caves, inlets and beaches. Paddle to Ti Top Island, admire the views and hone your kayaking skills in a unique location. Find out for yourself why Halong Bay is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Traverse the Sung Sot Grottoes

In the heart of Halong Bay are the Sung Sot Caves, which are also known as the ‘Surprise Grottoes’. Located on Bo Hon Island, these are widely touted as both the widest and best cave systems in Halong Bay. You’ll take a short hike up to the grottoes through forest and the caves themselves are separated into two natural sections. Admire the forms of the stalactites and the rock formations.

Try hiking on Ban Sen Island

To really get off the beaten tourist trail, try a hiking adventure on Ban Sen Island. The island is thickly forested and just about uninhabited which makes for a peaceful getaway! Take a ferry to Quan Lan from Cai Rong to enjoy your own little piece of paradise. Hire a local guide for the day who will regale you with stories of local folklore including mysterious monster sightings!

Take a Halong Bay Cruise

The ubiquitous cruise on Halong Bay is an absolute must-do! Opt for a traditional junk for that really authentic experience. And to really get into the local spirit, opt to stay for several days, sleeping overnight on the calm emerald waters. You’ll pass floating villages where families, livestock and pets live and trade as part of their daily life. You can also stop off at swimming and snorkelling spots.