Fun and entertainment Hanoi

This pleasant bar is located a few steps from the cathedral. Small terrace on the first floor. You can taste the beers of Pasteur Street, a craft brewery that produces in Vietnam by carefully selecting imported malts and hops. Flavors from Vietnamese soil (chocolate, jasmine, lemongrass, ginger, black pepper, coffee...) compose a range of beers that constantly renew the pleasure of discovery. International dishes are also on the menu.

A central location, facing the cathedral, for a café with a decor full of personality... An offbeat look at the country's recent past and socialist aesthetics. No espresso... Here, you can enjoy Hanoi's real coffee, filter, nau da (iced with milk), den nong (black and hot), sua chua (with yoghurt) or cot dua (with coconut and ice), as well as delicious mango frappés. The Công Cà Phê concept has been so successful that it has now become a franchise with establishments opening in every city in the country.

A rare place in Hanoi, where the spaces are beautifully designed. With several floors, each of which offers a different experience, this wine bar is pleasantly busy, both intimate and friendly. The décor is a mix of raw materials: metal, wood and waxed concrete. For a gallant dinner (interesting menu with excellent meats) and music, for an evening with friends on the outdoor terrace or for the pleasure of tasting a good Bordeaux alone while watching the night fall on the western lake...

In this temple in the Old Quarter, performances of traditional ca trù singing , inscribed in 2009 on Unesco's List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This is one of the main forms of traditional music in Vietnam. First performed in the ^15th century, it is characterized by complex singing techniques and the use of special instruments: the cô phach (rattles), the dan day (three-stringed lute) and the trông châu (praise drum).

Puppet show on water.

On the shores of Lake Hoàn Kiêm, a small café open to the street scene. An original concept: on 4 floors, the walls are covered with multicolored post-it notes written by passing customers. From all over the world, in all languages and for all tastes, with thoughts, some profound, others less so, aphorisms, sophisms, quotations, drawings, stories great and small. Perfect for a gourmet break with an espresso and a delicious macaroon. Not forgetting fruit juices, smoothies, hot chocolate...

One piece of advice: go for it. It is a beautiful show of about 45 minutes, accompanied by musical instruments, singers, inspired by the landscape of the Red River delta, the ponds and pools, which play a central role in village life. Performances of this theater were already held in front of the royal court in the early 20th century. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it is best to make a reservation the day before at the box office at the entrance of the theater.

In an alley, a charming place, in an old house decorated in a refined, modern and warm way. A café-lounge-restaurant in a relaxed style to be frequented at any time of the day. Fusion cuisine (couscous, quinoa...), light and healthy with vegan formulas and/or guaranteed gluten-free. Vietnamese dishes do not hold the top of the bill, priority is given to essentially western dishes. A perfect address also for a gourmet break with pastry tasting. Terrace. Peaceful and musical atmosphere.

One of Hanoi's most mysterious cafés... A labyrinthine corridor leads upstairs. A suit of armor stands guard. A piano, paintings, sofas... Cascading rooms. Have we wandered into the private apartments of an illustrious stranger? No, this is a café with deep sofas and a peaceful atmosphere, an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the bustling Old Quarter. Ideal for an afternoon's reading or for writing your mail during the rainy season. Snacks, coffee and fruit juices...

Puku is housed in a pretty colonial house in a neighborhood that never sleeps, where night owls usually dine. And Puku never closes... The establishment offers a vast space furnished with inviting sofas. Without any gastronomic pretensions, of course, but you can have lunch, dinner, supper, a snack or a coffee here at any time of the day or night, wait for the sun to rise on the train back from Sapa, watch a soccer match... And for those who can't do without their laptop, there's wifi Internet access.

The biggest disco in Hanoi opened in April 2013. Several dedicated spaces: Hip Hop, RnB, Reggae & Tropical House.

Narrow room and which has no seduction only to open late in the evening. Bar, billiards.

The Institut Goethe is located close to the Temple of Literature, in two beautifully restored Art Deco colonial villas. German courses, conferences, exhibitions: cinema, video, painting, dance, theater... The Institut Goethe has a pleasant café and a peaceful patio where you can have lunch or dinner for a modest price and sample German gastronomy. In the evenings, a kebab vendor is on hand to satisfy the munchies of night owls who don't like phô..

Built between 1901 and 1914, it is a free interpretation of the Parisian model of the Palais Garnier. Architect: François-Charles Lagisquet. The building rests on 30,000 bamboo piles that stabilize the foundation of the building in a marshy terrain. Inside, the organization of the levels, the stage, the staircases and the entrance hall is that of the European theaters of the early 20th century. Classical dance performances, concerts. It is here that the foreign troops of passage in Viêt Nam come to perform.

Inaugurated in September 2003, the Institute aims to show the general public the richness of contemporary creation, both Vietnamese and French. The Art Deco building built in 1928 first housed the Imprimeries d'Extrême-Orient and then the newspaper Nhân Dân ("The People"). The Institute has a library, a media library and a 200-seat auditorium. For the calendar of events, visit the website.

A small, charming and popular café that allows you to take a break in the Sword Lake area. It serves a variety of coffees, both hot and iced, including of course the traditional egg coffee which is particularly good. Thirst-quenching drinks are also available, including a wide variety of iced teas. The place is ideal for observing the daily life of Hanoi's inhabitants, and you can mingle with them while having your drink on small stools on the terrace, or watching the passers-by from the second floor terrace.

A confidential address that's not easy to find... In fact, this café is located in the back of the Silklike silk store, and a small sign indicates its presence. Over several floors, you'll discover a traditional setting where antique furniture, subdued lighting, a family altar, flowers and bonsais create an old-fashioned, romantic atmosphere... The top floor features a terrace with a lovely view of Lake Hoàn Kiêm. A café with atypical charm. Worth a visit.

Quyen Van Minh fell in love with jazz more than thirty years ago while listening to the BBC. A self-taught musician, he taught himself the saxophone until he became the first jazz/saxophone teacher at the Hanoi Conservatory. He has created his own style, both close to Vietnamese tastes and familiar to Western ears, blending traditional Vietnamese musical themes with jazz. He performs almost every night with his students who will form the second generation of Vietnamese jazzmen.

In the heart of the Old Quarter, traditional Tuong theater performances take place. A few English subtitles provide a brief introduction to an unfamiliar universe, which will seduce the foreign spectator with the beauty of the costumes and the variety of masks, the bewitching character of the traditional music and gestures. This small theater is also home to the sublime My Village shows by the Lune Production company, alternating with the Hanoi Opera.