|  FUN FACT
INSIDER TIP
Arrange your airport transportation to the city ahead of time through your hotel and use only reputable taxi companies like Taxi Van Xuan and Mai Linh.
SHOP TALK
E-Store is little more than a doorway, but it overflows with bargain-priced electronics, including hard-to-find cables, in-line headphone amplifiers, adapters and name-brand headphones and earbuds. 426A Duong Lang St, tel: +84 (0)4 2245 1097, www.e-store.com.vn
JAVA JOLT
Reputedly French star Catherine Deneuve’s favourite place for a cuppa during the filming of the 1992 movie Indochine, Kinh Do Café is also famous for its sour yogurt. 252 Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem District
CHEAP EATS
At Van Beo Ngan, it’s all about the duck – boiled Muscovy duck prepared in the traditional Vietnamese fashion with fresh aromatics, vegetables, noodles and broth. Delicious! 198 Thai Ha St, Dong Da District
TOP TABLES
The antidote to a strict diet of street food, Chica is an oasis of steak, wine and refined service. On Monday and Tuesday, enjoy set menu meals that include Australian steaks and free-flow wine, with labels from Chile, France, Argentina and elsewhere. 8F, 27 Hang Be District, tel: +84 (0)4 2243 437
AT YOUR LEIWURE
Thanh Long Water Puppet Theater offers audiences a glimpse of traditional Vietnamese culture, which sadly loses a bit of ground every day in the battle against newfangled entertainment. 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang, tel: +84 (0)4 824 9494
LATE & LIVELY
Thanks to a casual ambience, a spacious dance floor and inviting drink specials, Dragonfly is a magnet for the late-night crowd. Enjoy a cheap drink and a puff of the shisha. 15 Hang Buom St, www..dragonfly.vn
OVERNIGHT
Located opposite Central Railway Station, Mercure Hanoi La Gare is an inviting oasis in the heart of the bustling city centre, with 102 spacious rooms, a French brasserie, internal courtyard and gym. 94 Ly Thuong Kiet Street Hoan Kiem District, tel: +84 (0)4 3944 7766, www.mercure.com
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