PlanetEye

Hanoi's Old Quarter can get a little tiring with all noise, horns, sellers, traffic......! So it's always nice to find a place to chill out and relax with a coffee and something tastey to eat.

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter and on the 1st floor away from the traffic, is Culi Cafe. With plenty of space and comfy lounges to laze about on, it's a great spot to eat, drink, read and generally enjoy some quietness! Culi also offers free Wi Fi for all, so bring the laptop.

The cafe is Western Managed and owned, it is also the booking office for Wide Eyed Tours where you can book tours, tickets and get "Free honest tourist info".

On the menu you find mainly western food, with limited Vietnamese choices. For those hunting for a hearty breakfast, try the "Big Breakie" which includes bacon, eggs, sausage, baked beans, hash brown, tomatoes and toast! They also do a great fruit salad with yogart or honey! 

If your looking a lunch/dinner, you have a choice of pizza's, burgers, fish & chips, bangers and mash, sandwhiches, salad and much more.

Thickshakes, smoothies, Italian Coffee, ice cold beer and cocktails "that will knock you over" (their words!) are available.

Culi Cafe also sell a funky range of Propaganda T-Shirts and posters.

Open from 8am - 11pm, Culi is a great find, under the cafe on the ground floor (at the entrance) is a laundry mat, so you can have your washing done (from 50,000vnd per load), enjoy a burger and sip on a cocktail!

Does it get any better......................!

Culi Cafe

40 Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, Hanoi

Web - www.wideeyedtours.com 

Email - info @ wideeyedtours.com

The One Pillar Pagoda is seriously old! Well not the one you see, it was restored in 1954 after the French destoryed it prior to leaving!

Hanoi's most famous pagoda was originally built in 1049, by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong (1028 - 1054).

According to the history books, the Emperor, single at the time, had dreamt of meeting the Goddess of Mecery. On meeting the Goddess, she was seated in the blossom of a Lotus Flowerand handed Ly Thai Tong a male child.

After this, the Emperor went on to meet and marry a young peasent girl he had meet by chance and together they had a son and heir. To express his graditude for this, he built the One Pillar Pagoda.

Built on a single stone pillar, some 1.25m in diameter, the temple has been designed to resemble a lotus flower, the symbol of purity. The Pagoda is located on Ong Ich Khiem Street, next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum.

Note: Great spot for taking photos! Please remove your hats etc before going up to alter.  

Masses at the Cathedral are held daily at 5am and 5pm (Vietnamese Language). While the massive doors of the Cathedral are open between 5am - 7am and 5pm - 7pm.

Every hour the bell echo's through the small streets and the school that faces St Josephs. Travelers can often see school kids at the front of the Cathedral playing or kicking around a soccer ball.

The Cathedral is a great spot to visit, while the street the runs up to front of the building, Nha Tho Street, is lined with great cafes and restaurants' as well as some of Hanoi's hippest fashion and handy craft shops!

Al Fresco's - Hanoi

Where:

Al Fresco's are located at:

23L Hai Ba Trung Street - 826 7782
108 K1 Lang Ha Street - 772 3555
98 Xuan Dieu Street - 719 5322
A37 Hoang Ngan Street - 556 98 22

Al Fresco's will also deliver to your home or hotel.

Food:

Al Fresco's is all about the western fix! Large serves include Ribs, Mexican, Pizza's and pasta! There is also a good range of salads, tender lamb and BBQ beef to fill the belly.

If you're still keen to have Vietnamese tucker, do not fear there are a few selections on the menu as well.

Cold beer, fruit shakes, soft drinks, wine (international) and other drinks are all available, along with desserts.

Cost:

Al Fresco's is not the cheapest place in Hanoi, but I think they have the biggest serves! Large pizza's go for around 160 - 200,000VND, steaks about 250,000VND and pasta from 70,000VND.

Beers go for around 30,000VND while fruits are similar. Wine varies depending on what you pick!

For two people, expect to part with 500,000. That's for a main and a drink.

Fav Food:

Everything! This is a great place because of that reason - what ever you pick, you'll happy and ready to roll out the door!

Al Fresco's is famous for its Ribs - there finger licking good

Out of 10:

10/10 for everything

The Good Oil:

If you're in Asia for a while, this place can be heaven. As travelers one of the best things you can do is try all the local food, it will give you a great insight to the country and the people that call it home.

But occasionally, it's nice to eat pizza and not rice!! Great place, great staff and great food!

Beginning during the Ly-Tran Dynasty, Van Phuc Silk Village has gained an international reputation for its quality, designs and craftsmanship.

Van Phuc Village is best known for its Van Silk, Van referring to "Clouds".

International recognition didn't come until the 1930's when some of the silk made in the Village appeared on show in Paris and other parts of France. Since this display, Van Phuc has remained an internationally known producer of Silk.

Visiting the Village will give you an insight into the methods and precision required to make this amazingly soft silk. Looms several decades old can still be heard thumping as you approach the small lane ways of the Village.

Today the lanes are full of shops that happily sell the wares to locals and travelers alike.

Van Phuc Village is a great half day excursion located approximately 8km south west from downtown Hanoi(the village is actually in Ha Tay Province).

To reach it, you can go by taxi or motor bike taxi. Organized tours are also available!  

Hanoi's Old Quarter

Made up of 36 streets, the Old Quarter is a network of small streets, lanes and alleys. Each street name literary translates into the item sold in that street

Example - Hang Gai = Merchandise, Silk.

Today many of the streets sell anything and everything, but it's a great place to walk, get lost, find a cafe or just to sample the Vietnamese way of life. Traffic is crazy and the photographic opportunities are everywhere!

Dong Xuan Market

Running along Dong Xuan St, this 14000 m2 market is.....well......big! Built in 1889 the market today is a massive joint with anything and everything available! Dong Xuan is one of the biggest markets in the north of Vietnam.

At night, the central area closes and street stalls appear. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights the street is closed (walking only) for the outdoor markets (6pm - 11pm). Serveral restuarants line the market as well, all are busy with locals! 

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Ho Chi Minh Mausleum is one of those "must see" things when you visit Hanoi. The Mausleum is a stunning building built in the 1970's and houses the remains of former President Ho Chi Minh.

Entry is free, however you must have long pants and shoulders covered. Camera's, mobile phones and bags are not allowed inside. You go through a sercuity machine so don't try and hide it! There is a trolley service that brings your gear around to the exit for you.

Note: The House on Stilts and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, next to the Mausoleum, both charge 10,000 VND entry.

Ho Chi Minh, former President of Vietnam, is commonly referred to as Bac Ho (Uncle Ho) by the local Vietnamese. Ho Chi Minh lived an extrodinary live traveling much of the world, learning and teaching before returning to Vietnam where he lead the fight for independence against the French, USA and the South.  

Ho Chi Minh passed away on the 2nd Sept 1969, never to see the North's victory over the South, which he so passionately fought for.Today many of his admirers, along with travelers from all corners of the globe make a visit to the Mausoleum, his final resting place.

Built between 1973-75 the mausoleum is a massive structure set next to Ba Dinh Square, the location where he declared Indepenance for Vietnam on the 2nd Sept 1945 (the same day he passed away). Visitors line up and file through single file to capture a glimpse of this man. When visiting, it should be remembered that you are required to wear long pants, shoulders must be covered, hats removed, no talking inside and you can not take cameras/videos etc inside. 

After visiting the Mausoleum, you continue through the beautiful grounds that Ho Chi Minh once called home. First, you see the impressive Presidental Palace before wondering along the path to see the stunning house on slits where Ho Chi Minh had lived prior to his death. If you continue further, you finally visit the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. 

The complex itself takes about 1-2 hours to visit, depending on lines and is something everyone visiting Hanoi should take the time to see. 

The cost to visit the House On Stilts is 10,000VND while the Museum is the same price again. The Mausoleum is closed Mondays and Fridays, other days it is open from 8 - 11.00am only.