Hanoi nightlife turn right tour

“Hanoi nightlife turn right” tour

“Hanoi nightlife turn right” tour takes you to explore a different Hanoi at night with just nearly turn-right route. What makes the tour special is, in your journey, you just need to turn right to discover various streets to feel a very different Hanoi. Now, let us help you build the map of “Hanoi nightlife turn right” tour.

 

Related post: Things to do in Hanoi

 

Main stops in our tour include: Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ma May, Hang Buom (Dao Duy Tu, Ta Hien), Dong Xuan Market, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Dinh Tien Hoang, Dinh Le, Le Thai To.

The best time to start the tour is at about 7:30 pm where shops and lights are now brightening up for their “working hours”. The start point in our tour is Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, so it is advised that you may go to the street at around 7:30 pm. You may wonder why we start at Luong Ngoc Quyen Street. The answer is, this way serves best to make an ideal itinerary for our Hanoi nightlife turn right tour.

Before heading to Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, you can take a rest at Hoan Kiem Lake (if you stay near the lake) to watch people walking or to observe the hustle and bustle of a Southeast Asian capital at the rush hour. When the rush time is over, the city seems to take a rest with less noise, the streets become less crowded and Hanoians now gather at home. And yes, it is high time for us to discover the other side of Hanoi’s life.

 

1. Watching streets – very first walk into Vietnamese culture:

It is said that, music is another way of communication which can overcome any border and brings people together. It is totally true when you head to the following watching streets. They are called watching streets because along these streets you’ll see abundance of performances.

Our Hanoi nightlife turn right tour starts at Luong Ngoc Quyen street. The street is about 324 m length and 6 m width and is named after a patriotic fellow in the past who was one of the first people to support Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc (a famous movement in Vietnam’s history). Go straight ahead to the corner of Luong Ngoc Quyen Street and Ma May Street, there is an opening stage for traditional performances. The performances start at 8:00 pm but from very early there are many people especially the elderly gathering around the stage seeking for a good view of the show.

The performances serve various Vietnamese pop songs dated back to 70s and 80s, Chau Van which is a traditional folk art singing in Hau Dong (a ritual of the Mother Goddness – one of main religions in Vietnam). And as said by some locals, the spirit and atmosphere of these shows remind them of the precious cultural values of Vietnam. And it is also a great chance for visitors to learn somehow about the diverse culture of Vietnam.

If you wish to watch another traditional performance, head to Bach Ma Temple on Hang Buom Street. When in here, visitors can admire Ca Tru – a complex form of sung poetry claimed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and Xam (blind buskers). Note that, Ca Tru singing performance is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights weekly.

The watching streets stretch to Dao Duy Tu Street. 50 Dao Duy Tu Street is the address of Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center which organizes various temporary and permanent exhibitions, workshops, art and cultural activities weekly.

Added that, if you don’t have dinner before the tour, then head to 47 Dao Duy Tu where you can find one of the best rice with grilled ribs to fill up your energy.

Now that you have been through some watching streets with a quick glance to Vietnamese culture. Would you mind to boost the vibe with other more dynamic activities?

 

2. Beer corner:

On the way of our Hanoi nightlife turn right tour, you can come across a crowded place with many small plastic chairs stretching through a few streets including the most highlight Ta Hien Street. This place is known as the Beer corner attracting plenty of visitors at night. You can drop by any stall to have “bia hoi” (Vietnamese fresh beer), have some chatting with other visitors or take a short break.

 

3. Dong Xuan Night Market:

Some alcoholic elements from beer may help boost your energy to keep going with our Hanoi nightlife turn right tour. Now, pass by Hang Buom Street, go straight to the intersection of Hang Buom Street, Dong Xuan Street and Hang Ngang Street, then turn right to head to Dong Xuan Night Market.

From around 6:30 pm daily, Dong Xuan Street is busy with many vendors and traders presenting their opening-air stalls. The products sold here vary from clothes, accessories, mobile phone supplies, food, drinks, souvenirs, etc. This is a fairly good place to buy souvenirs. The stalls here sell nearly similar products but with slightly different price. Before buying something, remember to ask the sellers about price. You can ask them for bargain but do not try to reduce the price too much. The market normally closes at about 22:00 pm.

 

4. Hang Ngang, Hang Dao Streets:

After wandering at Dong Xuan Night Market, if you still find your itchy feet keeping you going around colorful stalls, don’t worry, let turn right again to head to Hang Ngang and Hang Dao Streets. There are not as many stalls as in Dong Xuan Night Market, these streets offer different and maybe more unique items. Would you like to taste some night street food here? There’s a variety of yummy street food to best serve your appetite. You can taste local street food like dried beef salad, Vietnamese crepe (banh xeo), pan-fried scrambled egg rice cake (banh bot chien) or Korean food like Tokbokki or flavor ice-creams, etc.

 

5. Dinh Tien Hoang Street:

Walking through Hang Dao Street leads you to Dinh Tien Hoang Street where you again meet Hoan Kiem Lake. Going along Dinh Tien Hoang Street, you are at the very center of Hanoi. The street is named after the first great king of Dinh Dynasty at 10^th century. We are nearly to complete our Hanoi nightlife turn right tour and the last stop sits at Le Thai To Street.

On your way there, you can drop by Dinh Le or Nguyen Xi Street to discover Hanoi book heaven – as called by many locals. There are plenty of bookstores here selling different kinds of books with much lower prices (of course, you mayn’t expect the copyright books). These stores also offer foreign books, so for those book worms, these streets are truly worth a visit.

 

6. Le Thai To Street:

Congratulations! You have completed “Hanoi nightlife turn right” tour. It is now time for you to rest and enjoy the cool and fresh atmosphere of a peaceful Hanoi. Do you have any idea about the name of Le Thai To Street? Le Thai To is the first King of Le Dynasty (15^th century) and it is the king who returned the sword to the God Turtle that brings the legend for Hoan Kiem Lake. And now you can see the connection between some streets around Hoan Kiem Lake right? The clock now may strikes 9:30 pm but the life is still on in this dynamic capital.

 

Now that we helped you build a map to explore Hanoi nightlife with nearly turn-right itinerary. Would you love to add more stops to this Hanoi nightlife turn right tour? Let share with us in the comment below.