In 2014, a group of restless young Vietnamese set up Nirvana, Hanoi’s first-ever punk streetwear store. In a city known for politics, and where the thickness of history constantly reminds us of the past, their brand stood out like flames on a wedding dress.
Thanks to its clean, expansive beachfront, variety of entertainment options, robust nightlife and proximity to cultural sights such as Hoi An and Hue, it’s little surprise that the New York Times listed Da Nang as one of 52 places to go in 2019.
Nestled deep in a dead-end street reached through a warren of alleyways from an almost impossible-to-see entrance is an ancient-looking building. This stunning traditional Vietnamese stilt-house is one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the capital, and houses one of Hanoi’s most inimitable cafes.
Walking up the stairs and into Maison Vie is like entering a neo-classical alternate universe. It almost feels like entering a restaurant onboard the Titanic, with the style appearing in clear contrast to the white colonial walls and green palms of other French eateries in the capital.
All recreational use of laughing gas is now illegal in Hanoi following a decision from the city’s administration.
Within Vietnam’s tallest hotel, you’ll also find one of the capital’s most mouthwatering steakhouses – a restaurant known as much for its lavish beef as for the adventurous four-stage journey guests can enjoy when visiting.
While approaching Hai Phong, a major city on Vietnam’s northeast coast, it is impossible to miss signs of the country’s fast-growing economic might. GDP growth hit just over 7% in 2018, and foreign investors are swarming: Samsung alone has invested nearly US$20 billion here. A high-speed expressway now connects Hai Phong to Hanoi, the capital, and will eventually extend to the Chinese border farther north.
Tet in Vietnam offers a unique opportunity to engage in timeworn traditions. British International School Hanoi (BIS Hanoi) paid homage to the Year of the Pig with a lively assembly which included a plethora of student performances on the legend of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ and theatrical lion dances.
Being alive today means seeing such an abundance of photos that they can become meaningless, yet these shots of Hanoi’s Old Quarter invoke a feeling that’s hard to define.
The translucent balls one would normally identify as caviar held a secret.
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