Although Vietnam conjures up many images on first mention — motorcycles whizzing by, the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, all of the food — perhaps nothing is more quintessentially “traveller in Vietnam” than bia hoi.

To clarify before we even begin, bia hoi is two things. It is both that fresh, local homemade beer found all over Hanoi and other areas of northern Vietnam (bia hoi literally translates to “fresh beer”), and also the roadside restaurants where you sit on those little stools to drink it. It is both the beer and the experience of drinking the beer, all wrapped up into one phrase.

But it all starts with the beer. The big thing to know about it is that unlike most beers you probably drink, which can take up to a month to brew, bia hoi is brewed fresh every single day. A light, golden lager that’s served ice cold with a bit of foam on top, it’s only about 3% alcohol, which makes it as easy to drink as water… which is a little too easy, if you know what I mean.

It also hardly has any preservatives in it, since it doesn’t need to stay fresh for longer than a day. And due to its quick turnover, bia hoi is also incredibly cheap (about 20 cents a glass, give or take). Yet while that whole fast-beer thing sounds great in theory — so cheap and fresh, yay! — the truth is that it can also be kind of ~questionable~ by the time evening rolls around. It’s delivered in kegs to businesses early each morning, so it’s best consumed earlier rather than later, when the chances of it going bad are higher.

So, how did this insanely cheap beer come to be? Like many Vietnamese cultural traditions, it can be traced back to the late 1800s, when the French ruled the country as a colony. They brought beer to Vietnam in the 1890s to try to get the Vietnamese to stop drinking their beloved traditional home-brewed rice wine. But they only built one brewery — the Hommel Brewery in Hanoi — which made it very expensive; a limited luxury for the rich and only the rich. However, once Vietnam got its independence in 1954, the Vietnamese renamed the brewery Hanoi Brewery, and from there, bia hoi was born.

But the story doesn’t stop there, because it didn’t catch on at first! The locals still loved their rice wine over anything else, and continued to drink it until the government banned home brewing, meaning locals were basically forced to turn to bia hoi as a function of necessity. Yes, leave it to the laws to change the game.

These days, bia hoi bars are all over the northern parts of the country, but they’re mostly in Hanoi, since that’s where the whole tradition began. And let me tell you: bia hoi bars are a fun time. They get rowdy. They don’t have any tables, just stools that usually spill over into the streets, meaning you may have your beer with an exciting side of motorcycle dust. If fume-y dust is not your thing, there’s also lots of street food to choose from, like fried rice, barbecue chicken, and more. But a word of caution: travellers often get sick from eating at bia hoi bars because the food is generally made very quickly and isn’t that sanitary. Try to stick to the bars that are crowded, which means they get the local’s stamp of approval and are likely a little cleaner than the less popular ones.

Or you can just head to the bia hoi bars below. Cheers!

Bia Conner
Address: Joint section of Nha Hoa and Duong Thanh Str

Bia Hoi Tong Dan
Address: 12 Tong Dan Str, Trang Tien

Bia Hoi Duong Thanh
Address: 2C Duong Thanh Str, Hoan Kiem

Bia Hoi Lan Chin
Address: Many locations across Hanoi

Source: Intrepidtravel

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Where to find the best bia hoi in Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

Perhaps, dozens of activities and destinations in Vietnam are waiting for you to experience and explore, yet in contrast you are looking for something new, different, and more interesting. So what do you think about a visit to the oldest handicraft villages, especially in the northern Vietnam? Certainly, the trip will be an indelible memory of the Vietnam beauty at the rustic villages.

Van Phuc Silk Village – Ha Dong

Van Phuc Village is positioned on the bank of Nhue River, the outskirts of Hanoi City. Dating back over 1,200 years, the village has been famous for its traditional weaving techniques and premium handicrafts made from silk. In fact, roaming around the village, you will feel like getting lost in the kingdom of silk with numerous exquisite products, such as dresses, Vietnamese costumes, shirts, crafts, ties, etc. Another interesting thing found in the stroll is an anciently beautiful painting of the Vietnamese countryside with a village well, a big banyan tree, a communal house, and the serene entrance gate.

Dong Ho Painting Village – Bac Ninh

With the age of many centuries, Dong Ho Painting Village, located on the left bank of Duong River, is viewed as an art symbol in Vietnam culture as well as where excellent art works have been created. Although there were up to 100 households making this traditional craft in the 1950s, nowadays the number is just small. It is known that Dong Ho paintings are like a way for talented artists to speak out their wishes for lucks and a peaceful life. Their themes mainly revolve around the daily life of rural people or Vietnamese folk tales. They are simple but bear deep meanings.

Kim Son Sedge Village – Ninh Binh

Kim Son Village, Ninh Binh Province is endowed with a nice variety of sedge which is totally ideal for making high-quality handicrafts. At the beginning of the craft in Kim Son, people just created sedge mats for their necessary daily life. However, after a long time of this hand-making, they have been very talented to think of and produce the more excellent items which are nowadays supposed to be rural art works. Some of those products made from sedge include unique sedges, handbags, hats, boxes, cups, shoes, and baskets.

Gia Thuy Pottery Village – Ninh Binh

Gia Thuy is a mountainous village in Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province. Here is also a pottery village renowned for elaborate pottery products like pots, vases, jars, etc. It is known that the craft dates back approximately 1,000 years when Ninh Binh was Hoa Lư Capital of Dai Co Viet (the old land of Vietnam). Naturally favored white clay perfect for making ceramics, the village has brought out the quintessence of the age-old craft through clever hands of involved artists. They have used their traditional techniques not only to form a variety of products in unique shapes with ravishing patterns, but also to infuse souls into each of these art works.

Ha Lung Flower Village – Hai Phong

Ha Lung Flower Village is well known through the northern Vietnam; it lies in Hai An District, Hai Phong City. For a trip to explore the Vietnam charms, you ought not to miss out the chance to visit Ha Lung Village since it is home to a rich variety of flowers, some of which are exported abroad, especially to Holland and Eastern Europe due to their high yield and quality. The best time for this visit is believed to be during Tet holiday when flowers are in full bloom of all gardens, making up an enthralling colorful painting amongst nature. Not only that, coming here entitles you to perceive that buying flowers to decorate the locals’ houses seems to be associated with their spiritual lifestyle each time the new year festival is approaching.

Source: tnktravel

The oldest handicraft villages in northern Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

• Picturesque scenery and cultural riches aside, gorgeous Hoi An draws intrepid travelers keen on gastronomic delights. Its specialties are the result of Chinese, French and Japanese influences while being distinguished by using local ingredients and typical cooking methods. Leave ample space in your belly to into 5 must-try specialties in Hoi An below.

1. Cao Lau

Hoi An is the birthplace of “cao lau” so if you’re in the city, you must have come across and tasted this local specialty at least once. This special dish is a perfect example of Hoi An cuisine featuring locally sourced ingredients from rice noodles to crisp herbs in the local organic Tra Que gardens and water from well-hidden ancient Cham wells. Pork meat is marinated and roasted for 1 hour before being mixed with chewy udon-like rice noodles, beansprouts, croutons, fresh herbs in pork-based gravy. The dish is usually served with spring onions, chilli jam and lime relish. Best “cao lau” is unlikely to be found in upscale restaurants but in simple food carts off the street where you can slurp with unbridled joy while people-watching.

2. Com Ga Hoi An

Hoi An chicken rice is a close cousin to classic chicken rice in China. However, when it comes to savory flavor, Hoi An locals pick up only fragrant rice and shredded farm-raised chicken as major ingredients. For the melt-in-your-mouth texture, after seasoning, top quality rice is cooked with chicken broth, turmeric and panda leaves in a wooden stove for a distinctive pale yellow exterior and special fragrance. Meanwhile, fresh chicken is boiled then squeezed with fried onion, salt and pepper resulting in thorough spice absorption. Eat it like locals do by topping it with black pepper and chilli jam and flavored with onion, sour papaya, fresh herbs and soy sauce.

3. Mi Quang

It’s unlikely you’ll find “mi Quang” (Quang-style turmeric noodles) anywhere else outside Hoi An. Like “cao lau” and other regional specialties, “mi Quang” is made based on a common ground: use only local rice noodles and mix it with fresh grown herbs and local greens. Traditionally, “mi Quang” comprises several ingredients such as yellow rice noodles, a little bone broth flavored with fish sauce, meat toppings including chicken, pork of beef slices and local herbs. Yet, “mi Quang” now comes in a variety of versions that meat toppings can be replaced by squid, boiled quail eggs, nails or frogs. A perfect bowl of Quang-style turmeric noodles is usually added with different herbs like basil, peanuts, coriander, and sliced banana flowers.

4. Banh Xeo

Crispy fried pancake, a typical Vietnamese snack varies across the nation as each region has its own variation. And “banh xeo” Hoi An in central style boasts one of its best versions. This sophisticated dish is made of rice flour squeezed with coconut milk and turmeric and toppings range from vermicelli noodles to chicken, pork, shrimps, sliced onions, beansprouts, and mushrooms. It is a common street food that you can easily find it at roadside stalls, local markets and restaurants in Hoi An. Make your own combination of a small piece of “banh xeo” wrapped in lettuce leaves or rice papers, added with “nem lui” (lemongrass pork skewers”, basil then dipped into fermented peanut sauce.

5. Banh Mi Hoi An

Vietnamese baguette is arguably the world’s best sandwich. When in Hoi An, don’t miss a chance to grab a typical bite of “banh mi Phuong” Hoi An. This is a good mix of a plain banh mi with a variety of meat fillings including “heo quay” (roasted pork belly), “cha ca” (fried fish with turmeric and dill), “cha lua” (boiled sausages), “xiu mai” (meatballs) and fried eggs. Other additions are pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, chilli and hot peppers, all are combined together for a wonderful flavor. Quick and tasty, if this Vietnam’s quintessential dish is not the breakfast of champions, I don’t know what it is!

Source: vietnamonline.com

The 5 Hoi An Cuisines You Cannot Afford To Miss
Nguyen Thanh Van

Established in 1896, after more than an 100-year history, Quoc Hoc building today is still a well-maintained French colonial-style construction. The school is a complex of five blocks of classrooms, a big football field, a basketball court, five badminton courts, a swimming pool, a medium-sized stadium, and also a block of dormitories.

Not only is Quoc Hoc famous for its charming scene, it also gained prominence for its traditions of patriotism, industriousness, academic achievements, and respect for the time-honored values of teacher-student relationships.

Several Vietnamese political leaders are alumni of the school, including: Nguyen Tat Thanh (President Ho Chi Minh), General Vo Nguyen Giap, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, etc. In addition, the school is famed for its students who are well-known poets (Xuan Dieu, Huy Can, To Huu, Luu Trong Lu), scientists (Ta Quang Buu, Ton That Tung, Dang Van Ngu), musicians (Tran Hoan, Chau Ky, Nguyen Van Thuong), or sculptor Diem Phung Thi and so on. The school also has many students who are highly awarded in many international competitions.

Tourists who want to visit Quoc Hoc High School should remember that the school doesn’t allow visits while classes are in session, which go until 5.15 p.m. everyday (though it might be easier to go through the two side gates, in fact).

What’s more, the students are very eager to talk to foreigners, especially English speakers and French speakers. The school is a wonderful place for anyone who wants to take photos against the naturally occurring foliage, understand more about French colonial architecture, or watch students in white ao dais socialize in the tranquil environment.

The gate of the school today The gate in the past The overview of the school today The memorial house The campus The statue of Nguyen Tat Thanh (President Ho Chi Minh). Inside a classroom Photo: Traveloka

Source: VietNamNet/Vnonline

Quoc Hoc Hue – Century Old High School
Nguyen Thanh Van

Located at 40 Nha Chung Street, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District,  St. Joseph Cathedral is the largest and most famous church in Hanoi.

About the architecture, St. Josephh’s Cathedral is designed after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, very popular in the 12th century and the Renaissance in Europe.

The whole design is characteristic of Gothic architecture.

The large clock in the front of the church is also hundreds of years old, with an alarm clock system that is linked to the bells hanging on the tower. Under the clock is a statue of St. Joseph.

In contrast to the ancient solitude of the outside, the space inside the church is overwhelmed with magnificent splendor.

With a large space, the church accommodate up to thousands of people. In special occasions like Christmas, it attracts crowds of christians and visitors.

In recent decades, the streets around the church has become a popular gathering place for Hanoi people, especially young people.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Discover St. Joseph’s Cathedral – the most magnificent ancient church in Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

Located at the southwest corner of Hue Imperial Citadel, The To Temple is a place of worship for the Nguyen kings. This is the largest and most important temple of Hue ancient capital.

Behind Mieu Mon is Hien Lam Cac, a three-storey building is considered a memorial to commemorate the merits of the Nguyen kings and other great ministers. Hien Lam Cac is the highest building in the Imperial City.

The To Mieu Temple, located behind Hien Lam Cac, is a very large wooden structure, consisting of two consecutive buildings set on a height of nearly 1 meter. The area of a rectangular ground, an area of 1500 m².

The image of the dragon in The To Temple.

Before 1958, the temple had only 7 worship projects of kings Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Kien Phuc, Dong Khanh and Khai Dinh. In 1958, three kings against the French colonialists Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai and Duy Tan were worshiped.

The To Temple was built in 2 years (1821-1822), originally only used to worship Gia Long King – The To Cao Emperor (hence the name The To Temple). Later, the temple became a place of worship for all kings of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Source: kientruc.com.vn

The To Temple – the most important place of worship of the Nguyen Dynasty
Nguyen Thanh Van

If you want to get out of all the hustle and bustle of life and immerse yourself in nature, Ba Be Lake would be the most wonderful choice for your journey. Nowadays, Ba Be Lake is getting more attention from both domestic and international visitors for its beautiful nature with a variety of flora and fauna. Spending a few days during your Vietnam vacation visiting Ba Be Lake and other nearby destinations will not let you down.

Highlights of Ba Be Lake & Ba Be National Park

Driving about 230 kilometers away from Hanoi, tourists can reach Ba Be Lake, which is located in Nam Mau commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province. Local people call this lake Slam Pe, which means “Three lakes” as it is the convergent point of three river branches Pe Lam, Pe Lu, and Pe Leng.

Ba Be Lake is the biggest natural lake in Vietnam, which belongs to Ba Be National Park. The lake is at about 145 meters high to the sea level. The total area of the water surface is over 650 hectares, surrounded by many ranges of limestone mountains, caves, and underground rivers. The average depth of the lake is 20-25 meters, falling to 5-10 meters during the dry season. Ba Be Lake holds it priceless value of diversity as it is home of 417 trees species including orchids and medicine plants, 319 species of animals naming gibbon and red algae. In 1995, Ba Be Lake is recognized as one of twenty freshwater lakes over the world that needs to be preserved.

How to Get to Ba Be Lake & Ba Be National Park?

From Hanoi, you can catch a bus or drive a motorbike to Bac Kan, continue to Cho Ra Town and hire a motor-taxi to Ba Be Lake. The cost of bus may range from 100,000 to 130,000 VND. If you go by motorbike, you will have more freedom to visit Ba Ba Lake and the surrounding areas. However, checking carefully the motor safety, paying attention to the speed and avoiding driving at night are recommended.

Best Things to Do & See in Ba Be Lake & Ba Be National Park

• Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park: This is a must-visit destination. The area is always green with the surroundings of the mountains.
• Puong Cave: The Cave is at 300 meters long and 30 meters high. The cave is home of sparkling stalactite and thousands of living bats.
• Hua Ma Cave: 6 kilometers from Ba Be Lake is Hua Ma Cave. In order to get there, you have to go up for nearly 3oo meters on the stairs. Inside the cave, you would be overwhelmed by mysterious, shining and twinkle stalactite.
• Fairy Pond: 100 meters away from Ba Be Lake, the pond is full of water all around the year. It is believed to be the place for the fairies to have a bath.
• Pac Ngoi Village: It is a cultural destination as it is the living area of Tay ethnic minority. The village hosts more than 400 people, most of who are doing agriculture such as raising domestic animals and growing rice.
• Best Foods to Try: Pac Ngoi grilled fish, grilled pork, hill running chicken, sticky rice, boiled bamboo shoots with meat, vegetables and spring fish are delicious and worth a try.

Travel Tips to Visit Ba Be Lake & Ba Be National Park

• Enjoy the fresh cool air in the early morning and late afternoon. Therefore, you should remember to bring a coat along with you to keep warm.
• Full-length clothes and anti-mosquito cream should be carried with to avoid malaria.
• It is hard to find a grocery store in the region, so you should bring water and snacks with you in case of getting hungry.
• There are lots of amazingly beautiful spots in the area, so a trip to Ba Be Lake may take you 2-3 days. A good Ba Be tour is recommended if you want to enjoy your day-offs to the fullest.

Source: vietvisiontravel.com

Ba Be Lake & Ba Be National Park in Vietnam
Nguyen Thanh Van

The most special feature of the architecture of Hung Ky pagoda is the intricate decorative pieces of ceramics, after nearly a century still glaze color.

Located in Hung Ky Pagoda Alley, Hai Ba Trung District, Hung Ky Pottery Pagoda is a very unique ancient architectural of Hanoi.

The pagoda is also called Vu Hung Tu and its name is Vo Hung Truyen Am, and was built in 1932 by Mr. Tran Van Thanh (aka Hung Ky), a national bourgeois.

Under the roof, there are many decorative that recreate scenes in Journey to the West – a popular Chinese Buddhist novel.

The house behind the main hall has many original porcelain works, describing Buddhist stories.

Some works are also annotated with the Vietnamese script.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Hung Ky Pagoda – a unique ceramic pagoda of Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van

Ha Noi Old Quarter definitely has so many interesting cultural places for you to visit, even by just spending time walking around the Quarter, you can have a grasp of the local’s life hundreds of years ago.

However, since travelling time is always never enough, here are some handy suggestions about top things to do if you decide to visit this unique quarter but don’t have a lot of time:

1. Watch water puppet show

This should absolutely go on the top of your list! The water puppet show, a tradition dated back a thousand years ago, never fails to surprise audiences by the deeply cultural content and the artistic performances by the wooden puppets that seem to have a soul inside. The fascinating combination of many different kinds of traditional arts, from the colorful puppets made of wood dancing beautifully on the water surface, to the orchestra playing traditional instruments that you cannot see anywhere else in the world, is sure to blow your mind away!

2. Walk through Dong Xuan Market

If you want to immerse yourself in the everyday life of the local people, one quick way is to walk around Dong Xuan Market, an indispensable part of their life for over a hundred of years. There are many kinds of goods on display, so you can definitely buy something as a gift for yourself as well as for your family and friends.

3. Drink Bia Hoi at Ta Hien

After a day of walking around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, it’s a good idea to spend some time sitting down enjoying Beer Hoi, a kind of homemade beer, on Ta Hien Street. Sipping beer on the sidewalk on small plastic chairs and tables full of people, you enjoy a buzzy atmosphere feeling like you are truly a part of this vibrant city.

4. Visit a temple

As a prevalently Buddhist country, there are so many temples and pagodas around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, each conceals an interesting story and has a unique architecture. Visiting a temple helps you understand not only about the religious life of the local people but also about their beliefs and values through the stories.

5. Try a food vendor

Last but not least, your trip to Ha Noi will not be complete if you don’t try some food vendors here. Modestly located on the sidewalk, food vendors offer you high quality local street food with a cheap price. However, if you a foreigner, bargain is quite a must.

Source: vietnamonline.com

5 must-dos while you are in Hanoi Old Quarter
Nguyen Thanh Van

Not only associated with the history of Hanoi’s old town, Dong Thanh communal house is also a place marking the heroic days of the Winter National Resistance War in 1946.

Located at No. 7 Hang Vai, Dong Thanh Temple also called Hang Vai Temple is one of the ancient house has ample space and the most beautiful architecture of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

In Orential Culture, Huyen Thien Tran Vu is one of the four gods who protect the four directions (East – West – South – North). This is also one of the four gods who established a temple to guard the four gates of Thang Long city in the past (Thăng Long tứ trấn).

In December 1946, the Hanoi army used the temple as an ambulance station of Inter-Region I, contributing to the feat of 60 days and nights, starting the national resistance war in Hanoi Capital.

In the early 2000s, after more than 200 years of existence, Dong Thanh Temple was seriously degraded. Most of the communal house area is used as the headquarters of an agency and the residence of 12 households.

In October 2011, the Hanoi city government had restored and renovated the 200-year-old house.

After being restored, Dong Thanh temple became a spiritual place that attracts many people to the ceremony, and is an attraction tourism for domestic and foreign tourists.

In 2014, Dong Thanh communal house was ranked as a historical and architectural monument at Hanoi.

Source: kienthuc.com.vn

Dong Thanh Temple – the most beautiful temple in the old town of Hanoi
Nguyen Thanh Van