posted about 11 months ago by Guffman
about the venue: Bar 38

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Bar 38 is like "Cheers", Vietnam style. When you've been there once, coming back is like coming home and everyone knows your name.

Arguably, one of the bar's biggest strengths is that drinks continue till the last person goes home. If the rollershutters are closed and you see a glow inside, knock. If the "you-know-who" come in to tell everyone to go home, sit patiently. A nod and a wink from the manager and you'll be drinking your next round of cocktails in no time.

Located in the middle of the old district Bar 38 is somewhat of an oasis for travellers who want to get away from pesky peddlers and the backpacker crowd. It is also an increasingly popular spot for expats who like a quiet night at the end of a 44-hour teaching week.

With the kind of decor and elegance that seems out of context in the middle of Old Hanoi, Bar 38 has a charm that comes as a welcome relief from platic squat chairs and watered down Beer Hoi. Bar 38 serves VERY strong cocktails which are incredibly good value for money, happy hour or not.

The bar has a very intimate feel about it and is perfect for those who want a conversation while the night is young, and while this is mostly frequented by foreigners you can expect locals there who enjoy mixing with foreigners too.

Soft red lighting and comfortable sofas and stool set a delightful mood. Upstairs is a level you can, on most nights, have to yourself, since guests tend to congregate on the ground floor.

The hostess, Chi, a stunning local and the only staff-member who speaks English will cheerfully chat with the guests till the sun comes up.

Bar 38 does however have it's problems. The reggae music and Salsa seems completely out of place in such a classy venue and there seem to be only 3 CDs that get played over and over. If you're looking for a regular hang-out this can get pretty boring pretty quickly.

The happy hour would be better moved to 11pm to encourage the desperately sober travellers to make their way from the plastic seats on the corner to the plush stools in the Bar.

This bar would easily deserve a 5 star rating if more people knew about it and if the music was improved. This may not be an issue soon since plans are afoot to install a flat panel TV and keep the sport playing.

In this venue you can certainly count probably the best-bang-for-your-buck Mojitos and Long Island Teas you've ever tasted.

Bar 38 is well worth a try and you'll most likely find yourself coming back again within the week.