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2 reviews or comments posted; no questions asked; 31 answers given.
Reviews / Comments (2)
I went for a Shiatsu massage this afternoon and it was EXCELLENT. I've had a lot of (mostly bad) massage in my life, and this one was really good. The staff are clearly well trained, and it's a nice friendly, clean comfortable space.
I spoke to a guy who'd had several oil massages and said they were good too.
I'll definitely be going back and would recommend this to anyone.
Not just a good cause! A good massage.
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The real highlight of this new cafe/bar/restaurant is that it has both indoor and outdoor seating. It's brand new (just opened this week) and has cheap and cheerful Asian and Western food and an excellent selection of juices and cocktails.
The outdoor space is perfect for this beautiful Autumn weather, and indoor is funky. I went during the day, but it looks like it'll be really nice inside at night too. There are umbrellas for the sun concious, and couches and free WiFi for those lazy afternoons.
Staff were friendly and I felt quite comfortable hanging out on my own (something which can be hard to find).
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Answers (31)
Posted Friday October 27th, 2006.
Yeah, you won't be able to buy much here, unless you are Asian sized. Vietnamese women are probably the smallest people in the world, and they wear their clothes tight. Think an average size of 40kg!
T-shirts are generally easish to buy, and there are a few boutique shops offering clothes in Western sizes ('Things of Substance' on Nha Tho, for example), but they are similar price to Australia.
I would recommend bringing your own jeans/pants/ etc unless you want to get a whole new wardrobe anyway. It will involve a lot of time at tailors- which can be lots of fun if you want to do it, but can also be a pain in the neck.
In response to the question: Non-stick women's clothes Will be in Hanoi for 1-3 months and would prefer to buy clothes once I am there and slightly more settled than bring oo...
Posted Monday April 2nd, 2007.
You can use a friend's credit card for Air Asia- but i think you need a letter of permission or something along those lines to show at the airport. There are details on the Air asia Site- sorry, I can't be bothered to look now, but I'm sure you'll be able to find it.
Weird that the AirAsia outlet won't accept cash. What's the point of having an outlet! If you can only use credit card there then you may as well only have the online service!!
In response to the question: Does anyone know where to buy tickets from Hanoi to Bangkok using cash? The Air Asia outlet we went to said they didn't accept cash there (go figure ...
Posted Friday April 27th, 2007.
If you're only here 6 months I wouldn't really recommend driving here. It takes about that long to just get used to the traffic.
I'm expect that renting a car and driver for that period would be cheaper anyway.
In response to the question: Hi, I'm going to be in Hanoi in six months, and was wondering what the regulations were in bringing in a personal car/vehicle. Has anyone done th...
Posted Friday April 27th, 2007.
Also yoga classes taught by a very good English speaking Vietnamese woman, American Club, 10am Saturday mornings.
Or check out No 9 Xuan Dieu- they do various classes http://www.so-9.com/
In response to the question: Hi, does anyone know of any yoga or pilates classes in Hanoi? Wld prefer English speaking instructors. If you have more info on the fees and contact n...
Posted Sunday June 17th, 2007.
Definitely Mr Vu at Vu Doo salon. 32C Cao Ba Quat st, 733 8329. It's $18 for a cut, and worth every penny.
In response to the question: I've been picking alot of New Hanoians brains recently, and here I go again. I've been here long enough, but I have still never quite found a replac...
Posted Monday July 2nd, 2007.
Ly Nam De st - computer st
In response to the question: I am in the market for three things: 1. PC Games 2. a semi-decent webcam 3. a Blue tooth dongle. Anyone out there that can help?...
Posted Monday July 2nd, 2007.
You have never seen a Vietnamese girl in a bikini?! You've been going to the wrong swimming pools!
However, bexster, sorry, but this is Vietnam, most clothes are too small or hideous. I would try HCMC or Nha Trang - or BKK
In response to the question: Where can I buy a decent bikini? I've found a few shops but everything I've seen is too small or hideous!...
Posted Saturday July 28th, 2007.
Hey there,
sorry, another question in answer to your question! Which hotel gym is $300 for 3months? That's really cheap.
Thanks
Caitlin
In response to the question: Hey everyone! Two questions: Does anyone know of any cheap and not terrible gyms in Hanoi? The cheapest hotel gym I have found is 300 dollars fo...
Posted Thursday August 23rd, 2007.
Try this site: http://www.hanoistreetfood.com/
Sarah offers market tours and information as well as the cooking classes, so more bang for your buck.
In response to the question: Hello, Does anyone know, where I could take cooking classes in Hanoi? I want to learn about Vietnamese as well as other Asian cuisines. Thank you f...
Posted Tuesday October 2nd, 2007.
Try contacting Linda@fpt.vn - she's a resident Canadian and usually knows what's on for the local Canacks
In response to the question: As the time of giving approaches this year in the form of a Canadian Thanksgiving, I am wondering if there are any events around town celebrating such...
Posted Tuesday October 2nd, 2007.
The 'red cross' students at Hoan Kiem lake are definitely a scam- it must work though cause it's been around for at least 4 years! I work regularly with the Vietnam and various country Red Crosses, and this is not their modus operandi.
The ones who knock on your door selling toothpicks are legitimate. This is usually a representative or volunteer from the Blind Association trying to sell toothpicks made by blind people. It's a bloody rough way to make an income, so have a heart and buy some crappy toothpicks from these guys.
In response to the question: I've been here two weeks. Twice, I've been approached by a young-ish person who starts out with something like "Ah, hello, what are you doing in H...
Posted Tuesday October 2nd, 2007.
Contact the legendary Dr Huong - acupuncturist and massage therapist. Her house/workshop is near the Hanoi Horizon Hotel - 846 0783. She speaks excellent English and French. She's really popular though, so you'll need to make an appointment, probably several days in advance.
In response to the question: Hi! Can anybody recommend a place/person offering a good back massage? I've seriously hurt my back by lifting something heavy....
Posted Friday October 12th, 2007.
Hi,
transferring money out of Vietnam is a right pain in the proverbial.
In theory, and definitely at ANZ, you have to have documentary evidence for where the money came from, and proof that you have paid any tax obligations on that money.
I have heard that sometime Vietcombank don't require this - but I wouldn't guarantee it.
You can send $5,000 using only your passport and arrival/departure form. It's as if you were carrying it out of the country. Of course, you can only send $5k per arrival form. I've done that at ANZ and they didn't need any form of evidence of the money.
Good luck!
In response to the question: Hey, which bank would be the best one to open an account with if I want to transfer money about 4 times and then stop? I get the impression they have ...
Posted Sunday November 11th, 2007.
Hi Angel,
hopefully you've sorted this out now,but just in case you haven't. It doesn't matter what kind of company you are working for - they are responsible for sorting out the tax for you. They have to withhold the tax, and pay it to the Vietnamese tax office.
If they are not doing this, you better make sure they do. It'll cause you problems if you need to take money out of the country.
good luck!
In response to the question: I have a lot of questions- sorry! But anyone know ow Vietnamese taxes work? I will have to pay vietnamese tax as Im working here over 6 months- but ho...
Posted Tuesday March 11th, 2008.
Hi there,
ANZ (and probably any other bank) will let you transfer up to $7,000USD (in more than one transaction if necessary) using just your customs form (you know the white form that you fill in when you enter the country).
You don't have to prove anything about the origin of the money, it's just recorded on your form how much you transferred. You will need the SWIFT code and bank address for where you want the money to go. You need your passport to prove your identity.
I also heard that the rules had changed for transfers to personal bank accounts. Don't know the details, but you could ask ANZ.
In response to the question: Does anyone have information on international bank transfers? I don't have an account in Hanoi and I'd like to send money overseas. Any suggestions o...
Posted Tuesday March 11th, 2008.
Hi there,
of course you can't guarantee anything, but I've been using dodgy travel agent visas for almost 7 years now with no problems.
I did have a visit from the visa police once - they wanted to know why I was registered to work at a garment company in Saigon (I live in HN). That particular visa that had been issued by the official Vietnamese consulate in Sydney! So, if even the consulates are issuing dodgy business visas, then I say just choose the cheapest one you can find and go for it.
In response to the question: Are these travel companies that offer to get you a "business" visa for $100+ reliable? I've heard that they just use their company or a friend's comp...
Posted Saturday April 12th, 2008.
Interesting idea, but I heard recently that the Hanoi authorities are trying to get rid of street vendors. You better check with the tourism authorities and HN People's Committee to make sure that your street vendors will be allowed to trade at all. There could be a problem because they don't pay any taxes to the government. Even if they government doesn't mind, I doubt that the shops will be very happy about having their business taken away from them. Which also could cause problems for the street vendors.
In response to the question: This is a SIFE project of our university. The SIFE project aims at helping the community by using business skills. We are planning to help the poor st...
Posted Saturday April 26th, 2008.
Have you tried just buying them without a prescription? I don't know anyone who uses a prescription for anything here.
The pharmacy at the top of Pho Hue opposite Trang Tien Plaza is good and speak quite good English. If you have the name of the drug you need, they'll sell you anything without a prescription.
In response to the question: Hi could anybody recommend me to a Physician who doesn't charge $60 for a prescription? This overcharging is just preposterous! I need to buy my an...
Posted Saturday April 26th, 2008.
Good luck! I've had the same woman calling my mobile for Anh Dung for 4 years! She's still not realised that a) I'm not an Anh, and b) I am not Vietnamese.
Explaining to her in Vietnamese that she has the wrong number doesn't help at all. Yelling at her in English and turning the phone off when she called 4 times at 7am on a Sunday morning worked for a couple of weeks.
In response to the question: The same people that I dont know are calling me a few times a week from a 06---- number. Its really fun cause they say "hello" in English and then div...
Posted Thursday May 8th, 2008.
If you really want to do something to help pets in Hanoi I would suggest trying to get something done about de-sexing. As far as I can see virtually no one de-sexes their animals, which is one reason for the explosion of mangy kittens and puppies. I know there is a contraceptive injection available that lasts for a year. Maybe you could get a vet, or organisation like the International Women's Club, or even a Vietnamese Student volunteer group to sponsor and advertise something like this? It would be a big project, but far more useful than adopting a couple of kittens.
In response to the question: I'd really like to discuss this topic with someone who has an informed opinion (vet; pet owner; thoughtful and ethical person; etc) I've seen a lot...
Posted Monday May 12th, 2008.
Yep, officially this is the law. Although I've been living here with my partner for seven years and have never had a problem. If you are both foreigners you'll probably be fine, the police don't seem to care as much as if one partner is Vietnamese. As Alpha said, you should be able to find a landlord who is OK.
In response to the question: Hello there.. I wanted to stay with my girlfriend in an apartment together, but my employer told me it is illegal in Viet Nam for a couple to live ...
Posted Monday May 19th, 2008.
Hey there,
Maybe your husband should rent a bike to start with - see if he really wants to buy. VIP bikes is a new company linked to Blue Dragon Children's Foundation that trains disadvantaged youth as mechanics. They provide a bike rental service. Contact Andrew on 0914 931 390.
I suggest a Honda Cub or other similar small engine bike to start with(pretty sure Andrew has these). The other advantage of a 50cc bike is that you don't need a license to ride it, so no problems with the coppers. 50cc is enough engine power to get around Hanoi.
In response to the question: Hi, my husband wants to but a small bike, he is a novice and thinks he can manage the Hanoian traffic, I have my reservations but anyway, can someone ...
Posted Wednesday May 21st, 2008.
better to avoid the chemicals I say - no idea if they're harmful, but if part of the point of washing the vegies is to wash off the pesticides and fertilizers, then why use more chemicals to do so!
In response to the question: Does anyone know what Vegy wash actually does to ones fresh produce? I know it's supposed to clean the veggies so they are 'safe' to eat - what exactl...
Posted Friday May 23rd, 2008.
If you do get a computer, and want to do recording on a more regular basis you can download a free piece of software called Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) and record it yourself using your computer and a microphone.
In response to the question: Does anyone know of a recording studio? I need to make some short voice recordings to send via email to Ho Chi Minh. I have no clue how to do that wit...
Posted Tuesday May 27th, 2008.
I'm not sure that you should be having this discussion in the public sphere. It may be better for Ivana to send a private message to kentvn - or preferably to meet kentvn and verify he is who he says he is.
Not sure that your child's dad would want the whole New Hanoian community knowing his personal details!
In response to the question: Hello all Hanoians I am on my way soon to Hanoi to search for my sons dad. I have name, birth date, birth certificate copy and picture as well . Co...
Posted Tuesday May 27th, 2008.
You can get decent pillows at the Dunlopillo mattress shop in Hanoi Towers.
Sheets - difficult to get decent quality in Hanoi. Try Big C or Metro, or HCMC, that's where I get 'em.
In response to the question: Can anyone recommend a place to buy luxurious quality, pure cotton bed sheets - that are vaguely reasonably priced? Also, pillows? Thanks ...
Posted Monday June 16th, 2008.
There's 2 authorised distributors of i-Pods in Hanoi. One is on Nguyen Du and one on Nguyen Thai Hoc. Sorry I don't have the exact address, but they're pretty obvious - although small shops. The one on Nguyen Du have fixed several of my friend's i-pods (including sending one to Singapore and getting a replacement one through warranty). They're pretty good and there is at least one person there who speaks English.
Good luck
In response to the question: Does anyone know if there is an Apple store in Hanoi or a reputable fixer for an ipod which keeps freezing?...
Posted Wednesday June 18th, 2008.
I have contact with the Hanoi Disabled Women's Association - not so much a charity as a self-help group, but I'm sure they could use some funds in a valuable way. They have recently been providing training for disabled women home-traders (not just in Hanoi, but surrounds) in business skills so they can improve their incomes. Let me know if you'd like an introduction.
I would also recommend Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. They have specific programmes for girls, and I'm sure they would commit to spending all the money on girls if that's what you wanted. They're listed on New Hanoian.
In response to the question: We're hosting a 'Sex in the City: The Movie' launch at Green Mango shortly and are looking for a grassroots women's charity to donate proceeds to. If ...
Posted Thursday June 26th, 2008.
New Hanoian has a listing of salons - any of the ones listed there will be able to do a decent cut and highlights for you. Also, you should search through the Q&A (ANH) before posting a question - this one has been asked and answered many times before, that's probably why you have had overwhelming silence to your question.
In response to the question: Can anyone recommend good hair salons that will do a good cut and highlights...
Posted Thursday August 28th, 2008.
There's now a road atlas of Vietnam which has most roads shown - good level of detail. Also available at the bookshops on Trang Tien.
In response to the question: Hi all, I'm planning on heading up to Sapa for the long weekend for a motorbike trip for 3-4 days. I would love some advice on a few things: 1)...
Posted Tuesday September 2nd, 2008.
I would suspect that the NGO resource centre list is the most complete.
The organisation that all NGOs have to register with is called PACCOM - People's Aid Coordinating Committee - they are also the umbrella for the NGO resource centre. I'm sure they have a list, I doubt they'll give it to you, but good luck!
In response to the question: Does any one know where I could find a NGO database for Vietnam? Am interested in a complete-ish, up to date-ish list of all NGOs working in Vietnam, ...
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Caitlin
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