Oishi's profile
Oishi's Posts
11 reviews or comments posted; 3 questions asked; 11 answers given.
Reviews / Comments (11) see all
I went there last night. It had a good vibe. That's all I remember.
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Absolutely delicious food, reasonable prices and a great variety of choices on the menu.
Staff are attentive and good-humoured, and there's always a few foreigners around to spice things up a bit.
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The hygiene is poor. The staff are reserved. The mock meat is ridiculous. But if you can get past the hygiene, put a bit of effort in with the staff, and absolutely stay away from the pseudo-meat, then you will find this is a fine place to down a quick bowl of pho or grab a great value vegeterian set meal.
30,000VND will nab you steamed rice, a small omelette, five vege spring rolls and some stir fried vegetables. Not a bad option for a full and balanced cheap vegeterian meal - although it certainly isn't of the highest quality.
My secret reason for the affinity I have for this restaurant is a cerain egg and vegetable soup. The principle ingredient for the broth is tomato, and the egg floats through it divinely - the only thing that makes it better is the addition of some pho noodles, which the staff will do gladly.
If you're vegeterian and in the area, give the soups or set menus a crack!
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I've been here five or six times with the same result.
The food is average backpacker fare with slightly more expensive prices than places of similar quality, most noticeably Bia Minh's two neighbours.
Minh herself is a lovely lady who will always cater to your occasions. She brings out the birthday cakes at the right time, lets fly the usual English banter and gives you free fruit sometimes too.
My main problem with this place is it doesn't have a speciality, or a unique reason for going here. I can find better, cheaper dishes for my tastes metres away on the same street.
But for a big group the upstairs courtyard is a fine place to have a light lunch or dinner, and I recommend doing so as the place may appeal to you.
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Good socially but horrible for the tastebuds. The bia hoi was barely drinkable on my last sojourn here.
It also feels a bit tacky.
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Questions (3)
Is there a Judo club and/or dojo anywhere in Hanoi? Specifically Judo, not Kung Fu, and none of the hybrids that the Vietnamese love so much. Just normal, real, Judo.
Where can I buy a cheap DVD player?
Yes, all the DVD players for sale in Hanoi are cheap when compared to their Western counterparts. But the standard price seems to be 1,000,000VND in Hanoi, whereas just forty kilometres south in Hung Yen you can pick one up for 400,000VND.
I just want something that will play the crazy pirated regionless DVDs that are so prolific in this country, preferably with no complications.
I worry that if I purchase a major brand name player from a standard electronics store it may be locked to a specific region and not play the pirated DVDs.
Any assistance or general knowledge on this topic is appreciated.
I'm also on the hunt for a WIDESCREEN television at about 19" width. All the widescreens in the electronics stores are huge.
After renting for four months I am taking the plunge and buying a motorbike. I am planning on spending three months on the road starting in November, so I am after something with a bit more grunt than the usual bike.
Here's my current experience.
I started with a Honda SYM Attila 125cc scooter down in Saigon. It was okay, but the small tyres and clearance pissed me off when I was on the highways and dirt roads.
My next bike was a Honda Wave X 100cc. Brand new, jet black, I fell in love. It didn't have as much oomph as the Attila, but it was a lighter bike and easier to handle (read: pull out of muddy bogs). The clearance was still a problem.
Next up was a Wave RSX 110cc. Nearly identical to the Wave X, but it had a bit more power. There was too much plastic on both these Waves, I smashed half the front guard off on this one.
Now these were all fine bikes for short term rental contracts, but now I am buying I am doing a lot more research.
My wants:
- Minimum 125cc
- Decent clearance
- Realistic weight/power ratio
- Full registration and papers
- Easy to find parts
So far I've checked out the Future Neo GT 125cc and a Minsc. The Minsc was dirty (2 stroke black smoke) and heavy. The Future lacked clearance and is only a step above the Wave in terms of plastic.
Here are the other bikes I am eager to inspect:
- Honda GL Pro Neo-Tech 160cc
- Honda Dirt Bike XL 125S/SE
- Honda XR Baja/Degree 250cc
- Honda TLR Reflex 200cc
Going by Internet research, the Dirt Bike XL sounds like the best bike for my needs, but I am keen to test them all.
So - who knows where I can lay my hands on any of these bikes? Are they available at any stores? If so, do I need to bring a Vietnamese person to purchase it for me, and then transfer ownership? How does registration for foreigners work in Vietnam?
Has anyone gone for an extended road trip throughout SE Asia and have a testimonial? What are the problems crossing the borders; Vietnam/Lao, Lao/Cambodia, Cambodia/Thailand on your own wheels?
Any general advice on choice of bike or on shopping destinations is very welcome. Thanks for reading all this if you got this far!
Answers (11)
Posted Wednesday June 18th, 2008.
Thanks heaps for the tips mate. I will check them out.
In response to the question: Is there a Judo club and/or dojo anywhere in Hanoi? Specifically Judo, not Kung Fu, and none of the hybrids that the Vietnamese love so much. Just nor...
Posted Wednesday June 18th, 2008.
What a riot this thread has been to read! If this is typical of the expat community here in Hanoi, I'm damn glad I did the move from Saigon!
In response to the question: Okay...so I believe the ladies of Hanoi will not disagree with me that the ratio of men to women in this city does not work in their favour, and what ...
Posted Thursday June 19th, 2008.
I've got two strips I'll sell for $5 US!
In response to the question: Anybody know where I can find blu-tack in Hanoi?...
Posted Thursday June 19th, 2008.
I second this motion, being a big fan of poker and the social scene that comes with it. If enough people are interested we could organise a night ourselves.
In response to the question: Are there any active Texas Hold'em Poker games in Hanoi? Do people play online? How is the scene?...
Posted Thursday June 19th, 2008.
I couldn't see the Scrabble group under the groups section, but I am an experienced and fiercely competitive player who is very interested in finding some opponents in Hanoi!
In response to the question: Right, so I am highly addicted to Facebook's Scrabulous, so I thought it might be time to lose the online dictionary crutch and try the game for real....
Posted Tuesday June 24th, 2008.
I had a wallet nicked out of my pocket down in Saigon, and friends here in Hanoi have had bags slashed and contents removed in the Hoan Kiem markets. Petty crime is a reality here, you just have to be extra vigilant, as I learnt the hard way.
In response to the question: Was VERY skillfully pick-pocketed of my iPod in the Church Street area about a week or so ago? Any other had similar experiences? Am wondering if this...
Posted Wednesday June 25th, 2008.
Yeah, violence against Westerners is a different story. I have had three female friends get assaulted in Hanoi, mostly by xe om drivers but in one instance by a hotel manager (the sister hotel to the Old Darling Hotel). It seems the Vietnamese are much more hostile to Western women than men, especially if the woman in question is under the influence of alcohol.
I think it comes back to intimidation. The older Vietnamese guys can't handle women with their sexuality firmly in their own hands or most progressive gender politics at all. It's sad but hopefully this sort of thing will be stamped out as the older generation die.
In response to the question: Was VERY skillfully pick-pocketed of my iPod in the Church Street area about a week or so ago? Any other had similar experiences? Am wondering if this...
Posted Thursday June 26th, 2008.
Would be a good night if it was a different movie ;-)
In response to the question: For anyone who enjoyed the recent B.O.D thread, you will be pleased to hear I have organised a party/fundraiser to celebrate the launch of the Sex in ...
Posted Sunday June 29th, 2008.
I am after some sheets coincidentally. I'll try Maroon and Minh Duc.
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 Wednesday July 9th, 2008.
Number one point of consideration:
KEEP THEM ON A LEASH AT ALL TIMES.
I have friends who were walking their dog on the beach down at Danang in the glorious sunshine, and they were so enamoured by the climate that they let the lil' fuzzball go for a run. Two men pulled up on a motorcycle, gave the dog a swift cudgeling, and then rode off with it before the mere thought of a bark was cogitated.
It happens. Be careful. On your guard. Take precautions. Don't be a victim. Etc.
We have two dalmation puppies and I walk them most days around the rapidly diminishing agricultural areas of Cau Giay. I narrow my eyes every time I see someone paying too much attention, and put my hand in my pocket...
In response to the question: also how is it for pet dogs there, re, places to walk them, parks ,pet shops... and whatnot, landlords attitudes toward renting to pet owners, and of ...
Posted Friday July 11th, 2008.
I rode a Nouvo around Hoi An and Danang, but I didn't dig it as it's too heavy, plus it's an automatic and I prefer manuals by now. I have better reaction times when I brake with my foot. Mind you the Nouvo is very sturdy, I was witness to a decent accident between a Nouvo and a Honda Dream, and let me tell you the Dream was MUCH worse for wear after impact. So was the rider.
So the Nouvo is a fine bike for Hanoi, but so are the Waves etc. I am looking for something I can take everywhere and keep on the road for three months with no big troubles.
Thanks for the input!
In response to the question: After renting for four months I am taking the plunge and buying a motorbike. I am planning on spending three months on the road starting in November, ...
Well-Written (3) Funny (3) Accurate (11) Useful (4)
Luke
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In Hanoi SinceFriday June 6th, 2008
Here UntilSunday February 1st, 2009
New Hanoian Member SinceWednesday June 18th, 2008
