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feemtwo's Posts
10 reviews or comments posted; 6 questions asked; 11 answers given.
Reviews / Comments (10) see all
I have never hired Tsc, but I can vouch for him as a person and for the quality of his photos! A little while ago, some friends and I were at Tsc's place for a social gathering and he took some great pictures of us in his home studio. They really captured the moment and the good time we were having. Tsc has a professional setup and is a very talented photographer. Highly recommended!
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This place is good, clean and inexpensive. I had the Luk Lak beef and it was super yummy. It was a good portion of beef without any stringy or hard parts. The chili sauce was awesome and didn't come in a plastic bottle! Well at least it wasn't served in one. I will be going back as it is close to work!
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This place is a lot of fun and the prices are low considering the high quality of the food and the ambiance. I haven't found a better value restaurant in Hanoi. It's a great place to take visitors.
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I went here for straightening and a cut. I paid $85 for the treatment and $16 for the cut. Sound expensive? Well the same straightening treatment in the US would be about $500 or $600. I'm pretty sure they did ionic straightening, which is much less harmful to your hair than a basic straight perm. I am very satisfied with the results and highly recommend this place. For the details of my experience, read on.
First, white people take note - while I know I could have gotten this done more cheaply at other salons in town, I wanted to go to a place that caters to foreigners because it means they probably have experience with the hair of caucasian people. Vietnamese hair can be much thicker than that of white folk, so it can take harsher treatment. If you go to someone who doesn't have experience with your type of hair, they may fry it. I know a woman who got this done cheaply at an out of the way place that doesn't have many foreign clients and her hair turned out like straw. Yes, that's anecdotal, but for a relatively low price I didn't want to take a chance.
Moving on... I first went to the Hair Workshop and chatted with a man named Nguyen Hung Cuong. He spoke great English and told me all about what the treatment would entail, and I grilled him, believe me. I'd heard horror stories of people who had straightening done incorrectly in the US and their hair subsequently fell out, so I wanted to make sure I would get a good treatment. The treatment at the Hair Workshop involves rebonding, which strengthens the hair.
I made an appointment and came in the next day. The entire thing took 4 hours and at most times there were 2 people working on my hair at the same time. Cuong didn't do the work himself, but he came over regularly and made the decisions about how long to leave the treatment on. He also did my cut. 2 really nice ladies did the legwork for the straightening. Here's what it entailed:
-Wash
-Blow dry straight (2 people)
-Put on the treatment and wait
-Wash
-Blow dry straight (2 people)
-Flat iron (2 people - this takes forever because they do really small sections)
-Cut
-Put on another treatment
-Wash
-Blow dry straight
After it was finished, they tried to sell me some really expensive Loreal products - shampoo, leave-in conditioner and a 'hair mask' treatment you use 3 times a week. I bought the shampoo and conditioner, but the mask was super expensive. I bought the Pantene mask from another store and it works great. You make the decision, but I think the Loreal products are overpriced.
One thing - you can't get your hair wet at all for 3 days. This was a bit of a challenge in the shower but luckily it didn't rain at all during those 3 days. I just put my hair up in a towel when I was in the shower.
Also, you can't use hairbands, motorbike helmets, shower caps or anything else that can dent your hair for at least a week, or you will have a big dent, helmet head, etc. I took regular taxis for that first week to avoid having to use a helmet. I still don't use hairbands and I just loosely clip my hair when I need to.
I'm really happy with the results. It's been 2 1/2 weeks and I have hair that is truly wash-n-go. It's shiny and there are no frizzies on top. To not have to deal with my hair every day is awesome. I have so much more time to sleep and eat and ummm.... do other really productive things. I hope this has been helpful. Message me if you have any questions!
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This place is a great alternative to SOS.
I went for my Hep A and B booster vaccines. The reception staff was friendly and spoke decent English. After signing in and waiting maybe 10 or 15 minutes, I saw the Korean doctor who ordered my vaccines. I then went to another room where I was promptly given the 2 vaccines that came straight outta the refrigerator.
The total cost: $35, which would have been almost the cost of the consultation alone at SOS (I believe the consultation and both vaccines at SOS would have been around $70 or $75).
One drawback - they don't take credit cards, so bring cash.
Also, when you are looking for it, if you see 12 Chu Van An, keep going south across the intersection - it's on the southwest corner of Chu Van An and Tran Phu.
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Questions (6)
Hi All. I am looking for a salon that offers Yuko (a.k.a. thermal reconditioning) hair straightening. Please note that I'm not looking for a straight perm because they damage the hair more and look unnatural.
If anyone has had Yuko in Hanoi, please do reply and thanks for your help!
What is up with the Swedish massages in this city? I have had two so far (I know, not a very large sample size) and both were terrible and didn't actually have much in common with a real Swedish massage.
I had one massage in the Old Quarter and the other at a place that people on this board are fond of so I won't mention it by name. Both massages involved a lot of pain, jabbing, yanking of limbs many times, forceful finishes to the massage strokes, and vigorous karate chopping (similar to the Thai massage chop but harder and with one hand at a time).
Last time I checked, Swedish massage involves none of the above. Has this been anyone else's experience or am I just unlucky?
Hi, does anyone know where I can buy a good, inexpensive mud mask for my face? I don't want the peel-off kind - rather, I'm looking for the mud kind that will draw bad stuff out of my pores. After a frightening experience with an overpriced facial that left my skin looking worse than it has in years, I've decided that the only way to try to combat the skin problems caused by pollution is to do a mask every day or every other day.
Can anyone recommend a place to buy this? Thanks!
I've heard that in order for a Vietnamese medical insurance company to cover costs associated with motorbike licenses, the insured must have a Vietnamese driver's license. I'd like to know if this is true in anyone's experience.
I have VN medical insurance and planned to get a VN driver's license, but reading responses on here has got me thinking otherwise... the license process sounds like a paperwork nightmare on the level of applying for a work permit. I'd like to avoid it if possible but don't want to be uncovered for accidents.
Please reply if you know whether the above-mentioned rule is actually enforced. Thanks!!
Hi All - I'm looking for a springform pan. It's a round pan with removable sides, used for making cheesecake. Does anyone know of a store with a large selection of pots & pans that might have this item?
Thanks!
I know this is a long shot, but you never know what you might be able to find in this city. Does anyone know where I could get some fresh or frozen cranberries? I'd like to make my own sauce for Thanksgiving. Thanks!!
Answers (11)
Posted Monday July 21st, 2008.
Hmm... isn't this type of check actually for the work permit, not the visa? My company applied for my business visa with nothing more than a copy of my labor contract, passport and my signature, but I did need the health check for my work permit.
I got the work permit health check at International SOS. It was fine, just the normal stuff: blood tests and chest x-ray, but no pap smear. One thing that confuses me - my employer said that the government only accepts exams from either International SOS or the French Hospital for work permit purposes. I'm surprised you can do it a Vietnamese hospital.
In response to the question: My company is arranging my work visa, and my required health check. I just wondered if anyone else who had the health check can tell me more about it?...
Posted Thursday July 31st, 2008.
Mistake - I meant "costs associated with motorbike accidents."
In response to the question: I've heard that in order for a Vietnamese medical insurance company to cover costs associated with motorbike licenses, the insured must have a Vietnam...
Posted Wednesday August 6th, 2008.
Hi All - I went to the place mentioned by Ouriel (The Hair Workshop) and it was great. Please see my review.
In response to the question: Hi All. I am looking for a salon that offers Yuko (a.k.a. thermal reconditioning) hair straightening. Please note that I'm not looking for a straigh...
Posted Sunday August 10th, 2008.
The Citimart at the Hanoi Towers (49 Hai Ba Trung) has a variety of dried mushrooms. Also, the 19/12 (or December 19) market that runs between Hai Ba Trung and Ly Thuong Kiet has several stalls that sell many types of fresh mushrooms. I'm not sure of the types that you mentioned but you should be able to find some similar ones at these two places.
In response to the question: Howdy! Does anyone know where to buy mushrooms? Like buttons or swiss browns? Cheers!...
Posted Sunday August 10th, 2008.
Answering my own question here - I found a beauty shop at 95B Pho Hue that sells large packages of the powder that you mix with water to make the mask paste.
They bags of powder are on the floor directly in front of you as you walk in the shop. There are all different kinds, and most of the bags have English translations on the back so you can tell what they are. I used mine today and it was great. Only cost 45,000.
In response to the question: Hi, does anyone know where I can buy a good, inexpensive mud mask for my face? I don't want the peel-off kind - rather, I'm looking for the mud kind ...
Posted Monday October 13th, 2008.
Well, since I posted this I've found a great place for Swedish-style (oil) massages. It's called Fancy Spa on Dinh Ngang on the western edge of the Hoan Kiem district. They do a very relaxing massage that doesn't involve any pain at all. I highly recommend them :)
In response to the question: What is up with the Swedish massages in this city? I have had two so far (I know, not a very large sample size) and both were terrible and didn't act...
Posted Thursday October 16th, 2008.
Hi All - I'm reviving this thread in hopes of finding some cream cheese. The following places currently do NOT have it: Western Canned Foods, Citimart at Vincom, Dan's, L's Place and Oasis. I would go to Metro and buy a block of it but alas I am without my passport. Has anyone seen any *recently*?
Side note: if anyone is looking for sour cream it IS at Oasis and L's Place.
In response to the question: Where Can I get the following items? 1-Milk 2-Philadelphia Cream Cheese 3-Triffle 4-White/ Blue Tack 5-Sexy looking Lingerie 6-Collection of Sue Towns...
Posted Sunday October 19th, 2008.
Found it at Western Canned Foods. A bit expensive (285,000) but it was my only choice. Thanks!
In response to the question: Hi All - I'm looking for a springform pan. It's a round pan with removable sides, used for making cheesecake. Does anyone know of a store with a lar...
Posted Sunday November 23rd, 2008.
The Nguyen Kim electronics store on Trang Thi has a good selection of appliances and they deliver to your house and have warranties on some items. I bought my oven there today. Just head west on Trang Thi from the bottom of the lake and look for the big store on your right playing really loud dance music.
In response to the question: I know the beanbag question has been asked before, answered, then answered again with there are no beanbags to be found... but has anyone found a sour...
Posted Sunday November 23rd, 2008.
It's at Western Canned Goods on Ba Trieu and L's Place on Xuan Dieu. 33,000 VND at Western Canned Goods.
In response to the question: Can anyone tell me where to buy baking soda? Someone also told me that you can use soda water as a replacement to baking soda (the powder stuff)....
Posted Tuesday November 25th, 2008.
Aaaah thank you! I know this is not really a suitable substitute, but there's canned blueberry pie filling at Dan's.
In response to the question: I know this is a long shot, but you never know what you might be able to find in this city. Does anyone know where I could get some fresh or frozen c...
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Nicole
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New Hanoian Member SinceWednesday June 18th, 2008
