posted about 2 months ago by Derek
about the venue: Thống Nhất Park

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Those of you who, like me, enjoy wandering around Bay Mau Lake on a Sunday afternoon, sitting on the train, doing bar pull-ups in your string vest and plimsoles, getting your photo taken, taking your date on a pedlo, eating sausages on sticks, washing them down with sugar cane juice, and all the other wonderful attractions that Thong Nhat Park has to offer, do it while you still can...

Apparently, a new project will soon be emptying the whole lake, digging up all that lovely poo that has settled on the bottom, and re-landscaping the lake shores. It will probably take a couple of years to finish, so we'll all have to find somewhere else to exercise in the meantime...

posted about 2 months ago by Derek
about the venue: Bia Hoi Hanoi (Yen Phu)

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I came across this place by chance on Sunday afternoon (while on one of my longer city walks). It’s not far from the Sofitel, and is a nice airy space with a good view of the road.

After sitting down next to a large table of, I presume, regular locals, one of them invited me to join them in a drinking game that I think translates as ‘To the health of the King’. Never one to refuse an offer of a friendly bia, I gratefully sat down with them.

Then they all stood up, raised their glasses and shouted “Mot, Hai, Ba, YO!”, and all chinked glasses; but as soon as I raised my glass, some cheeky rascal dropped his cup into mine, and then told me I had to drink it all “bottom’s up”. Feeling a little bit gullible, but not wanting to lose face, I knocked them back, the bia spilling into my lap in the process, making it look like I’d wet myself. Afterwards they all gave me a hearty clap on the back, and I was instantly made to feel like one of the group. (The bia, incidentally was Bia Hanoi, and not bad at all - I usually prefer Viet Ha Bia). We had a few more rounds, and I managed to avoid getting caught again, but had a few close calls...it was quite hot there, so my trousers dried up pretty quickly, so I could go to the toilet without embarrassment.

I’m not sure if they play this game at other bia hois, but I reckon it would be well worth instigating, as the more traditional game of “Mot Tram Phan Tram” can get a little monotonous after a while, especially when you are picked on by all the others (which I almost always am – people seem to want to get me drunk in the shortest time possible); at least with this variation you have a fighting chance of not getting too drunk (or wet) if you are quick enough with your hands; just make sure you’re not wearing your Sunday bests though because it can get a bit messy…

They then played another game which was a bit weird but created lots of excitement. Someone lights a cigarette, takes a puff and passes it around the table, with everyone having to take a puff, the object being that if you are the one holding the cigarette when the ash drops off, you have to down two bias. I particularly liked this game because they told me that I didn’t have to inhale the smoke – I’m vehemently against smoking, but who can resist when it’s this much fun?

So I’m giving 2 stars for the bia hoi, 1 star for the new group of friends I made, 1 star for the chips, which were fresh and delicious, and a bonus star for the excellent drinking games. I’d love to know if these are played elsewhere as it's the first time I've come across them?