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9 reviews or comments posted; 8 questions asked; 37 answers given.
Reviews / Comments (9) see all
After reading so many nice reviews, we decided to check out this place. Had a beer and biryani, the place is nicely done and clean. The loungy sofas downstairs quite upright and stiff though. We had to skip one biryani as it was so bad ... it was only a bad wet fried rice without any of the remotely essential spices a biryani needs. On top of it it was made with ordinary Vietnamese rice, which is a young sticky sort of rice and the complete opposite of the staple ingredient of a biryani ! We love the decor and the effort of the non trained waitress trying to feel comfortable in her macro mini, but we did not find any Middle Eastern dishes apart from Tikka massalas and biryani...( indian cuisine) For people who know and appreciate true wonderful Middle Eastern cuisine, this is not the place to go. The shishas are there but that's it. They should call the dishes something else instead of offending ME's cuisine. All is fine otherwise. Go there for a nice drink and a light snack and shisha but do not seek your Middle Eastern delicacies. They are non existent.
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Clean, Calm, well organised, friendly, professional, good prices, Best in Hanoi.
Try it!
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Went back for a Sunday vegetarian buffet recently upon its new opening. Food was good and service has much improved. However, they could try to reduce the heat of even the mild curries. Lovely food but you need to love the chilli. Hopefully all new revamped Dakshin would have erased the shortcomings of this otherwise popular restaurant in Hanoi in the past. After repeated bad service and fiery dishes which caused our belly some torturous moments, we still went back to the place as we believe in improvement. Everyone is trying hard and eventually it will be right. Good Luck !
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Only good things to say about this place ! it has the effect of reformatting your culinary taste buds if you have had some not so happy experiences on the eating scene in Hanoi. This is the ultimate place we go to find the best of Vietnamese food in a fantastic decor, with real good professional service and attention. It is very popular with locals and sure they know why. We have always relished the dishes we have had there, like all their veggies and sea food. All are superbly fresh and well cooked, seasoned, presented and served. Starting with a good cool beer and non stop lovely coconut flavoured roast peanuts in anticipation to our meal is always a joy there. The shrimp and fish dishes are all great, not to be missed are the lemongrass chilli shrimps, grilled okra, roast aubergines mash with spring onions, fish fillets in ginger sauce. Even the toilets are well kept and clean with loads of toilet papers and fresh hand towels. It is a wonderful place and you can really sample the gentle, quiet and efficient Vietnamese service in this unpretentious and very popular place. Take your visitors there for a unique sampling for the local cuisine and you will not be left red faced ! ...
| Was this review ... |
One of my favourite places in Hanoi, it is a great stop after some endless walk in the old Quarter. Lately I noticed ( together with my friends who are regulars there ) that all the dishes are on a tad of sweetness. Is it intentional ? well the place is the only trusted hole in Hanoi where you can taste vegetarian food with a western twist and I would not complain about anything. Loved their ginger grog in Winter .... and veg Pho ...and so many other dishes, well they all deserve to be tasted. Best desserts in town !
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Questions (8)
Washing machine repairs. Has anyone had the need to repair their washing machine? I need to renew the rubber seal on front loading washing machine.Can anyone advise on where to go ,who to ask for such a repair?
Thans
Hi there,
Does anyone know a reliable and reasonably priced shipping an forwarding agent ? it is to send used furniture etc, from Hanoi to the French Caribbeans. Even a shared spaced in a container would be great. Thanks for replying.
Hi!
Could someone suggest a good affordable swimming pool and fitness centre ? A clean, well looked after pool, with decent shower rooms, and fitness machines to do some workouts. Quite apprehensive about such places as for hygienic reasons.
Hi,
I have looked at other posts regarding Lacquer Painting lessons but could not find any useful information. Hence, my question : does anyone know about where I can find good Lacquer Painting lessons ? The Fine Arts Institute in Hanoi does not give any info on its website apart from its regular classes, but on Googling I come across people who have graduated or started a career after being a student at the institute. I am already a fully qualified artist and would like to learn only about the traditional Vietnamese Lacquer Painting techniques, and not having to be in a young crowd of beginners for any Art class. Any suggestion/advice would be mostly appreciated.
Hi,
I am sure many of you must have noticed this - there are hundreds of electrical cables piled on a single pole and it is often covered with many dead branches. No one seems to take care of this dangerous thing, there is a similar situation right in front of my house and our cables are also entangled in it. There is a kindergarten next door and lots of parents park their bikes under that mass of hanging cables to fetch their kids from school. I have told my landlord about it and he did his best to take a ladder and chop some of the branches. But some day some live electrical cables can fall on some poor victims and God forbid they are not kids ! Does anyone know how to get around to get the authorities do something about such precarious situations ? If there are some expats' voices joined in unison addressing this issue, perhaps the Vietnamese might realize that they need to do something about it. This might remind you all recently about the sight on Nghi Tham when all the major poles were down and scores of cables lying on the road. We had to zigzag our way through it. Can we do something about this ?
You may have noticed that recently the local phones have added a 3 before the number. Now, my parent is not able to call me from abroad and gets an error message in Vietnamese. Does anyone know if the IDD code has changed too ? Any reply would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Wonder if anyone is as p..d! as we are .... for sometime now the cable TV channels switch to silly Vietnamese adds right in the middle of a programme or news. This happens both on CNN and BBC. How can this be allowed? Besides, who are these Vietnamese ads targeting given that they are in Vietnamese ?... Right now, one just cut an announcement of a breaking news update on the current events.
Does someone know where I can get carved wooden panels made ? the kind you can put against a wall as part of a divider etc,.I have been to antiques shops but not quite what we are looking for. Tried the net, not much Vietnamese sites. Yet there are so many around ... any tips ?
Answers (37)
Posted Sunday October 5th, 2008.
the first answer I received was very helpful.Lam replied within hours and came to the house the next morning -excellent service and highly reccommended. Contact him on 0913324980.
In response to the question: Washing machine repairs. Has anyone had the need to repair their washing machine? I need to renew the rubber seal on front loading washing machine.Can...
Posted Monday October 6th, 2008.
Hi there
There is a sony repair shop in Hai Ba Trung,which I have used for a video camera. I dont have the address but can try and find it
In response to the question: Hi, my Sony camera is broken. Does anyone know if there is a Sony store in Hanoi? I looked along Trang Tien but couldn't see one. Thanks...
Posted Saturday October 11th, 2008.
I have a good one -hardly used and would be happy to sell to you whenever you need it.
Ray
In response to the question: My husband & I are wanting to buy a good quality treadmill (needs to be comfortable for running). Does anyone know where we might find one in Hanoi? A...
Posted Saturday October 11th, 2008.
VIP bikes is just perfect -great service -Andrew is your guy -see this site for details
In response to the question: Does anyone know of a good bike rental outfit that rents out 150 cc automatic motorbikes? thanks...
Posted Saturday October 18th, 2008.
Thanks for making us aware of this change in scene in Hanoi. It is a shame that such scams are starting to grip this city otherwise very safe.
In response to the question: This isnt a question, I just wanted to share information in case it helps others. Yesterday I was in a local souvenir shop buying gifts to take home....
Posted Saturday October 18th, 2008.
Carings stores some new models now at their showroom in Vincom Towers on Ba Trieu Street.
In response to the question: Where can I buy one of these? http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50304949/Clothes_Dryer.jpg...
Posted Saturday October 18th, 2008.
Thanks for all your replies. Cheers !
In response to the question: Hi, I have looked at other posts regarding Lacquer Painting lessons but could not find any useful information. Hence, my question : does anyone kn...
Posted Sunday October 19th, 2008.
Maihanoi is right Bukit Bintang has malls one after the other and you just have to take a quick look whether you can find what you are looking for. KLCC is more upmarket and has the international brands and a good Marke & Spencer (UK's famous high street store where the Queen gets her undies from !) and you will find a wide variety of good undergarments to stock. A few bucks spent on M&S products would be worth for their quality to last a long time and brave the laundry traumas in Hanoi. There are plenty of night markets too and you can snazz up some good pairs of trousers, shirts, tees etc. Good Luck ! KL is a great place to shop ..!
In response to the question: Am headed on a short (1 week) vacation to KL in a couple of weeks and unfor will need to do some shopping while there. I am a rare woman, I HATE shopp...
Posted Monday October 20th, 2008.
I agree with BillyT and Grubby, we use FPT and got a Linksys router but still face the same frustrations of DSL in Hanoi. Unfortunately, FPT is the biggest player on the scene and hopefully new IT policy will be on soon next year after a lot of lobby from foreign investors to the government to overcome ferocious competitions. FPT has frequent 'server down' syndrome no matter what package you buy from them. But they are quick and efficient, if there is any hic, give them a call and they respond immediately. I would trust FPT for its coverage and technology and its pool of qualified techies. Good Luck ! This is Vietnam ! everything here is bittersweet.
In response to the question: I'm looking to get internet going in the house and I'm looking to get DSL and a wireless router. I've heard FPT are the fastest and I'm going to b...
Posted Monday October 20th, 2008.
Just to add to this thread for info, had a similar problem, I dropped my Sony Ericsson too a year ago and went to Ba Trieu st, they were lovely but had to wait a long time. Paid 750,000 D for a new screen, worked OK for a month and then bling and started getting fuzzy. And sometimes the screen would be totally unreadable, hence went back there and they said that the part they replaced guarantee was up ! ...was only valid for a month. In the end, I chucked the SE and bought a new phone.
In response to the question: So I dropped my nice Sony Ericsson mobile phone on its head yesterday and now the screen is a complete blank. Everything else seems to function normal...
Posted Monday October 20th, 2008.
Saw a shop at the end of Hoang Hoa Tam leading to Nguyen Chi Thanh, but need to check it when I go that side. It was a long while ago. You can try a shop round the corner at Hang Hom, it is a card shop, but they might people who have the skills to do it.
In response to the question: Does anyone know if I can get Silhouette cut outs done in Hanoi?? We had some done in Thailand 4 or so years ago, but since then I have had another b...
Posted Wednesday October 22nd, 2008.
plenty in Singapore, Malaysia ..... here ?! try Citimart in Than Cong, Dong Da. Saw similar in Big C, but then their stock is not consistent. Good Luck ! Why don't you go the Hanoian way being here ? much easier ...
In response to the question: Where can I buy one of these? http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50304949/Clothes_Dryer.jpg...
Posted Friday October 31st, 2008.
Thanks bobthebob01 ... will try to find some creative ways to raise awareness. Yes, agree we don't want to 'complain' about it being expats and trying to integrate, but it is worrying as most of the Vietnamese parents and kids pas under those cables.
In response to the question: Hi, I am sure many of you must have noticed this - there are hundreds of electrical cables piled on a single pole and it is often covered with man...
Posted Friday October 31st, 2008.
Have seen them in a shop in Tran Tien plaza, it is on the ground floor facing the escalator going up. Also in some shops opposite the eye hospital on Ba Trieu street. Good Luck !
In response to the question: Does anyone know where I can find novelty contact lenses in Hanoi? (Tinted, different colours etc)...
Posted Friday October 31st, 2008.
Bought ours from one of the shops on Nguyen Thai Hoc. There are a line of them selling all fashion of sports goods. They are cheap too ! Good Luck !
In response to the question: I know there was a conversation about weight lifting gyms, but does anyone know where you could just get some weights (i.e. dumbbells) to do some lift...
Posted Friday October 31st, 2008.
I got some good ones from an unexpected place ..... the furniture store above Fivimart supermarket in Tran Vu by Truch Bac. There are sets for export and you might find what you are looking for there. Not expensive. They last long ........:)
In response to the question: Can anyone recommend a place to buy decent quality candles at a reasonable price in Hanoi? Both column and tea light. Have checked Metro & Big C &...
Posted Tuesday November 4th, 2008.
I would like to say that luck, culture shock and adjustment, personal empathy, and all human qualities of accepting and understanding each other comes to the blatant fore when you are here. Having had my scores of bad experiences and good ones, I could personally say that although the good ones are pretty rare, it nonetheless paves to a better insight of the psyche of Vietnamese. Sometimes the kindness we come across is so humbling that we have to rethink of these people who have had to fight at least a 1,000 yrs of invasion and subversion. What would we do if we were run over like them ? Darwinism pleads the evolution theory as the survival of the fittest, and this is what these people have learnt and do. Their social skills might not have picked the momento to match up with our Western ones, but if we understand, learn and respect theirs, it is a joy ! All they won't is the progress of their country, a good house, good education for their kids, better living conditions, and .......... peace ! Where in the world have you seen a country where the President of the United States of America pass by in his car without a single hitch, and no demonstration. A security deployment that might have made us all smile in their visual display of tiny men sporting a coat too big for their slender shoulders. And this is a country having received 100 times more nukes than all fired during WWII in a single country ! And still sporting its worst enemy as his best friend and assuring his security. We have to honour and respect the quiet resilience that inhabits this population and the continued dignity that they still carry. I fully agree how challenging it can be living here, but hey this could be anywhere ! it does not mean that if we lived in an urban loft if Manhattan, we could not get mugged in the streets .... think of it compared to the tiny and silly scams here committed in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is the only city where I sleep on my ears ... feeling safe and sound. Amidst my neighbour's irritating crazy cockerel crowing at all times and the bikes horns every now and then. Of course, I do lock my doors. Relax and enjoy your stay here !
In response to the question: A person I know complained that she cannot trust ANY local people because she has enough bad experiences about Vietnamese people during her 2 years st...
Posted Tuesday November 4th, 2008.
Thanks for pics ! We are lucky to be on this side of West Lake.
In response to the question: I am on Van Ho Ba, near Dai Co Viet and Ba Trieu, and am MUCH better off than the Le Duan side of Lenin Park. Wow, went over there today when it wasnt...
Posted Tuesday November 4th, 2008.
It is an indian thing, isn't it ? I know it but have never seen it anywhere they sell imported goods.
In response to the question: Does any one know where to buy beaten rice??...
Posted Thursday November 6th, 2008.
this string is turning ... interesting. The worst experience I've had has been with maids. I know that many of you take it as a blessing, but all my experiences have been nasty and negative. I could write a bible on it. But apart from that, daily interactions are positive and looking forward to cooler days when I could walk and explore more areas in the Old Quarter and make new friends. Deep inside I would like to visit the country in 10 yrs time and see whether the hygiene level ahs improved.
In response to the question: A person I know complained that she cannot trust ANY local people because she has enough bad experiences about Vietnamese people during her 2 years st...
Posted Thursday November 6th, 2008.
Thanks !
In response to the question: You may have noticed that recently the local phones have added a 3 before the number. Now, my parent is not able to call me from abroad and gets an er...
Posted Thursday November 6th, 2008.
what's so rubbish about adding my experiences to this string ? some dumb idle hogs' pranks?
trusting the locals ? cultural divide, social exclusion, stereotyped pigeonholing, or plain lack of understanding ? whatever may, I have to admit that many are just trying to be too politically correct here or just pissing off the other by digging at the rhetoric. The plain truth I have seen is that most expats do blabber the same frustrations over a non online social situation. And the same turn to be the staunchest buddy of the locals. It is true that nothing is black and white here but ...also among us. Live and let live ! You cannot change human nature, it is a corrupt complex labyrinth of paradoxes.
In response to the question: A person I know complained that she cannot trust ANY local people because she has enough bad experiences about Vietnamese people during her 2 years st...
Posted Thursday November 6th, 2008.
Clean and dry your leather products, use those multipurpose wipes for this, much quicker and easier.... Then take a piece of cloth and oil it, rub thoroughly all over your leather wear. Keep THEM in a light, airy area, if not anywhere that is well lit with natural light. this is because mold spores grow faster in the dark....
For wooden statues, a good light wax rub will protect them. I swear by this and have never encountered mold in my wooden artifacts. Good Luck !
In response to the question: Any expert advice on how to prevent leather shoes and bags from moulding when I am away for a couple of days; and little unidentified buggers from eat...
Posted Thursday November 6th, 2008.
Hey for the info ! it has been more than 3 years I have been here and have tried all places where T&G are supposed to be. They don't exist ! Only banners and fake T&G's products are used to make believe this. Go to the salon in Hanoi Towers, it is the only consistently well trained staff and professional place that delivers to Westerner's expectations without breaking the bank. Plus they are very polite and friendly.
All the best.
In response to the question: Can anyone recommend Toni and Guy Hairdressers???...
Posted Saturday November 8th, 2008.
I got it too.
Alpha do something about this.
This is turning like a Patpong scene .... online n in Hanoi.
In response to the question: Do people get much spam in response to things they post here? I just asked a question two days ago and just got the following spam message (the funni...
Posted Thursday November 27th, 2008.
Best bet for quality and a good sleep - shop in Hanoi Towers.
In response to the question: Our mattress, while brand-new when we moved in, is in desperate need of a replacement (imagine sleeping directly on the coils). We've looked for a ne...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
the last time I went to Fivimart in Syrena tower ( last week ), I saw a fresh arrival of knife sharpeners just like the ones you would buy in 'Kitchens' in the UK. Maybe they heard your call ...!
In response to the question: Hi, does anyone know a good and reasonably priced place to have your kitchen knives sharpened?...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
still waiting for the liberisation of the audiovisual scene in Vietnam. Maybe some tough competition might bring some quality service. But having said that, the cable TV provider has been running well apart from the increased number of Vietnamese channels compared to the international ones. But no complain, sometimes the teary Korean soaps can soothe a bad day ... or a Chinese ballet opera. All good.
In response to the question: Wonder if anyone is as p..d! as we are .... for sometime now the cable TV channels switch to silly Vietnamese adds right in the middle of a programme ...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
if you don't want to join any community and want to lone to your meditation, go to the Quan Anh pagoda. It is located at the end of Som chai on West Lake facing the surrounding lakes, if you take the road bordering the lake past the Tay Ho hotel with the noisy swimming pool, carry on until you come to a cross road with prawn cakes sellers and other street food hawkers, turn to the right, it will lead you directly to the pagoda. It is a peaceful quiet corner by the lake, far away from traffic noises and cut off from domestic noises too.
In response to the question: Does anyone know of a nice quiet place I could go to meditate? At the moment I try to do it at home, but it's hard to block out the noise from my hous...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
khazanna ...or me ! I make good curries. You name it indian, british indian, thai, indonesian, sri lankan, caribbean ...
In response to the question: Where can one find the best chicken curry in Hanoi?...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
not in hanoi ... snifsnif..
In response to the question: is there a place or places to purchase beer making supplies?...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
Mike is right, the best bet in in Sapa, even there tey come in narrow widths.
I bought good ones from a dealer in Thailand. He is a well known designer from the highlands and has shops in Chatuchak and Suam Lum markets.
Good luck !
In response to the question: I think hemp is great.. I am either looking for hemp fabric or hemp clothing... Will any of the fabric markets in town have hemp? Any other sh...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
strange ... I went to town today asking some drugstores for a remedy. I got a negative nod everywhere.
I have read about turmeric paste applied on scars to minimise them, I am trying some.
I bought s Ducray cream from Paris, does not work !
I will conitue use some natural remedies and keep you posted.
In response to the question: Ok, so I now know that mosquito bite scars form from scratching, and I've sworn it off. Could someone please recommend something tried-and-true to us...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
Try the pharmacy at Family Practice in Van Phuc. The one in front of Tran Tien plaza by the lights has some of the creams. Check it out.
The thing that works for us, but surely not eczema, is tiger balm. It stops the itch immediately. We have put away all our creams we brought from home, as teh tiger balm is so efficient.
Get mosquito repellents, the electrical ones are the best.
I did not get bitten here but while away on holiday when we ran out of cream.
In response to the question: Hi! Does anyone know a reliable place (in Hanoi OR Saigon) where I could obtain Elocon (mometasone topical cream), Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream with Natur...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
This is getting really annoying ! I was just watching the latest breaking news on CNN on the Mumbai attacks as we have friends trapped there .... and there right at the announcement of the journalist, bang ! mobile phones ads in Vietnamese. When CNN resumed, the news was out as there has been a fresh explosion but missed it ...because of inappropriate ads. It feels very controlling and wrong. We are paying for the cable channels to get international channels and do not expect such interference. What can be done about this ?
Can anyone assess the stress and pain of having friends and families in such horrific situations ? who will be and being interested to force watch a b... ad on mobile phones in Vietnamese whe you are waiting to get news ?!...
talk of mind control ...
In response to the question: Wonder if anyone is as p..d! as we are .... for sometime now the cable TV channels switch to silly Vietnamese adds right in the middle of a programme ...
Posted Friday November 28th, 2008.
Give us a break Atomic, this is not funny. Either you are caustic or terribly stupid when you make comments. Nothing helpful. This forum is to help each other in little ways we can and not an entertainment for your idle tongue and ..b !
In response to the question: Wonder if anyone is as p..d! as we are .... for sometime now the cable TV channels switch to silly Vietnamese adds right in the middle of a programme ...
Posted Monday December 1st, 2008.
I am very glad to have triggered so much interest on this string and be called all the names under the sun. This can only confirm my doubts.
Thank you all for your kind and unkind remarks. And Yes, my friends died. Two shots each in the head. Guess they were silly and stupid like me. And they deserved it.
Of my 22 years of expat living, I have come across the most exuberantly humourous and sensitive crowd on this forum.
Well done !
In response to the question: Wonder if anyone is as p..d! as we are .... for sometime now the cable TV channels switch to silly Vietnamese adds right in the middle of a programme ...
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