Nguyen Cau is a popular place.
Hieu Anh Quoc Te on Hang Khay Str. is alright too even though they could a bit more expensive.

and always ask them not to edit ur photos, cuz sometimes they just edit photos on photoshops without being asked to do so.

On Hang Bac, b/n Ma May & Ta Hien on the south side there's an unassuming little Kodak hole in the wall place, sorry not sure what number though. There's a corrugated semi-permanent construction site in that section generally covered with t-shirts, the shop's not far to the west of this.
I suspect they develop film off site, but they've given me by far the best prints.
They're one of the few places who do b&w film too, though it takes a while.

I suspect that none of these labs actually make their prints from film. I think they scan and print digitally. The poor quality scanned negatives I've got are of about the same quality (fuzzy and usually oversaturated) as the prints I've got.

angelonbroomstick is right though, you need to ask the lab not to mess about with your photos, or they will decide what your photo should look like.

Thanks for all the feedback!
Loominpapa- unfortunately I think your suspicion re scanning and printing digitally is probably correct. It would certainly explain the strange haze on the photos. However, I might just risk it one more time and try one of the other places suggested here. I will let you all know the outcome.
Angelonbroomstick - whereabouts is Nguyen Cau?

I third such suspicions, however I'm pretty sure the joint I mentioned on p. Hang Bac prints for real - the quality of b&w stuff I've had from there is way beyond anywhere else in HN.

Haven't had film developed in Hanoi too many times, but I can tell you where NOT to go. There's a big photo lab on the corner just south of the Expo Center on Giang Vo. I had some beautiful shots of Laos that they absolutely butchered. The colors were waaaaay oversaturated, and everything was blurry. When I pointed it out, they shrugged.

Nguyen Cau is at intersection Ba Trieu x Trang Thi.

Arctitus - does the place on Hang Bac develop BW film as well as making prints?

Any idea if they develop Slide film?

Loominpapa I'm afraid I haven't advanced beyond short pants and 35mm stuff, so I can't advise on the slide scenario.
I always take pains to make sure shops are certain they know they are dealing with "phim den trang", but these guys were fine, and I've had really good prints come back.

Cheers, Arctitis. I'll give them a try.

Ok, so I finally got round to trying the photo shop arctictis recommended which is on Hang Bac (number 52 or thereabouts I think) and they did come up with the best results so far. That said, some of the pictures were still over-saturated which can only mean they meddled with them despite my repeated requests not to. Also when I went to pick them up the next day, the woman in the shop kept dropping the film on the floor and thereby successfully managed to get her grubby looking mits on several of the negatives. Nevertheless, they have shown the best results so far, so thanks for the info!
As for the Nguyen Cau shop, I realised as I drove past that it is in fact one of the places I had previously tried - they are probably ok for digital development but not film!
I think I won't risk developing any more films out here in Vietnam though, it is unfortunately just too disappointing..

Ok, I went to hang bac with a 120 b&w film. They looked at me like if I was coming from mars. They were hesitant on the possibility of process me that. I just said no, it's ok. Don't wanna that you ruin my film !
Then I went to
Dong Photo Co
128 Hang Trong St
Hoan Kiem Dist
that was apparently selling chemicals. They show me some films (that's not what I'm looking for guys !.
Ok, let it go.

So this post is gonna up and if someone knows a REAL good place where they can process b&w 135 and 120 films, I would be grateful to a point that you can't imagine.
And if you have an adress for chemicals, much better !
thanks

As mentioned above, Nguyen Cau at No 1 Ba Trieu (a few doors down from the intersection of Trang Thi and Ba Trieu) does 135 and 120 rolls in BW and colour (C41 but not E6). BW takes a couple of days, usually.

I have rolls developed there regularly, but I scan the negs myself as their scanning is not so hot.

I am currently on the trail of a mysterious shop somewhere on Tran Hung Dao that sells chemicals too. I actually have some that were purchased from this place by an acquaintance, but he doesn't know the actual address. I've asked for some assistance on Hanoi based photo groups and will hopefully have an answer soon. I will post when I do.

OK ladyvengeance, I have an answer on the chemicals too now.

I'm reliably informed that the place is called Chu Binh, and is at 15A Trần Hưng Đạo.

Thanks a lot loominpapa !
I will let a film to test their service (and scan by myself too !)
Will check also for the chemicals...
Big up to you !

No worries, Lady V.

Have you considered joining the TNH Photo club?

I should !!!

Well guys,
maybe I should give an other chance...
but I went to Nguyen Cau to process a 120 film and the disapointement was exactly the same than in other places...
The guy probably went to smoke a cigaret rather than agitate the tank. The sides of my film are white, the rest of the picture, flaccid. Ugly.

Maybe I had bad luck but I think I'm really gonna try to find chemicals !!!

Go Digital :D

Are you judging this from the scan or the negative?

Scanning is a tricky business, especially with 120 film. I find it very difficult to maintain film flatness, which ends up with white (or at least brighter) edges.