Hanoi Survival Kit

Getting around in Hanoi is by no means difficult. However, to make it easier for you to enjoy your stay here we have compiled some good advice and a basic language course!

Airport Many rip-off artists around. Official Taxi (100000-120000 to airport and 180000 from airport) have fixed prices for the 45 min ride. Do not pay toll or any other extra fees. Make sure taxi takes you to exact hotel. Ask hotel staff for help if encountering problems with taxi driver. Write down name and number of taxi just in case. Vietnam Airlines bus costs 2 USD from/to Vietnam Airlines office at Quang Trung Str. The driver might try to sell you his hotel of choice or charge extra to take you to your hotel. Easiest to get off at Quang Trung Str. and take meter taxi. Check your belongings before leaving taxi!
Tipping Tipping is not compulsory but always appreciated. Tip should not exceed 5-10 %.
Xe/Om (motorbike taxi)/Cyclo Make sure you know the price or agree on one to avoid surprises (e.g. make sure you are on same currency). Have exact change ready. Do not get into discussion on price after you reach destination. Hand over exact fair price or agreed upon price and walk away. Do not stick around and wait for reaction, i.e. no eye contact. Driver might get loud but never aggressive. Be cautious of drive-by snatchings of purses and mobile phones!
Local guidebooks Local listings of restaurants/banks/embassies, etc. can be obtained from the weekly/monthly magazines The Guide, Timeout, Vietnam Discovery, Pathfinder. They are more updated than Lonely Planet & co.
Local markets Cho 19/12 on Hai Ba Trung sells fruit, vegetables, seafood and dog. Cho Hom also known as fabric market on the corner of Pho Hue and Tran Xuan Soan. Cho Hang Da on Hang Da boasts birds, aquarium fish, ceramics, fruits and vegetables. , Cho Dong Xuan has everything and is on Dong Xuan str. It turns into a Nightmarket after dark. Cho Hoa (flower market) on Nghi Tam doesn't start till after 2 A.M.
Medical emergency Hanoi Family Medical Practice (Dr. Rafi Kot's Clinic, A1 Van Phuc, 109-112, Tel: 843 0748,846 1748/9), International SOS (24-hour Alarm Centre, 31 Hai Ba Trung St., Tel: 934 0555), Vietnam French Hospital (1 Phuong Mai St., Dong Da, Tel: 576 4443
Bargaining/ haggling Shops with price tags will usually not accept haggling (as well as supermarkets, photo shops, restaurants, etc.). Be sure to haggle everywhere else on the street. Start offer at around 60% and work your way up. Take your time and pretend to walk away. Shop around, you can always come back to cheapest offer.
Street vendors & co It is not necessary to respond to every street vendor or motorbike/cyclo driver who approaches you. Your patience will wear thin after the 20th "No, thank you". A friendly headshake will suffice and is not considered impolite. The less attention/eye contact you grant them the faster they will leave.
Cultural attractions (2 days worth) Have only 2 days in Hanoi? Either shop-till-you-drop in the Old Quarter or go see Ho-Chi-Minh-Mausoleum, Ho-Chi-Minh-Museum, Museum of Ethnology, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, Water Puppert theatre, Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake. Have more time? Daytrips include Bat Trang ceramic village, But Thap Pagoda, Halong Bay, Silk village, Phat Diem, Perfume Pagoda, Tam Coc and Hoa Lu.
After Dark Hanoi sleeps early. Funky Monkey and several other bars on Bao Khanh and Ta Hien elude curfew till after midnight. Otherwise try Bar Barracuda (49 To 4A, Phuc Tan) They stay open till sunrise. Hungry? Food street on Tong Duy Tan is up until 5 A.M.

 

Basic Vietnamese
1
Mot
20
Hi-Mooi
Please
xin
2
Hi
21
Hi-Mooi-mot
Thank you
cam on
3
Ba
99
Cheen-Mooi-cheen
Hello
xin chao
4
Bawn
100
Mot-chum
Goodbye
chao,tam biet
5
Num
230
Hi-chum-ba-mooy
Sorry
xin loi
6
Saow
4000
Bawn Nyenn
How much?
bao nhieu
7
Buy
50,000
Num-mooy-nyeen
Hotel
khach san
8
Taam
600,000
Saw-chum-nyeen
Restaurant
nha hang
9
Cheen
1,000,000
Mot-chiew
Toilet
(Nha) ve sinh
10
Mooy
8,000,000
Taam chiew
Bottled water
nuoc khoang
Beer
bia
Railway station
ga
Hot
nong
Cold
lanh
Good/bad
tot/khong tot
I (do not) like
Toi (khong) thich


Local prices (In VND)
Water 5000/ 500ml Motorbike (Xe Om)
1500/km
Draft beer (Bia Hoi) 1500-3000 Cyclo
30000/hour
Softdrinks 4000-5500/can Bicycle
6000-10000/day
Mango 10000-15000/kg Motorbike (rental)
5$/day
Banana 500/pc Bus (local)
3000
Watermelon 5000-6000/kg DVD
17000-20000
Dragonfruit 8000-10000/kg CD
10000
Bread 1000/pc Lonely Planet
70000
Cheese (L.v.q.r.) 19000/pc Shoeshine
3000
Photos 45000/24roll Internet
4000/hour
Postcards 5000 Massage
80000/hour
*Local prices as of 05/2005. Do not always expect to be offered these local prices.
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