Hanoi differently

Food

After a few days at Vietnam, you'll no doubt have tried the unavoidable pho, banh mi and egg coffee. Here are a few other typical dishes that are less well known but just as good!

Bun Rieu: a very fragrant Vietnamese soup made with crab and tomato. Depending on the restaurant, the rice noodles are served with different ingredients: beef, grilled pork, fried tofu or snails. My favourite address: Bun Rieu Top Mo, 100 P. Bach Mai, Cau Den, Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi This is a local address, and you'll almost certainly be the only tourist! Remember to have a tra da (Vietnamese iced tea) with your meal.

Bun Hai San: in the same spirit as bun rieu, bun hai san is a rice noodle soup with seafood. Again, the ingredients vary from restaurant to restaurant, but usually include prawns and fried tofu. *My favourite address: Bà Thành - Bun cha & Bun Hai San, so 6 Ng 12P Dao Tan, Cong Vi, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi

Bo bia ngot: bo bia is a Vietnamese dessert in the form of a roll, made of grated coconut, sesame seeds and spun sugar wrapped in a thin rice cake. This snack is easily found in street vendors around the cathedral or Hoan Kiem lake for less than a euro.

Kem Caramen: a very popular caramel custard in Vietnam, similar to the caramel custards found in France. My favourite address: Kem Caramen Duong Hoa, 29 Hang Than, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi This is probably the most popular address in Hanoi, known for having the best flans in town at only 8000 dongs! (about 20 cents). Located in an old house filled with mini plastic stools, all you have to do is sit down, order and pay when you leave to the person in front of the door. It's a real local experience!

Cà Phê Muôi: muoi coffee is a salted coffee, originally from Hué but widely consumed throughout Vietnam. A salted cream is added to a shot of Vietnamese coffee, and the mixture produces a less bitter, more balanced coffee. You can find it in most cafés, or in the famous chain specialising in muoi coffees: Cà Phê Muối Chu Long for less than a euro.

Cultural visits

The capital is not overflowing with tourist sites, and they are all very well known to travellers: Temple de la Litterature, Rue du Train, Musée de l'Ethnologie, and so on. Nevertheless, here are a few interesting visits outside the traditional circuits.

Ngoi Nha Di San: or Heritage House in English, this is a traditional Vietnamese house built at the end of the 20th century and open to visitors. The visit doesn't last very long, but it gives you more information about the architecture and traditional way of life. The tour can be taken alone or with a guide. Heritage House, 87 Ma May, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Phung Hung Street Art: a stone's throw from train street, this street is covered with street art depicting scenes from Hanoi's own life, giving a different view of the old quarter. Street murals at train street, 15P Phung Hung, Quan Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Truc Bach islet: located just above the Old Quarter, this is a slightly quieter area by the lake, very well decorated, ideal for taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter. Ngu Xa village hall, 16P Nguyen Khac Hieu, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi

Hang Ma: if you're in Hanoi during the festive season (Christmas, Halloween, mid-autumn festival), take the opportunity to visit the famous Hang Ma street, which will be full of eye-catching decorations! Expect lots of people, though. Go to Bich Decor, 78P Hang Ma, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, and walk up the street to take in the sights.

Shopping:

While the Old Quarter is full of shops and vendors, it's always the same products. So here's a list of shops where you can find more original and authentic souvenirs for yourself, your family and your friends.

Liu Lo Arts: with two shops in the old quarter, you'll find plenty to choose from. Jewellery, posters, clothes, accessories, etc. all handmade and with a Vietnamese theme. Liu Lo Arts, 28A Hang Da, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Bookworm Hanoi: bookshop upstairs, café and souvenir shop on the ground floor. You'll find mainly Vietnam-themed posters and board games. If you like Monopoly, don't miss out on Monopoly Hanoi! Bookworm Hanoi, 44P Pham Hong Thai, Truc Bach, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi

Hanoi Shouten Minimart & Souvenir Shop: here you'll find more traditional souvenirs that you won't find anywhere else: magnets, ceramics, food products, textiles and even colouring books depicting the city of Hanoi. Hanoi Shouten, 1Ng 12P Dao Tan, Cong Vi, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi

Other things to do in Hanoi

And if after all that you still have some time left, here's what you can do to live like a local.

Head to the Tay Ho lake to watch the sunset. Colonel Coffee is a great spot for this.

If you prefer to take in the sights, head to the Lotte Center, Hanoi's tallest tower. Drinks are a bit expensive, but you won't find this view anywhere else!

When it rains (or heats up), head for a café around the Tay Ho lake, where you can paint on plaster figures. It's one of the locals' favourite activities! Chantuncoffee&art is my favourite address.

Prefer a more festive atmosphere? Instead of heading to the street bars in the old quarter, head instead to a bia oi, big open places where locals get together to drink beer, chat and do karaoke all night.

And to recover from all that, put on your trainers and go for an early morning jog around the lake, around 5am. In the area around Hoan Kiem or Thong Nhat you'll see that the Vietnamese have been here for a long time! And if you're not too early, you'll find groups of women doing Zumba from 6pm onwards in the same places.

These tips from our travel expert Lauriane.