Good To Go In Hanoi French Quarter

Welcome to Hanoi, a city you will either fall in love with or passionately hate. The charm of this city is evident if you are looking; yet the eye is of the beholder. The summers here are brutally sticky and hot. The streets are swarming with locals, expats, and tourist's seated curbside on miniature plastic chairs drinking tra chanh (lemon tea), socializing, and trying to stay cool. In contrast, the winters can be grim and cold. Unlike most other Southeast Asian cities, Hanoi does not stay warm year round and you will find people bundled up and keeping warm with a small glass of tra nong (hot tea). The best times to visit are October to November or April to May for pleasant weather and beautiful blossoms. For colorful festivities come right before Tet, Vietnam's New Year. During Tet most things are closed and the streets fairly quiet.

Street Crossing:

You may be thinking, “How hard can it be to cross the street?" Well, this city will have you thinking again. Imagine extreme rush hour, without rules, traffic lights, or crosswalks, and there you have it! Hanoi has millions of motorbikes and an ever-growing number of cars flowing through the streets like an army of lost ants. Two words: Organized Chaos! The trick is to take a deep breath, be aware, and walk slowly and confidently. The traffic will move around you and whatever you do, don't panic or make sudden moves backwards. If in doubt, follow the lead of a local.

Vietnamese Dong:

ATMs are easily accessible and the VND is 21.000 to the USD (2013). For the latest exchange rate see www.oanda.com. One thing to keep in mind is that many ATMs have a 2 million VND maximum withdrawal (approx. 100 USD), while others allow up to 5 or 10 million VND.

Taxis:

To lower your chances of being ripped off, we recommend taking a taxi with a more reputable name, such as: Taxi Group, Mai Linh, or ABC. From the airport to Hanoi city center the cost is usually a fixed rate of

350.0 VND, but always check with the driver before you hop in. Aside from noi bai airport transfers, always try to get a metered taxi or negotiate a price beforehand. Should there be a problem, take note of the number on the right window corner of the taxi and report the taxi driver to the company's service center. This phone number can be found on the taxi window or door.

Xe Om:

As you walk the streets you will be summoned with the words xe om or see signs that read the same. Xe om means motorbike taxi and the drivers are as prevalent as the rats in New York City. You have not experienced Hanoi until you are whipping through traffic on the back of a xe om. Be sure to negotiate prices before you hop aboard. As a general guideline,

7.0 VND/km is reasonable.

Tips:

There are no rules when it comes to tipping in Vietnam. Most restaurants add a 5% service charge to the end of the bill automatically. For places that do not, there is no need to feel obliged. If the service was good, it is a nice gesture to tip and anything between 10.000 and 30.000 VND will be appreciated. If the service is poor, don't bother.

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