The best thing about Hanoi, apart from the sights, is food. Glorious food. No argument about that. Sweet, herby and tangy—what’s not to love about Vietnamese food? Now you can get bun cha or pho from just about any sidewalk eatery or stall, and they would be just as good as—or even better—than those served…
Read moreTake Home Vietnamese Lacquerware and Paintings
We all have different images of artists etched on our mind: a lanky man cloaked in white, painterly robe, smoothing out his curly mustache as he admires his opus; a lovely apparition of a woman, a doyenne of the arts, her porcelain fingers lightly sweeping a brush across the canvas; and finally, an artisan in…
Read more3 Famous Cafes in Hanoi for Your Coffee Fix
It goes without saying that Vietnam is the coffee—and should we dare say, tea—capital of Southeast Asia. Nobody does coffee like Vietnam, and you know it’s true, if you’ve been to other countries in the region, or have at least, sampled several variants from your home country. Coffee was part of Vietnam’s French heritage. The…
Read moreVietnam National Museum of Fine Arts: First and Lasting Impressions
Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi is one of the most unique museums that BFOWB has been to in that it was a little unapologetic with its in-your-face patriotism and interpretation of the country’s history. It was said that history is written by the victors, and this, to some level, resonated with the items…
Read moreSplendora Hotel Hanoi Review
There’s a reason why Splendora Hotel Hanoi is always included in top 10 lists of where to stay in Hanoi, Vietnam. Right smack in the Old French Quarters, Splendora Hotel Hanoi offers quaint accommodations for travelers who want to live within a walking distance of Hanoi’s attractions. Boutique Splendora is just a few minutes minutes…
Read moreArt from Above: Hanoi Art and Propaganda Posters
Hanoi can easily be a shopping mecca for souvenir-seekers, but the country’s capital offers so much more for both art lovers and accidental tourists. A typical walk around Hanoi would lead travelers to Hoan Kiem Lake to take in the sights and catch a glimpse of its centenary “great grandfather” turtle. If you’re lucky, locals…
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