Ask A New Hanoian
... is The New Hanoian's Q&A forum. If you've got a question about life in Hanoi that you think you should pose to someone in the know, here is the place to do it.
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Confiscated Xmas Gifts - advice?
I recently received a package from Canada - Christmas presents from home!!!
The box has clearly been gone through. I expected that. What I didn't expect was the 2.3 kilo package is missing about 1.3 kilos worth of reading materials.
Some things have been 'removed' or is it 'confiscated'. A couple of books (Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes).
Are these now in a postal employee's living room?
Is there any way to 'appeal' or find out why something was confiscated... If nothing else I would like to make the (empty) gesture of complaining to someone official. Anyone know to whom?
Is there any hope of these books showing up?
Any advice on future shipments coming from out of country?
I am not naive about the corruption here - but I am disappointed. Advice (or am I looking at just consolation, now) is welcome.
It would make my poor mom feel better, too. ;)
Thanks!
PS - any ideas on where to find some 'complete works' of Doyle or Shakespeare here in Ha Noi?
Viewed 153 times, answered 7 times. View / Post Answers
driving to laos
Does anybody know the paperwork requirements for traveling with a private car from Vietnam into Laos?
thanks
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posted about 12 hours ago by Shrimp_Whiskers to Other
answered most recently by DamsLNthisdress1 a little while ago
Kniiting Nerds, Unite!
Does any one know of a Stitch-n-Bitch type group here in Hanoi? I looked through the groups here and even googled it and came up with nothing.
If not, are there any knitting nerds out there who want to get together? I love knitting, but I have barely perfected the scarf. It would be nice to exchange advice while staving off the cold with some warm beverages and conversation.
Any one? Any one? Bueller?
Viewed 28 times, answered once. View / Post Answers
bank cheque/draft
is it easy to get a bank cheque/draft in any of the banks in hanoi? do they require that you provide other documents aside from you passport? can you recommend a bank where i can get one? i need to send a payment to HCM and they require me to pay it through bank cheque/draft. having no local bank account, i thought i might face some challenges along the way.
Viewed 68 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
posted about 1 day ago by Elliewelliesj to Other
answered most recently by Elliewelliesj about 6 hours ago
Visa on arrival...possible now?
I heard that you can now get a visa on arrival when arriving at the airport - does anybody know if this is true? I also heard that it is cheaper than pre-arranging it in your own country. Mmm sounds too good to be true.
I have a mate visiting in February and was wondering if anyone knows the score.
Thank you
Viewed 115 times, answered 4 times. View / Post Answers
therapeutic massage
I suspect a pinched nerve ? anyone knows about a good therapeutic massage place with thorough knowledge of joints and nerves, etc. Have valsed my way to all reccomended massage places in HN but not found one yet to fix it ... Any suggestion/experience sharing would be kindly appreciated. Dumb, sarcastic replies not welcomed.
Viewed 65 times, answered 4 times. View / Post Answers
Condom sizes in Hanoi
Can anybody explain why the condoms you can get in Hanoi are kind of "tight"? And what's so "OK" about them??
Viewed 293 times, answered 10 times. View / Post Answers
posted about 4 months ago by TscTempest to Other
answered most recently by TscTempest about 10 hours ago
Multi-function Housekeeper
Hi,
I'm having trouble finding a part-time, Vietnamese House Keeper who, can cook, shop, clean, speaks English, German and Chinese (max. sal. USD100), any recomendations?
;-)
Viewed 686 times, answered 15 times. View / Post Answers
Visas for Travel from Vietnam
So I'm getting closer to my departure date for Vietnam; February 10. I'm trying to figure out a couple of travel visas in the meantime and would appreciate any help.
I plan on being in Vietnam about a year and want to go to Cambodia and Laos. I'm coming from the USA and I think Laos requires me to get a visa here before leaving and Cambodia strongly suggests I get one here. Three questions:
1.) Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to get a Cambodia visa while in Vietnam?
2.) I don't know exactly when I would want to travel to Cambodia or Laos but the applications request Date of Entry/Exit. Are these dates flexible? Or do I have to travel on or around them for the visa to be valid?
3.) Is, say, a one-month visa to Cambodia and Laos (I'm not sure if there's a difference in this matter) valid for one month after I get the visa, or one month after date of entry to Cambodia or Laos?
Oh, and one more, unrelated, question- Any sense how long it takes to find an apartment upon arrival? My plan is to set down at a hotel for a bit and look around. Assuming middle-of-the-road pickiness, and hoping for a $400 - $800/month 1 bed/1 bath apartment in Hoan Kiem or Hai ba Trung... any idea of timeline?
Thanks for any help you guys can give. I can't wait to get this stuff over with and get to Hanoi.
Viewed 71 times, answered 4 times. View / Post Answers
looking for no sugar, no fat, no carb foods
Anyone has come aross rye bread,sugarless peanut butter, olive oil spray here ?
Viewed 136 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
posted about 23 hours ago by DamsLNthisdress1 to Shopping
answered most recently by virezo about 22 hours ago
bustier, corset, hosiery, cincher
Are there any shops that sell bustiers or corsets or cinchers or funky hosiery (or ANYTHING!) in Hanoi? (can't a girl get her style on in this place??)
Viewed 68 times, answered once. View / Post Answers
Pet Stores? Animal Markets?
Does anyone know where I can buy a monkey or any medium sized primate? Was thinking of getting a dog or cat but think a monkey is better for all around security. How much is a run of the mill Monkey run you in Hanoi these day? is inflation effecting the prices?
Viewed 46 times, not yet answered. View / Post Answers
posted about 3 days ago by paradroid to Shopping
answered most recently by Woody2 about 23 hours ago
Bicycle shop (fix gears)
Hello,
does anybody know a shop (or street :-), which sells locks for bikes, a nice saddle and (most importantly), who can fix a Shimano gear?
Thanks!!
Viewed 100 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
Fender guitars
Can I buy a real Fender in Hanoi, I'd settle for a squire...
Would it be better to go to Thailand or China to buy one?
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Where does one find Motos?
Does anyone know where the police sell the motorbikes they, aquare from various locations? I have heard that they are good to contact for all the furiture and bikes and suh needed when new in town?
Viewed 40 times, not yet answered. View / Post Answers
Living in Nghi Tam (Flower Village)
My husband, 6 month old bub and I have been in Hanoi for almost 2 weeks and are looking for a place to live. We have found what we believe to be a great place in Nghi Tam. Before we sign any contracts, we were hoping to garner information/advice on living in the area. (We thought the area was perfect until we were told that the area floods!).
Thanks in advance for any information you can give. We really want to at least try to make the right housing decision :)
Viewed 166 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
Super Bowl anyone?
Anyone here care about American Football? Do you know where I can watch the Super Bowl live in Hanoi (public place)? Thanks much.
Viewed 90 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
posted about 1 week ago by Elliewelliesj to Other
answered most recently by Elliewelliesj about 1 day ago
Heater
What do you do for heat in the winter? do you just use your aircon/wall heater? or buy a halogen heater? or just wrap up warm? any tips?
I am guessing running my wall heater is going to get expensive.
Viewed 193 times, answered 7 times. View / Post Answers
Research info group?
My recent exchange with Queen Pippa on dumbassness just gave me a thought, although usually I refrain from actually acting on such impulses.
I was wondering if researchers here in Hanoi would be interested in forming an ad hoc group for info and support?
To my thinking, such a group could connect people with others working in the same field. At the very least it could be a database of emails and resources, but could possibly have a somewhat social component to offer specialized advice, feedback for ongoing projects (code for "who wants to read my latest dissertation chapter and rip me a new one?"), or even just moan over a coffee/beer/trung vit lon about red tape, grant rejections, or bad wifi connections.
Those on VSG know that's the best place for info, but I thought we might benefit from something more local and more comprehensive. Personally, I'd love to have access to a list of folks who are here, working in a similar field, and would be up for sharing sources and even providing feedback. Such a list could keep up with when folks are coming and going and also up-to-the-minute info on archives, exhibitions, addy/phone/emails of local institutes and programs, etc.
Oh, and by the way, I have no idea how to organize this. I'm just the idea-chick. Thoughts?
Viewed 58 times, answered twice. View / Post Answers
posted about 2 days ago by herohanoi to Etiquette
answered most recently by michaelb about 2 days ago
Does Highland coffee at West lake open?
Does Highland coffee at West lake open?
This spot is best place for me to enjoy nice sunshine but it had a plan to remodel. Is there anyone who knows reopening schedule or is it already reopened?
Let me have more information about such a nice cafe as Highland coffee which has nice view and sunshine.
Thanks in advance
Viewed 133 times, answered 3 times. View / Post Answers
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