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Snellopy's Posts
42 reviews or comments posted; no questions asked; 19 answers given.
Reviews / Comments (42) see all
Ostrich! I'd seen it on the menu at a few other places, but had always bee booed down by my friends. But this place has a stuffed one (albeit a bit disheveled) out the front, and specializes in it. Some friends had been there recently and their recommendation was enough to tip us in favour of a trip there.
The decor downstairs is nicer, but there is not a lot of space, but I have the feeling it'd be stinking hot upstairs in the day time.
The menu has quite a few flexible and interpretative spellings, and I don't think the waiters spoke heaps of English - so getting clarification of what Ostrich Gastric entailed (just the juices? the stomach itself? the contents? Something worse than I could imagine?) so we went with pretty safe options. The dishes we got were pretty tough, but the sauces were nice, especially poured over our rice to soak it up.
The way they poured the beer was pretty cool – one handed, the waiter put the bottle over the lip of the tall glass, then pulled it back, tilting the glass at about 5 degrees which allowed the beer to flow down the side of the glass, giving it a good head. And there I was about to be my classy self and drink it straight from the bottle, I would have missed the show!
I don't think I will race back there, but it is good to be able to cross yet another animal off the Raging Carnivore's Guide of Animals to Eat that I haven't digested yet.
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I don't like this place, every time I have been here, the service has been shocking. Over fifteen minutes to get a drink each time I've been there, and if it is supposed to be cold like a fruit juice, it is normally luke warm. Admittedly every time I have been here (except for the last) I have been hideously hung over, so there may have been some time dilation due to the alcohol in my bloodstream. The food normally follows about 45 minutes later, generally requiring the late breakfast to be re-classified as lunch.
My eggs Benedict last weekend were cold and had obviously been sitting around on a bench, forgotten and forlorn for quite a while, making the sauce manky as it was starting to separate.
The layout of Puku is really bad too. The counter where you order and pay makes a bottle-neck at the entrance. Each visit to Puku at least once I have been queued up to order/pay/tell them they have screwed up the order and more customers have been passing through and I politely step back to make space for them - someone will jump in and take my spot, just for a moment, to chat. Not a problem, though it always turns out they are a "regular" and so they get served before me and don't have the decency to pass the attention of the waitress back to me.
Most of the regulars also seem to take up a whole table with their laptop, ipod, and sense of superiority. The entrance to Puku is narrow and dingy and easy to drive past, which is what you should do, the atmosphere is not welcoming.
Definitely give Poo-ku a miss. I was discussing it as a breakfast option with a workmate the day after my last visit, and like me, he doesn't see the attraction. But he managed to talk his friends into an R&R breakfast, a much more satisfying solution.
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Kzak is an airbrushing place, where they make your helmets, computer or whatever look fantastic.
Since the helmet law came in, I've pretty much bought a new helmet each month. Imelda Marcos had shoes, I'm going with helmets. While I love all of mine, they weren't eye catching or pretty enough.
Driving down Kim Ma, I noticed a shop that had some really awesome looking ones, but I was always too busy to stop there until one lazy Saturday.
They had helmets, computers, mobile phone covers and bike parts that had all been airbrushed. The guy in the shop didn't speak much English, but he gave me a card with a website and contact details. After having a play on the website, I was most impressed, and fired off an email in English and Vietnamese with the help of my friends.
The prices seemed reasonable to me 1,400,000 dong for my helmet to be completely re-sprayed, and the emblems and characters from a computer game put on it. Now I'm tempted to get my bike done, as well...
The pictures came out great, it only took a few days, and they said if there were any changes I wanted they'd adjust it - but it was perfect so I didn't need this.
A really good way to get something a bit more customized, so you can look stylish on the roads.
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I like the square pizzas here, though once I had a "steak" - but it was a hamburger patty cut into the shape of a steak, so I'd definitely steer clear of them.
The Roma pizza is the one I normally get, quail eggs, olives, ham, mushrooms, all the good bits. It is of a shareable size for two, if you're not particularly hungry.
This is a good place to go for food if you're drinking at one of the surrounding bars on Bao Khan and can't be bothered going anywhere far away. The deserts have looked good as well, but we normally figured they wouldn’t sit too well with the beers as we returned to the bar we had been at previously.
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Just went here for breakfast, it seemed a nice enough joint for a few bottles of plonk and a nice plate of cheese, but I'm not much of a wine drinker.
I can't really comment too much on this place, I'm not the target market for it, but I do have mates both here and back home that would absolutely love it, and would welcome it as a second home, be on first name basis with the staff and customers there, and normally order a "usual", the same combination of drink and food each time they went.
We did find the breakfast portions too small - I swear my eggs Benedict was made from quail eggs, they were that titchy, and the first coffee we were served was practically warm milk.
With the right mix of friends, a few bottles of nice wine, and a few cheese platters, I could see it being the start of a good night before you do something cultured, like the opera.
With the right mix of friends, a few bottles of nice wine, and a few cheese platters, I could see it being the start of a good night before you do something cultured, like the opera.
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We have started going here more often since it has changed hands, and have been enjoying the menu immensely. There isn’t a huge range, but what they do make they are damn good at. The burgers are awesome, and are of a proper size. Instead of a tiny roll you'd get with a bowl of soup and a patty to match, you get a real hamburger that makes your stomach gurgle with joy. Getting a large slaps an extra layer on it, so you have two patties and twice the works and jerks.
I thought that getting a large toasted sanger would mean an extra piece of ham, and maybe some more chips, but it turns out I was wrong. Instead of one ham and cheese sandwich with a fried egg, I ended up with two - not a bad addition for only an extra 20 thousand! Unfortunately I’d just polished off a roast lamb meal (which hadn't even touched the sides) but my friends rallied around me and gave me a hand knocking off the second one.
I'm not a salad person, but the salads here are all very decorative and eye catching, and the serves of food (apart from the aforementioned lamb) have been spectacular in size and taste.
We used to drink spirits here, for no clearly defined reason; it just seemed to be a nice place for it, though we have now swapped back to beer again. They have Dai Viet beer in bottles here, one of the few places I've seen it, and it is quite popular with the large French crowd they get in here.
Wifi is good, and you can see the router mounted to the wall of the stairs, giving good coverage throughout the place, and it looks like they are currently doing a bit of redecorating and painting, and have a new series of black and white (I think) photos up.
The music is occasionally too loud, but it is a small price to pay. The owners are often in attendance downstairs and they seem quite friendly.
A good place if you speak French and want to practice, and a fantastic place to snork down a good, filling meal.
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I'd like to be able to give this place more stars, because a bookshop needs every bit of encouragement they can get. I had more luck finding things to read here (and picture books for school) than in the larger Vietnamese bookshops with an English section. But the main styles I'm interested in - science fiction, fantasy, comedy - were all pretty anemic.
I can't comment on their returns policy like some of the reviews below me, nor do I intend on finding out… I'll loan my books to mates, but you'll have to prise them from my cold, dead fingers before I'll part willingly with them forever.
There was an interesting looking collection of books about and on Vietnam, so sending visitors here might be a good idea if they want to take something back home with them.
If you enjoy reading science fiction, fantasy or comedy, then I definitely recommend you take all your books there and sell them so that they have a larger stock next time I go.
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Only recently have I started going here, and I wish I had tried it out sooner. It is a nice comfortable bar when it isn't crowded (admittedly going to an Irish bar on St. Patrick’s Day and then expecting to get a table isn't the smartest plan).
I enjoy sitting on the high barstools and swinging my legs, but they aren't conducive to conversation if there is more than 3 of you, and short people hate them.
The beer is always nice and cold, often with a thin layer of ice detaching off the bottom of the glass and mingling with the head of your beer.
The quality of the food has been solid but not impressive the times I've eaten here, with reasonable sized serves.
I've known about the quiz night for a while, but since I have such a poor grasp of time and shocking organizational skills, I still haven't managed to turn up to it. When I do, that might get it another star.
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At the other end of Hoan Kiem lake if you sit at Legends, you can watch the traffic flow by, but sitting at the outdoors section of this Hapro you get to watch the pedestrians, and the waters of the lake. I don't mind this spot for people watching at times, and there aren't that many outdoorsy areas that are nice and relaxing to sit in (OK, so you will still get the horns and traffic noise here, but that is par for the course).
It is nice to have a beer here, and watch the usually sedate walkers, and the ripples on the lake. I'd steer clear of the food though, it comes in a bucket from the other Hapro across the road - plus there are more tempting menus a stones throw in any direction. It makes for a nice change, and Fanny is just across the road for dessert…
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I have been here a couple of times, mainly on the invitation of parents whose kids are in my class. It is nicely decorated, but I would definitely try and get there a bit earlier so you can snag a good seat outside in the beer garden, and watch the shadows lengthen on the building and the lights come up in the library.
This is one of the few places I have had a nice lamb dish. One time the other teachers with me have had a bit of a hit and miss with their orders, and have looked longingly at others people's plates. That hasn't been the fault of the restaurant though, that time we were all distracted by the antics of the kid in our class, and they ended up ordering the wrong dish.
The serves are a good size, the beer is cold, the prices are reasonable, and the scenery is pleasant. A solid 4 star performance.
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I've been here twice now, and the last time was absolutely awesome, a fantastic meal. The first time was good, but not startling, but since the second trip was so good, I have to give it 5 stars. The first time we went, we got warm nori tuna rolls - and me being uncultured was expecting a bread roll... the word nori didn't register in my mind, so I was surprised to see them wrapped in seaweed. Oh well. We both had kebabs from their barbie selection (back page of the menu, not on every night I think) and they were OK, but not as magnificent as the second time...
We went back recently, when we had received some bad news, and wanted somewhere nice to take our minds off things. Started downstairs with a drink, and the waiters were attendant enough when we wanted another drink, but gave us enough space to talk things over in peace. The chairs down there are cool, they are huge brown thrones, and I had to keep bringing my mind back to the conversation at hand, rather than work out how to command my army of peons.
When we did go upstairs, we were the only people there (for the whole night, a nice change from the first night when it was pretty crowded). Once again, the waiters were great, there when you wanted them, but not in your face topping up your beer every sip.
We both had prawns for an entree - I ordered garlic prawns, but only got 3 or 4. They were nice, but not nice enough to make me love Nuevo Cuisine. My girlfriend got another entree as a main, a salad I think, that she raved on about, I tried it too, and it was pretty good… for a salad. She said two entrees were just the right size. I ordered a steak, something I haven't done for ages in Hanoi, as I feel insulted when I am given something the size of a lamb chop and told its a steak - Aussies know what a steak is, its big, and hangs off both sides of the plate. This was the best steak I have had in Hanoi, getting close to a reasonable size, and the sauce was great, and the deep-fried spud-balls (I forget the name of them at the moment) soaked it up well.
The complimentary bread with oil at the start was great as well, and we figured we might as well round out the meal with dessert. I got passion fruit tiramisu with warm chocolate balls (really nice that melted in your mouth) and fresh raspberries! I can't recall the last time I had them! I snapped a picture of the desert, so I've uploaded it here - I guess Nuevo Cuisine can be filling and pretty. I forget what my girlfriend had; I was too busy enjoying the raspberries.
Definitely taking my folks there when they get here this month.
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Normally when I'm drinking, I don't like to roam. I go to the bar of the evening, drink, and go home. I'm not a fan of bar-hopping, as it’s rare that there's nothing left to drink (unless it is a 1 keg bia hoi).
However, Dragonfly is the one bar where everything changes for me. I've never started there, but I've ended a few nights there - quite often after a New Hanoian Meetup.
I don't like the place, I don't like the atmosphere, I don't like the crowds, I don't like the hookah. But they have a drink which has mango juice and three spirits in it - which I will start talking about at length to all and sundry about half an hour before I remember the name of the street and head there.
For the hookah room you sit on the floor and take your shoes off. I don't smoke, but I went in with my mates to be sociable, while knocking back the aforementioned mango drinks. By the time I was ready to leave, quite a few more people had come in, and my pair of shoes was under a pile of about 50 or so. My eyes are bad, I'd had a heap to drink, and the lighting was poor, so there was no way I was going to spend an hour fishing through the pile for my pair, and I thought it wouldn't be sporting to just grab any old shoes, so I ended up grabbing a xe om home in my socks.
I can't recommend the mango drink enough!
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Been here a few times now, and we have always had the place to ourselves. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and I am sure once the New Hanoian Meetup is here, that the word will well and truly be out about it.
It is on the 19th floor, with great views overlooking West Lake and the surrounding parts of Hanoi. Unlike all the other high up bars I have been to, the prices are not similarly inflated. The cocktails can be a bit hit and miss though, but that is normally a promising sign that they are being hand pored not measured, so fair enough if it doesn’t always work in your favour.
They have a small menu, but I haven't tried the food yet. On a sunny day with a light breeze this place is great, and I think I’ll give it a shot one lunchtime.
They have a lot of signs up for live music and dancing and stuff, I haven't been to any of these, but the selections of tunes they have been playing the times I have wandered in have been at a good volume for background without drowning out the conversation. They have a state and some instruments set up inside and another stage outside on their large balcony.
Definitely somewhere to go more often now the weather is warming up.
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We have started frequenting here for lazy Saturday afternoons - watching the traffic at the bottom of Hang Gai is hypnotic, especially after a few half litres of beer. Speaking of which, we're probably going there in a few minutes - my advice is so good even I take it.
I haven't tried the food here - but that hasn't been the draw card for us really. I have tried it at the Big C branch, and it was quite good.
Definitely somewhere to take visitors, preferably on the first day they are here, so they get the wow/OMFG factor of watching the traffic.
Finding the entrance can be a bit tricky, it is on the lake side of the building, near the sewing machines you can see in the window. You can park on the lake for free if you let them know you're going to Legends, but that does cut down how many you can drink if you drive as badly as I do sober.
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I was given free tickets to the buffet by a mate, who picked them up from someone else as a gift. The Ha Thanh in the name is in a different font and smaller, and so I nearly ended up driving to the wrong restaurant as I looked up Sen on here, and was all set to go to West Lake.
Happily I listened to the voice of reason (my girlfriend, I'm not responsible enough to have such a voice inside my head) and read the address on the card instead. This place is light years ahead of the other place with a similar name.
We booked - not something I'd normally do here, but by the end of the night every table was full - and this was on a run of the mill Wednesday night. The tables are close together, but not so close that you are sitting on someone else's laps, but it can be a bit difficult to navigate to your seat (there was one bloke who repeatedly took about 5 minutes to get back to his table each time, maybe he'd had a few).
The food was fantastic, and there was a good range... sushi and sashimi (neither were stellar, but it was far from being bad), roasted meats, snails and scallops, all the standard buffet stuff, and a range of traditional Vietnamese foods as well at two booths, being prepared and served by a couple of little old ladies much like in other places. The Banh Xeo was cold, though, but yummy.
There weren't too many foreigners there, the two of us, and two more at tables with what looked liked Vietnamese business partners. I'd say it caters to business functions mainly.
The place is nicely decorated, and would be a great place to take visitors to really impress them, but the prices are pretty steep - 195 thousand for lunch, and dinner is 230 thousand Monday to Thursday, going up to 270,000 Friday to Sunday when they have live music.
Its a good place to keep for special occasions
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I've been here a couple of times now, and the heady smell of brewing beer is always a great thing to walk into, and a very promising sign. The first time we were here, we obviously jumped at the large size mugs as they would be a saving on shoe leather, going up to the bar to ask for the next one. Not the best move, as I am a small, weedy little bugger, and seeing how the only exercise I do is lifting drinks to my mouth, I found them too heavy... plus they warm up rather quickly. The medium size, 500ml, is a nice comfortable range, just under a pint.
Not only do they have three sizes, but they have three types of beers, a pilsner, a larger and a stout - though not till I went at The New Hanoian meet-up did they have the stout, and they haven't ever had all three options when I have been there yet. The pricing on them are quite reasonable, and the beer is pretty tasty.
We've not tried the food yet, but it has looked good when we have had a squizz at other people's tables, and the place normally has at least one big group livening the place up.
It’s a good place to go to change your watering hole every now and then.
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We first started getting ice-cream for desert at our barbies, and our Vietnamese mates went nuts. They put us onto Fanny as the best example of all the ice-cream ranges, and I'd definitely agree - it's better than the New Zealand Ice Cream (which tastes different than back home in Australia). The take away tubs can be found at some of the other places, like Dan's, but the range isn't as extensive, and a half litre doesn't go all that far... but you can get more than one and have a range of flavours then.
We have started swinging by their branch on Hoan Kiem Lake for desert when we're eating in town, especially since it is finally warming up again.
A few other restaurants advertise having Fanny, and have a truncated menu available (I normally get the Pinocchio at these places), but at their main joint I've knocked off quite a few of their combinations, and not ad a bad one yet.
For the take-aways (and they deliver, too, we noticed last time), I tend to prefer their sorbets at home, but in the shop, I tend to go for the stuff with heaps of cream and toppings (often with nicely decorative umbrellas/displays, which is always a nice touch). The parfaits with booze on them aren't bad either, and they're not too skimpy on the grog.
I've not been to the all you can Fridays yet, but from what I've heard from my mates, I'd need body armour - someone we know goes with her husband, and she always sends him up into the scrum to get the scoops, but maybe soon I'll have to give it a go.
Good ice-cream all the time, and a great place to people watch.
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I've eaten here a few times, and while the food is good, I reckon it’s slightly too pricey for what it is, but that is partially due to prices being listed in US $. My maths is shocking, and I'd much rather see it listed in dong, as that's what I normally have in my wallet, and I'm far too lazy to convert it in my head (plus I’d probably get it wrong). $10 sounds a lot more to me than 160,000 dong, even with all the extra zeros. But monopoly money is easier to spend I guess, even if US dollars look pretend too.
But I'm sidetracking. The food was good, as was their opening gambit of breads and flavoured oils and vinegars, they were very tasty. I had deep fried goats cheese as an entree once, and if I had sneezed as they were bringing it out, it would have blown away. The pasta that followed it though was a decent size, and had a nice and rich sauce. Pizzas here have been good, and we could re-jig the toppings to something more appealing with little difficulty. I even grabbed some stuff as a take away once, and it survived the drive home remarkably well (possibly better than if it had been a delivery, as I know where I live).
If I was a wine connoisseur, it might be an even better place, but I'm not, so I can't tell you if they're any good - though one time I was there a bloke raving about some in their collection until he started bemoaning the fact they didn't have the Chilean wine he had had 2 months ago there.
I’d go again, though it wouldn’t be my first suggestion if we’re in the area, as there are a lot of other better options nearby that I know of, and a whole bunch of places I’ve never tried.
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We first tried this place a while back, but I kept washing the business cards before I wrote down the address so I could upload it here.
Dep is a lovely little restaurant, and is normally very quiet so the perfect place to take someone for a romantic evening. Normally I'm a bit leery of an empty place, because I figure if it was good, then they'd be packing the people in, but I think they've only just opened, so give them time.
The food is fantastic, and nicely presented and very reasonably priced. All the dishes we've had have been great, especially the banana flower salad (not normally something I'd pick, but it makes a nice change) and the honey beef, two dishes we get every time we go. The Singapore noodles were awesome too, with heaps more toppings than I've had in other places.
The staff are always attentive but not overbearing and although English ability varies at times we've never had an order go awry. And their level of service is unbelievable, a few weeks ago I turned up with my rear view mirrors on my bike loose and spinning around, and when we left they had tightened the nut on each, and polished them.
We have been going at least once a week since our first visit, and when my parents are over here on a trip, it is definitely one of the places I'll be taking them.
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Seeing the review on the New Hanoian for Casa Mia made me decide to go here for lunch today. I've already reviewed them, but they need another 5 stars.
I got the desert I normally get, a Pinocchio ice-cream that appeals to small kids and immature adults alike, and ordered a cocktail to wash it down.
It was awesome, I think I now have a new favourite bar... they pretty much just peeled an orange then put the skin round a bottle of gin. I definitely recommend their mixed drinks!
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Answers (19)
Posted Saturday August 11th, 2007.
Hehe, yep, the second one is right.
My mates and I tried a few different types of those cards when we first got here, and it seemed random which shops would be selling which brands - often the place we had originally bought it from didn't have any more.
You can now set Skype up so it renews your account when it starts getting low, which is good if you're forgetful like me.
In response to the question: Does anyone use International Calling cards in Hanoi and where can you buy them? Am I about to be told the easiest and cheapest way is using Skype ...
Posted Sunday September 23rd, 2007.
I'm just yarning to one of my Vietnamese mates at the moment, and she said that there will be heaps of people lighting up the flying paper lanterns on Tuesday night.
I saw them last year once, going over West Lake, and they were very beautiful. She said they release them from Korean Point (which is part of West Lake, apparently but I've never heard of it). We were at the Highlands Coffee on the boat on the lake, and the lanterns looked to be coming from near the swan paddle boats and merry-go-round.
There will be even more released at My Dinh Stadium, where they play the big soccer matches, and fly the kites at night and stuff. I'd go there just to fly a kite myself, on another night, that's pretty enough.
Out of the two, I'd take the West Lake option first, as you can have a beer and a feed and sit in a comfortable chair watching it.
In response to the question: Does anyone know if there are any good festivities worth visiting in Hanoi on September 25th (the Mid-Autumn Festival)? I don't know what they do for...
Posted Wednesday September 26th, 2007.
For other games I've played that I've needed a legit copy, I've ordered mine via Amazon or one of the other online retailers.
Occasionally that plan has fallen through when my package has disappeared into the bowels of the mail system, but I always remain ever hopeful.
In response to the question: Hi, my Aussie sons think they will expire soon if they don't get their hands on a Halo 3. Where can we buy a good legit copy? Thanks for your help ...
Posted Thursday October 4th, 2007.
I can't help with the gumboots, but if you want a toaster from somewhere in Ba Dinh, then there's a bunch of white goods sort of shops on Giang Vo. I got my beer fridge, a blender and a rice cooker there, and there were toasters and all those sort of things too.
In town, Hai Ba Trung has heaps of electronics shops, and you're sure to find one there, too.
In response to the question: Oh please please please does anyone know where I can buy Wellington boots in either Ba Dinh or the old quarter? Also looking for a toaster if anyo...
Posted Monday October 15th, 2007.
There is one down the bottom of tower 3 in Ciputra, the one to the left of Jafa.
If there's more, I don't know about them sorry mate.
In response to the question: Hi, Can anyone tell me the address of L's place in Hanoi? I know there is one on Xuan Dieu 1. Where are the other? Thanks...
Posted Tuesday October 23rd, 2007.
We bought saddle bags for our motorbike off a small street near Hang Bong - my memory is hazy but on a map (which I am terrible at reading) it looks like it was Ha Trung. This street sold lots of leather goods, seats, saddle bags, jackets. Our bags were reasonably priced (time has eaten away exactly how much), but it was certainly strong and durable, and generally waterproof. If you're doing heaps of riding, it might be a goer for you as well mate.
In response to the question: Hi I was wondering if there are any keen cyclists out there who have bought a bag for their bicycle in Hanoi. I am looking for one for the front han...
Posted Tuesday October 23rd, 2007.
My system so far has been not to get sick. As a backup plan, I got online coverage. You have to be from the right countries though, an Aussie, a Kiwi or a Pom.
http://www.1cover.com/
I haven't had to claim, and it wasn't too expensive for a years coverage (I have a shocking memory though, and couldn't tell you how much it would be sorry), and it is extendable if you stay for longer or travel somewhere after here.
A family friend had to claim for something while they were on holidays with this, and they coughed up no worries, and didn't throw too much paperwork at them.
In response to the question: Hmm, I tried this question unsuccessfully this morning - it didn't show up. Problem - almost every bit of info about Vietnam says to get health in...
Posted Wednesday October 31st, 2007.
There is a bunch of glasses shops and opticians on Giang Vo, and some more in town around Trang Tien plaza.
I am sure some of them would sell some, especially the bigger ones with Opticians inside them.
Possibly all the sunglasses places on Luong Van Can, near Little Hanoi might sell you some too, but that's more of a stretch, I'd guess.
In response to the question: Does anyone know where i can buy a small (travel-size) bottle of contact lens solution?...
Posted Wednesday December 5th, 2007.
In July I flew to America and back, and got my flights lined up and booked in about 5 minutes at Asia Wings, in Hanoi Towers. I've used them many times, and never had any problems. Even when cutting it fine time wise, they've managed to squeeze me onto a plane to get me where I am going when I wanted to. And the prices have generally been quite reasonable, too.
In response to the question: Can anyone recommend a good travel agency for booking tickets to and from the US? Might try to go home for the holidays and internet searches not turn...
Posted Wednesday January 9th, 2008.
A friend of mine had a house warming a while back, and had heaps of food prepared and delivered by the Deli. There's a few listed by that name, but this is the one she used: http://www.newhanoian.com/venue/show/187/The-Deli-Tran-Huy-Lieu
Casa Mia has just opened up, also on Kim Ma, and its run by the caterers at my school. Any time they've had to do a function, its been well run, you could try them too (I've just done a review for them, so they're listed now).
In response to the question: I consider to host a party with around 15 people and need some food delivered, including cutlery and plates. Has anyone experience with a catering ser...
Posted Friday January 11th, 2008.
I know my Vietnamese mates like some sites that can only be accessed via an FPT connection, for streamed movies and music and stuff. Did you set your blog up on something that belongs to FPT, or a more generic one?
In response to the question: Anyone know why I might not be able to log onto any blogs from my home internet site? I set up a blog form a cafe the otherday and now can't access i...
Posted Friday January 18th, 2008.
There are a heap of sports shops on Nguyen Thai Hoc, near Chicken Street.
Since I fear and loathe exercise, I can't tell you how good it is quality-wise.
We get most of our gear there for school but school equipment never lasts long, no matter the quality of your materials, so I can't use that a yardstick either, sorry.
In response to the question: Can anybody recommend a sporting good store or a place to get a decent quality basketball? Doesn't need to be top quality, just preferably one that w...
Posted Sunday March 23rd, 2008.
Heaps of places on Ly Nam De sell software, at very reasonable prices. They often have folders of them sorted into different applications, and some compilation ones as well.
In response to the question: Where is the best place in Hanoi to buy software. ...
Posted Thursday May 1st, 2008.
An Uninterrupted Power Supply - a few big batteries welded into a box, that sits between the powerpoint and your computer, with a powerboard on the back so you can plug in a half a dozen things. If the power cuts out, it means that you don't lose that document you should have saved but didn't, and they also tend to help with fluctuations and power spikes. With a big spike, it should die without passing the surge on, instead of your computer/router or anything else plugged into it.
In response to the question: At home I plug my computer into an adapter and a power strip, but it is heating up quite quickly. Although I have lived overseas a number of times, th...
Posted Monday May 12th, 2008.
We were getting slaughtered regularly by them too, but found the bug thing you're after. Citimart in Hanoi Towers and Big C both stock them, it is in an orange box about the size of a light globe, called Jumbo. The plug thinggy is the same orange colour, and it comes with either a small perfume bottle full of magic, that is connected underneath, or a pad that you shove into the top cover.
The bottles are easier to see when they are running low so you need to buy a new one, and if you're not careful pulling them out from the wall, you can rip the top bit off the electronics (I have done it a few times now), but they won't break the bank if that happens.
They are great, the bugs go away till it is empty and we scramble to buy a new one
In response to the question: Lately I've found myself being attacked rather vigourously by mosquitos whilst I'm sleeping, which I'm not enjoying. I can't seem to locate the insect...
Posted Tuesday May 13th, 2008.
Toan Phat computers at 16A Ly Nam De have fixed a mates external hard drive, but I forget how much it was, sorry.
These guys are great, and have always looked after me or any friends I have taken there for parts or repairs, as you can see by this glowing review I gave them:
http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/venue/show/1687/Toan-Phat-Computer
In response to the question: Hi, Does anyone know where can I repair my external hard disk? And if there is a place that provides the service, how much would it cost? ...
Posted Thursday May 15th, 2008.
Feather boas are all the rage on push bikes for boys at the moment, so they are selling them in all colours on Pho Hue and Ba Trieu. Drive down one of them, and you can't miss them.
I can't help you with a cigarette holder sorry.
In response to the question: Does anyone know where I can buy a long black cigarette holder and a black boa...?...
Posted Monday May 19th, 2008.
I am allergic to sport, so I am not 100% definite, but I'd say its most likely that Jafa at Ciputra will screen it, and probably Jaspas in Hanoi Towers, too.
You might find it on at a few more places, and I think they have a delayed telecast on the Australia channel.
In response to the question: Hello, I am an Aussie that will be in Hanoi for the 2nd State of Origin match on the 11/06/08, does anyone know if this will be shown on TV in Vietnam...
Posted Monday June 23rd, 2008.
I reckon that the New Hanoian's system works great guns, because of the dedication the admins put in.
I love this site, and check for new reviews at least every hour if I'm at my computer (I have a short attention span, and I am easily amused). I read all the FAQ pages just for something to do ages ago, but obviously that's not for everyone - and I am sure if a small place with Vietnamese owners who don't speak great English come to the site, they aren't going to wade through all that. They may not even know what a FAQ is.
I once saw one listing for a place that was done by the owner - to the normal user, you wouldn't have known - but I'd just followed up a job interview (posted on the pages here, naturally) and the reviewer was the same person I'd sent my CV to. I palmed it off to the admins with a quick note and they spoke quietly to her, she hadn't known it wasn't the done thing, blowing your own trumpet.
I reckon they do a fantastic job, and dealt with Stones in the most appropriate way. Stones had unwittingly screwed up, and so were trying to make it up the best way they could - by giving a huge prize for 15 people (deservedly won by Brenaj) and then the monthly meet-up. What better way to say "We're sorry" than with free booze? It also gave us the chance to check the place out, and some people have already reviewed it. When I go again, I'll review it too - as I prefer to go at least twice to a place before I give them their review, to make sure I'm giving it a fair one.
The guys running the New Hanoian are doing a fantastic job. I’ve had job interviews from their pages, helped mates find flatmates, and found some excellent bars and restaurants on their pages. I love writing reviews, and enjoy reading everyone else’s reviews. Plus, once a month, New Hanoian picks up my bar tab. What’s not to like? The only thing that would make it perfect would be if I got a free puppy every time I reloaded the home page.
In response to the question: I'm setting up this question so that we have a more effective venue for discussing some of the concerns "jimbo" has recently raised about how we've de...
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