Start the evening in Hanoi with a stroll through the timeless alleys of a rich heritage, immerse yourself in the gastronomic streets of the old quarter, attend a fabulous artistic show and prolong the party in a bar or club for the festive atmosphere, here are 7 things to do, according to CNN Travel, to experience the best of Hanoi in an unforgettable evening.

1. Walk around the heirlooms

All the roads of the capital lead to walks around Hoan Kiem Lake (the restored sword), a haven of serenity in the heart of the bustling neighbourhoods. Frequented by many visitors and residents of all ages, the lake offers a refreshing stopover during the day and especially at night when you come to walk, do exercises, play chess or simply sit under the shade of the century-old tree for a moment of relaxation. During the weekend when the old quarter does not sleep at night, the pedestrian area is set up around the lake to please everyone. Popular games, folk music and dance, street portrait painting, shopping, dessert, etc., this cultural melting pot has enough to fill a memorable night out.

After a tour of the lake, make your way to the Hanoi Opera House, the hottest venue for concerts and entertainment. Punctuated by striking traditional music, a show of "My village" will dazzle you with the breath-taking scenes run by lovers of the plastic arts. Superb staging, excellent artists and spectacular music, this extraordinary work never ceases to be talked about, as evidenced by the number of successes of the hundreds of performances in many countries.

Hanoi Opera House: 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

           >> Read more: Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake

2. Immerse yourself in the local culture

In the direction towards the streets embracing the Saint Joseph Cathedral, you can discover the multinational gastronomic crossroads alongside a historical and architectural landmark of three centuries. Erected in Nha Chung Street and just a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, this building attracts many young people and passengers not only by its majestic appearance, but also by the friendly atmosphere that is felt in its surroundings where there are canteens and Asian and Western restaurants. It’s a gourmet break to be enjoyed without hesitation, whether to fill a little hunger or to satisfy oneself in the most varied styles.

To have a drink with privacy and originality, go to Manzi where it is good to chat in a pleasant atmosphere while admiring its original exhibitions. Nestled in a quiet alley not far from the old quarter, this old renovated colonial building charms visitors with a unique and friendly decor where visual and contemporary art lovers meet.

Saint Joseph Cathedral: 40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Manzi: 14 Phan Huy Ich, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

           >> Read more: Top 7 Best Cafés in Hanoi for Travellers

3. Discover Hanoi street food

Eat like the celebrities, why not, by simply following the tracks of Obama accompanied by the famous chef Anthony Bourdain during his visit to Vietnam in 2016. Take a seat at the Huong Lien restaurant to order a typical portion of bun cha, priced at around 90,000 VND.

It is better to taste the bun cha for lunch and treat yourself to a gourmet evening by strolling through the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter. These are the little corners that are popular with gourmets for its abundance of canteens, according to Tracey Lister, Australian author of "Vietnamese street food".

Huong Lien Restaurant: 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

           >> Read more: Hanoi street food: a unique gourmet travel experience

4. Have some cold local beer

Beer in hand, you can just sit on a plastic chair to relax like a local in a corner of Ta Hien Street where cold beer is king. Usually lively until 2am, Bia Hoi Corner located at the intersection of Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ta Hien and Dinh Liet streets is a must-see for Hanoi night owls. Lovers of the place and passengers come in large numbers especially in the evening and on weekends to enjoy its relaxing atmosphere and taste a beer at a low price of less than 10,000 VND.

Residents, meanwhile, get used to drinking in Duong Thanh Street in the west of the Old Quarter, a 10-minute walk away. For those looking for a craft beer of unsuspected quality, Standing Bar is a good choice. Its pretty terrace overlooking Truc Bach Lake and an innovative menu make this brasserie a favourite stop for many travellers.

Bia Hoi Corner: 20 Ta Hien, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Standing Bar: 170 Tran Vu, Truc Bach, Hanoi

5. Applaud an artistic performance

Not far from Hoan Kiem Lake is the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, an ideal place to spend with a group or family to experience a moment combining discovery and pleasure. Dating from the 11th century, it is a folk art created by peasants who imagined legends from the most playful angle around a piece of water. Cradled by traditional music, the humorous dolls will take you to the world of folk tales in an attractive way through the metaphorized characters.

If you are a rock fan, let yourself be swept away by the intriguing acoustic sounds that echo through Hanoi Rock City found on To Ngoc Van Street, bordering West Lake. If the place makes a point of honour to hectic rock evenings, it does not set aside such exciting concerts for all tastes, folk, reggae, jazz, indie, grunge...

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre: 57b Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Hanoi Rock City: 27/52 To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi

6. Sip the nocturnal flavours in a cocktail bar

It is the old streets like Ta Hien, Bao Khanh and Luong Ngoc Quyen that are full of good places to taste beer as well as all kinds of cocktails with local tastes. Between classics and modern, bask in a cocktail in your style at the Nê bar, ideal for an aperitif with friends for its relaxed atmosphere imbued with jazz. This is the opportunity to be surprised by Tien Tiep, its founder who was honoured for a cocktail inspired by the flavour of pho soup at a bartending competition in 2012.

A good alternative is Tadioto, very close to the Opera House, which is worth it for its location away from the hustle and bustle. Elegant and intimate, the area is not just a bar to enjoy with friends in the evening, but also a premier cultural and artistic meeting point of Hanoi.

Nê Bar: 3B Tong Duy Tan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Tadioto: 24B Tong Dan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

7. Dance the night away

For a change of scenery, join Savage at the top of Hanoi's clubs, which animates an entire corner of Xuan Dieu Street along the West Lake with its electronic music. Since its opening in 2016, Savage has been a temple of DJs in Hanoi, perfectly dedicated to a marriage between cocktails, space and music. His Red Cube club, which is never short of ideas, appeals to musicians of all nationalities who come to improvise with famous Hanoi artists, Quan, Min8, Trung D, Tri Minh and more.

Savage: 112 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi

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