An Idiot's Guide to Judi Online Hanoi
I've been in Hanoi for two weeks and I still haven't the faintest clue how to navigate the streets here. So much for my trusty internal GPS. This city has me beat and I concede defeat.
That said, it's not as though I'm in a complete fog. Some
valuable lessons have been learned, interesting sites seen, and plenty of beer
consumed.
I thought I'd share some of my newfound knowledge with you lest
you yourself wind up visiting this city planner's worst nightmare one day. Man
cannot live on Lonely Planet alone, after all:
Come prepared: There aren't any shops to buy toiletries or the
like at any of the hotels. And forget about popping out to the nearest
7-11--there aren't any of those either. Convenience stores do exist, but it
takes time and energy to get to them.
If you drink, you're in luck as they sell the world's cheapest
beer in Vietnam. The only catch is you leave yourself wide open to the world's
biggest hangover in the morning and nowhere to buy aspirin.
Also, unless you're extremely careful, you can expect your
stomach to disagree with at least something during your stay. Be prepared. Pack
your medicine.
Best restaurant: You can't possibly sample every place in Hanoi
in such a short time but the good news is that the smattering of places I have
been to have all been excellent (save for one--Bobby Chinn's). The best by far,
though, has been La Salsa across the street from St. Joseph's Cathedral. A
tapas joint owned and operated by French people, La Salsa is a favorite hangout
of expats and backpackers alike. Don't let that turn you off, the food more
than makes up for the non-Vietnamese experience. Chorizo to die for,
mouthwatering meatballs, succulent duck and sangria that will leave you seeing
double for a fortnight (Did I mention you should pack your Tylenol?).
Best nightclub: Nutz at the Sheraton Hotel. This is a no-brainer
because it's the only disco that the fun police haven't shut down in the last
couple of months. It isn't anything to write home about what with prostitutes
on the prowl and visiting businessmen--all conspicuously without wedding
rings--lapping up the attention. But the place is always busy and there are
enough people not taking part in the sex trade to make it worthwhile.
Better still, it's one of the only places I've found that stays
open late. They flicked the switch on us at 12:30 the other night (also
spoiling the fun for Australia coach Graham Arnold and his retinue) and stayed
open until 3 a.m. on the weekend. Good numbers for a city that usually shuts
its doors at 11 p.m.
Most interesting site: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Ho is a little less
green than V.I. Lenin in Red Square, yet he still radiates an eerie glow. I
guess that's what happens when you've been lying in state for 37 years.
French women also cause headaches: "I find it so easy to get
laid here," one particularly stunning blonde French woman told me. Which
begged the question, "In what country do stunning blonde French women find
it difficult to get laid?"
Best coffee: The locals will probably want to lynch me when they
read this, but my vote for the best mud goes to Highlands, a Vietnamese chain
similar to Starbucks and Tully's. I find the local joe too strong and slightly
odd-tasting. It's an acquired taste that I'm certain I will never acquire.
Highlands also has a good wireless connection (in most outlets) and decent food
to boot. And air conditioning, bless them.
Worst service: Bobby Chinn's. The battleaxe that runs the place
ruins what otherwise would be the ideal restaurant. Great food ("Asian
fusion"), hip décor and
sofas in the back with hookah pipes for some serious chilling. Don't get too
excited though, the waitresses will stop just short of prodding you with a fork
to hurry your meal along. It was truly the worst dining experience of my life.
And I've been to some pretty terrible places over the years.
Service in general: Polite but not entirely with it. Take a deep
breath and be prepared to wait when ordering in Hanoi. The locals work at a
relaxed pace and are prone to getting orders wrong, so patience is a must.
Learning some Vietnamese should help minimize any communication breakdowns.
MVP award: Definitely Judi Online goes to the city's drivers. Ho Chi Minh City may be
even busier than Hanoi, but there's no denying the people here know how to
operate their vehicles, be it the taxi drivers or the multitude of people on
mopeds. As one observant visitor pointed out, "They seem to be born on
motorcycles."
Don't drink the water: And stay away from ice cubes. You'll
regret it in the morning otherwise.
Most unnerving: The police who monitor you on the dance floor. I
guess my jig ain't as bad as I thought, though, as I have yet to be arrested.
Most pleasant surprise: The absence of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,
Starbucks, etc. You can still get pizza and cheeseburgers, just not from Ronald
and the rest of junk-food juggernauts. It's nice to see they haven't reached
every corner of the world. Yet.
Sadly, I've seen two KFCs here and there's a Segafredo's coming
soon. Still, as the saying goes: "I got to Hanoi before obesity." If
you hurry, so can you.
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