Hanoi’s nightlife is a mix of interesting things. While the city is lined up with glitzy nightclubs and lively bars, a night out in Hanoi is incomplete without sipping the Vietnamese draft beer, at a bench next to a bustling street looking at the crowds go about their business.

Hanoi’s nightlife area is conveniently concentrated around its famous Hoan Kiem Lake where you can dance to all sorts of tunes and enjoy great booze while mixing with a lot of locals and expats.

1. Bai Hoi Junction

The Bai Hoi Junction in the center of the Old Quarter is a perfectly classic night out in Hanoi. This peculiar experience can be best soaked in by washing down a few beers with steamed peanuts and beef jerky being served for as little as less than USD 1. Several shops roll out the stools on to the streets which makes the whole sight quite a unique experience. Though the beers served are milder according to the European standards, the place is worth a try.

2. Water Puppet Theatre

If you are visiting Hanoi for the first time, don’t think twice, just head to the Water Puppet Theatre, featuring the local lifestyle of Hanoi through live music and its ancient art form of water puppetry. The art depicts ancient stories and myths through its puppets gliding and dancing gracefully over water which is also easily understandable for the foreign tourists. The shows are held every night and sometimes it becomes difficult to book a ticket especially during the weekends.  

3. Minh’s Jazz Club

A perfect wrap up to a day can come in the form of a laid-back yet enthralling experience. Minh’s Jazz Club is here to do exactly that. Its dark interior, focusing solely on the talented performers, will make the lovers of live music fall in love with the place in one instance. Minh, a Vietnamese Jazz performer considered to be the best in history, sometimes visit the place for jamming with his greatly skilled musicians. Though drinks are not cheap, the quality of live entertainment will surpass it all.

4. Hanoi Opera House

One of the most stunning examples of the colonial architecture in Vietnam is the Hanoi Opera House. One night of cultural music performance can leave deep impressions and memories that would linger for long. Though the Opera House doesn’t schedule performances each night, it is advisable to ask the concierge about the same. It is imperative that advance booking is done. Even if there are no scheduled performances during your stay, its location in the center of the French Quarter is worth the visit at night.