Fruitful shopping on Le Duan including a Party shirt (50kd) and a pair of slip-ons (180kd from opening price of 350kd).
Had made reservations at Sofitel Metropole’s Le Beaulieu for brunch, but a screw-up in the reservations meant that we ended up at Le Club instead. Oh well, it did mean paying US$35 (US$46 a person all in) instead of forking out US$68. The spread was not very wide but happily, the lack of variety was not an indication of the quality. There were oysters, parma ham and melon, crayfish, lobster, fresh vegetables, cheeses and desserts (ice-cream, chocolates, apple pie, log cake, mousse, fruits). The only disappointment was the bland sushi.
Had made reservations at Sofitel Metropole’s Le Beaulieu for brunch, but a screw-up in the reservations meant that we ended up at Le Club instead. Oh well, it did mean paying US$35 (US$46 a person all in) instead of forking out US$68. The spread was not very wide but happily, the lack of variety was not an indication of the quality. There were oysters, parma ham and melon, crayfish, lobster, fresh vegetables, cheeses and desserts (ice-cream, chocolates, apple pie, log cake, mousse, fruits). The only disappointment was the bland sushi.
Managed to make it to Café Pho Co (11 Hang Gai), dubbed the secret café by the New York Times, before sunset. From the street, one sees a gallery and a small sign for a café. The narrow walkway opens up into a courtyard which seems to be part of an old Chinese mansion. Seating, reached by spiral staircases, is haphazardly found on the second, third and fourth floors, which offer a bird’s eye view of Hoan Kiem lake. Enjoyed an ice coffee as the sun set.
Finally located Ipa-nima, which had just moved in December to 34 Han Thuyen (http://www.ipa-nima.com/). The girls luxuriated in handbag heaven while I enjoyed the comfy couch and the thoroughly well-designed store.
Met up with the Ts and Ds for dinner at Nam Phuong (19 Pho Phan Chu Trinh, LP). The food had the tasty simplicity of homecooked food and was the perfect final dinner in Ha Noi. We had raw spring rolls, shrimp with banana flower salad, cuttlefish with chilli and lemongrass, beef stir fried with pepper, pork patties grilled with honey, pork and eggs in coconut juice, kale in XO sauce and for dessert, caramel custard and banana fritters.