One Last Thing: Sugar Cane 

Here's one last thing I love that didn't quite fall into any of the last few categories. Sugarcane is not unique to Hanoi, but for me it was an integral part of the Hanoi experience. It’s a seasonal (summer) thing, and it generally comes in 2 forms…

FORM 1: Nuoc Mia (Sugarcane Juice)

You’ll see it on the side of the road everywhere and it is really good. It’s cold and sweet, which is just what the doctor ordered in the Hanoi heat. Get a glass and sip it down in the shade. It should cost you about 8,000 VND (37 cents).

FORM 2: Stalks of Sugarcane

You’ll see these less frequently but they can be found for outrageously low prices. You’ll pay 20,000 VND (92 cents) for a bag full of them. Using your molars, you bite down on them and chew them to squeeze all the sweet juice out. When the flavor is gone you spit it back out.

And That's It Folks! 

Hanoi is an awesome place to live, and there are never a shortage of things to do or places to go. This might seem like a lot of information, but it's just a drop in the bucket that is Hanoi. It's a vibrant, busy city with a million things going on at once. There are lots of other tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants, cafés, and bars that you're sure to love. The best way to form a genuinely meaningful connection with Hanoi is to find a place that is truly your own—a place that nobody told you to go to, a place that you found on your own. So check out a few of these places and then start wandering! 

If you want to learn more about Hanoi, you should check out my other 2 guides to this city. It's an awesome place to visit and an even better place to call your home. These articles will help you... 

And if you still have any questions you'd like to ask, don't hesitate to get in touch with me! I love gushing about Hanoi and helping others find their place there, so I don't mind answering a few emails. So hit me up! It won't be weird.