Lying to the north-east of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Tre St is just a 5 minute walk from Hanoi’s central post office, and a stone’s throw from the Chuong Duong Bridge which spans the Red River. The building is a 3-storey colonial era house (built in 1951) which offers a range of dining styles suitable to all kinds of guest.

After passing through the saloon doors the first (ground) floor offers a bar area marked by a unique raised bar. Lacquer surfaced tables and chairs draped in materials fashioned by the Flower H’Mong ethnicity of Bac Ha offer a comfortable setting for drinking or dining.

Passing the open-air display kitchen climb the staircase, studded with bronze plates designed by Nguyen Anh Tuan, to the second floor where the dining experience changes to a rather more traditional form. Sit at low split bamboo tables upon grass cushions produced by people from the White Thai ethnicity of Mai Chau village and enjoy the surroundings of artistic works on both poonah paper and natural lacquer – two art forms for which Vietnam is renowned. Soft lighting is supplied by an innovative use of fishing baskets suspended from bamboo poles. During the summer months this room is air-conditioned, but during spring and autumn a gentle breeze drifts through.

A further flight of stairs leads to the third floor roof terrace, with low tables set in a traditional wooden house, surrounding an ancient temple. Open sides and an overhanging roof make this area suitable for dining in all weather conditions, and perhaps the best spot in town on a warm evening.