Hanoi isn't well known for its nightlife, as the city streets can appear pretty deserted soon after 2200. However, the situation is improving and there are a number of great places in which to pass an evening, although clubs and live music venues are still in short supply. Government restrictions mean that venues are unable to stay open very late and there are occasional police raids should a club flout the unspecified regulations. Much of the nightlife takes place around the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Most nightlife venues in Hanoi are on the small side, but the ambience is great and the crowds friendly.

The Spotted Cow, 23C Hai Ba Trung, Finnegan's Irish Pub, 16A Duong Thanh, Relax Bar, 60 Ly Thuong Kiet, Polite Pub, 5 Bao Khanh Street and Funky Monkey, 15B Hang Hanh, are all good places for a drink or two. Apocalypse Now, Star Bowl Centre, Pham Ngoc Thach, or New Century, 10 Trang Thi Street, are two of the best clubs in town if you fancy a bit of dancefloor action. Check out Minh's Jazz Club, 31 Luong Van Can (website: www.minhjazzvietnam.com), Indochine Jazz Club, 62 Nguyen Truong To, and Seventeen Saloon, 98B Tran Hung Dao, for live music acts.

Cultural entertainment is rather thin on the ground throughout the city, although improving, but there are a few outlets. You can find information on performances in the daily English-language newspaper the Vietnam News and the monthly The Guide, published by the Vietnam Economic Times. An alternative source of information is Time Out, a free supplement in the weekly Vietnam Investment Review. Tickets should be purchased in person at the venue.

You can find traditional entertainment at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, 57B Dinh Tien Hoang (tel: (04) 3824 9494; ). Hanoi's Opera House, 1 Trang Tien (tel: (04) 3933 0131), is a beautiful building showing orchestral, choral, ballet and theatrical works. Films in English or with English subtitles are shown at Megastar Cineplex, Level 6 VinCom City Towers, 191 Ba Trieu, Ha Ba Trung district (tel: (04) 3974 3333; website www.megastarmedia.net), as well as at the Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc (tel: (04) 3734 2251), and at L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien (tel: (04) 3936 2164).