Ta Hien Street

As the name 'Hanoi Beer Street' suggests, there is an abundance of beer on Ta Hien Street. It is especially well known for its pavement beer where customers can just get a bottle of beer, take a plate of street food and gossip among their friends.

The typical speciality of Ta Hien Street is Bia co. It is neither a first-class beer, nor it has any special taste. What makes it so popular is a distinctive bittersweet flavour aptly complementing Hanoi's pavement culture. The Ta Hien beer is an aromatic combination of flavours like deliciously fried Nem Chua and sweet-smelling roasted squids. Alternatively, tourists can order other branded beers and drinks like Tiger, Halida, Saigon, Rum and Gin. Ta Hien Street has many beer stores close to it. They are crowded all the time, especially during weekend nights.

The twisted intersections and small alleyways of Ta Hien Street are no less than a mini food haven. Ta Hien is home to some of Hanoi's best street foods such as Nem Chua, sweet porridges, noodles and Vietnamese bread. The snacks served with beer varies from traditional ones like Nem Phung, boiled peanut and fried Nem, to Western ones such as cheese sticks, fried chips, etc. Two dishes that must not be missed on Ta Hien Street are fried Nem Chua and fried chips served together. Nem Chua costs only VND 5000.

In spite of being a Western dish, cheese sticks did not take long to win the hearts of Vietnamese youth. More so, foreign tourists feel at home when they find a familiar dish on the menu. The fresh and yellow crispy cheese sticks with a thick layer of cheese is a perfect side dish with a chilled bottle of beer. Each stick costs about VND 6000.

Barbequed bird-wing mixed with honey is a dish that many locals and tourists love to eat while visiting Ta Hien Street. It costs about VND 35000 in one serving of 4 birds. Another indispensable dish for Hanoi people is chicken feet steamed with citronella. The sweet and sour flavour of the sauce along with the gentle smell of the mildly spicy citronella turns the heads of every single person crossing by.

If you have plans of hitting the bar after chilling on Ta Hien Street,  to have drinks with your friends in a more sophisticated place and groove on some funky music, these two bars should fulfil your desires:

1. Local Bar
Address: 16 Ta Hien Street
Opening Hours: 4:00 PM to 5:00 AM 

2. 1900 Le Theatre Bar
Address: 8 Ta Hien Street
Opening Hours: 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Even though Ta Hien is considered as a party street, there are no pubs here per se. There are not even proper tables on the street. People just come and sit on small stools around a slightly taller wooden or plastic stool where they can keep their beer bottles and food plates. It might seem uncomfortable at a glance, but it creates a unique ambience where tourists can experience the ancient local lifestyles of Vietnamese people.

The atmosphere of Ta Hien Street becomes livelier at nightfall as the place is rushed by tourists and locals. The simple street style is a common feature of Ta Hien Street. Plastic chairs are used both as seats and as tables. The friendly and comfortable atmosphere lets the customers sit for hours without any interruptions.