Hanoi

[ExpatCat]

I'm looking to visit Vietnam early next year (Jan or Feb) for some mongering, oh and to ride the Ho Chi Minh Trail on a motorbike. Could any forum members recommend a good outfit to do the HCMT? I have a couple of recommendations from the Dancing Roads site in Cambodia where I went last year. The riding was good, the girls in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap rode better.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers
Expatcat

[Kodanana]

Hi Guys,

Is the New Century Club shut down, or back in business? I'm headed to Hanoi in a few days and the New Century Club sounded like about the best (surest?) place to find a 2 hour date. If its open, is it deserted, or somewhat back in action?

Any suggestions on the best alternatives? I'll read back through the posts but won't have time until just before leaving.

Thanks in advance for any help (much appreciated).

Closed permanent!!! But there will be a new one similar openning soon in Cau Giay District.

Try out the bars in Bao Khanh and Ta Hien st, they all closed at midnite, the girls used to hang out in New Century now move to those places.

I was there last week and it's packed.

[Road Lover]

Forget to bring a girl into Sofitel Hanoi. Security will stop you and you will be asked to book a room for your girl. Best thing you can do is to go to the New Century dance club, which is 5 min. by cab from the hotel. Here you will find tons of nice and beautiful girls at the bar. They do have private places around and its secure to follow them there. Unfortunately you´ll have to pay for the room there as well and they´ll charge you appr. USD 20. Girls with excellent service are available from USD 30 on.

Thanks for this advise. But now that New Century has been closed, is there any other similar suggestion, that I could follow? Thanks and sorry for being a repeat pest.

[Pak Mike]

Is the New Century Club shut down, or back in business?

Closed, probably for some time, if not permanently!! Most other places currently keeping low profile.

[Whumper]

This is an article in the local newspaper

Nearly 500 armed police officers Saturday raided the New Century Club in Hanoi, northern Vietnam’s hippest nightclub, detaining 1,163 people, including foreigners, on suspicion of drug use and distribution.

The sting was a classified operation by the central Ministry of Public Security’s General Police Department. Even the Hanoi police force knew nothing about it.

Hi Guys,

Is the New Century Club shut down, or back in business? I'm headed to Hanoi in a few days and the New Century Club sounded like about the best (surest?) place to find a 2 hour date. If its open, is it deserted, or somewhat back in action?

Any suggestions on the best alternatives? I'll read back through the posts but won't have time until just before leaving.

Thanks in advance for any help (much appreciated).

[One Wing Low]

When Duong first launched New Century Club a few years ago, there were rumors that he bribed Hanoi police to raid his competition, causing most other clubs to close, leaving New Century the only in club in town. He subsequently raked in a lot of money, averaging US$50K profit a night, enough to spend on many luxury items, including a MBZ Maybach parked in the lot.

Most nights there are a lot of young girls hanging out in the club with rich old boy friends, or just hanging out hoping to catch moneyed BF's. There are always a few pro's stationing near the entrance eyeing potential clients. The drinking, smoking, drugging, dancing, fraternizing... by a large crowd of young people in this club every night are viewed as Western decadence and must be a thorn on the side for the old men in the ruling party. They know local police hierarchy is on payoff to turn blind eyes to illegal acitivities that go on inside and outside the club.

It's wise to remember that Vietnam is tightly ruled by a small group of old men in Hanoi. They have absolute power to decide what is right or wrong, what is legal or not, and the approriate sentences for any perceived crimes. The constitution, laws, congress, judicial systems...are just window dressings, who are rewarded mainly for their loyalty to the Communist Party.

This is an article in the local newspaper
Nearly 500 armed police officers Saturday raided the New Century Club in Hanoi, northern Vietnam’s hippest nightclub, detaining 1,163 people, including foreigners, on suspicion of drug use and distribution.
The sting was a classified operation by the central Ministry of Public Security’s General Police Department. Even the Hanoi police force knew nothing about it.

Though the club owner Nguyen Dai Duong was not present, he was detained later.

A venue for the wealthy and chic, New Century is one of the biggest and most expensive nightclubs in Vietnam.
addicted for 5 months.

[Colony2007]

Guys,

I recommend you guys go to Do Son- HaiPhong. This place is awesome, girls are everywhere, you can choose until you happy plus they are friendly, and hardworking. Price is very cheap $10 USA + tips if you want to, normally around 5-10 USA tips, but up to you guys. Have fun. (go there, and ask they will lead you to paradise).

Are you talking about Do Son Hotel near Haiphong port city ? That is 90 minutes by car from Hanoi.

[Colony2007]

Hi guys,

I used to live in Ha noi before, but I'm not sure if the Guoman Hotel in Ly Thuong Kiet Street is GF?

Any info is highly appreciated!

I am not too sure, but it is unlikely. The only lifts are in full view of receptionists, and the hotel is located too openly. Moreover, many of the regular guests are old men and women. Not good signs.

[Ausguy]

Guys,

I recommend you guys go to Do Son- HaiPhong. This place is awesome, girls are everywhere, you can choose until you happy plus they are friendly, and hardworking. Price is very cheap $10 USA + tips if you want to, normally around 5-10 USA tips, but up to you guys. Have fun. (go there, and ask they will lead you to paradise).

[Mandiri2]

Hi guys,

I used to live in Ha noi before, but I'm not sure if the Guoman Hotel in Ly Thuong Kiet Street is GF?

Any info is highly appreciated!

[Henry R]

There has always been girls available at the Relax, not necessarily the waitresses. Thing is that it is all very low key, perhaps not immediately obvious, unlike in a few other countries/cities I could mention. More recently you will find at 4 or 5 gals who are "available".

As I mentioned, I was at the Relax Cafe a few times in 2001. I went with a friend who is a real Asia monger, and very well traveled. Neither of us noticed any girls there who appeared to be available. As a matter of fact, I am not positive but I think there were no girls in the cafe other than the waitresses the few times I went there in 2001. That is why we concentrated on the waitresses. (By the way, almost all were lookers). The only non-waitresses around there were streetwalkers on the street outside the Relax Cafe.

My friend flirted with the waitresses in the Relax Cafe quite a bit but didn't find any takers. We would have noticed it even if it was very subtle. Hopefully things are better now. Can you quote prices at the Relax Cafe for short time and all nite in US dollars? Are the waitresses now available also? Or is it just non-waitress girls inside the cafe?

[Colony2007]

Okay guys, I've got 13 days in Hanoi. I've been to Relax, New Century, haven't tried Apocalpyse but from all the accounts here not worth it; where else? There must be places.

Bars, good massage places (not the quick in and out affairs) out there?

Will plod the sreets in search. Any advice much appreciated.

Also, be careful late at night around the lake bars - if three or four working girls come up and try to coddle you, shake 'em off politely. One preens while the other picks your pocket. I know it makes common sense but after a few drinks not easy to stay focused.

Members may note that on the early morning of Sunday 29th April, 500 federal police raided New Century and held all 1163 customers, staff and "artists" there folowing suspicion that hard drugs are sold and consumed there. Large number of drugs were seized. But the aim was to bust drug abuse, bot gf and you mongers. The police made that very clear.

Now as to the hapless Dante. If you speak the language, and if you are Asian, there are many places and opposrtunities. But if you are Caucasian blonde, without the local lingo, you chances are limited. Try to check in at a small hotel or "nha nghi "(guest houses), and simply seek the help of hotel staff. They will always find somebody. Don't expect FS at massage parlors. It is illegal although in some parlors, they wil oblique you. One of them is near Hotel Harisson just outside the car exit. Go to the first floor. But you must be the only customer at the time.

[Whisper1]

This is an article in the local newspaper

Nearly 500 armed police officers Saturday raided the New Century Club in Hanoi, northern Vietnam’s hippest nightclub, detaining 1,163 people, including foreigners, on suspicion of drug use and distribution.
The sting was a classified operation by the central Ministry of Public Security’s General Police Department. Even the Hanoi police force knew nothing about it.

At 1am, the officers laid siege to the disco at No 10 Trang Thi Street in downtown Hanoi and found over a thousand people, mostly from 17 to 24 years old, dancing frenziedly to strong music.

Three were caught red-handed with drugs.

Some tried to run away but were caught outside by waiting policemen. Some were caught trying to throw away ecstasy pills – a kind of illegal drug mainly used by dancers – and destroying incriminating evidence.

Over 200 personal pouches containing heroin, ecstasy pills and other drugs were seized at the site.

Over the next 4 hours, 1,163 people were taken to various sites for questioning and drug tests. Prominent singers, actresses, and businessmen were among the group.

Over 200 tested positive to using drugs. But by 7.30 pm, all had been released except 20 people who are still detained on the suspicion of drug distributing.

Though the club owner Nguyen Dai Duong was not present, he was detained later.

A venue for the wealthy and chic, New Century is one of the biggest and most expensive nightclubs in Vietnam.

It has been fined twice in the past for staying open too late and violating noise regulations.

Similarly, but on smaller scale, local Ho Chi Minh City police Saturday burst into the MGM Saigon, one of the largest and most rambunctious cafes in the city, and detained over 100 youths, some as young as 14 on suspicion of drug use.

This all is part of a recent campaign to intensify the fight against crime and drugs. Over the last dozen days, police nationwide arrested over 1,100 suspects and seized over 8.2 kg of heroin and 1,140 additional individual doses of heroin, not to mention the two latest operations.

Friday, Duong Duc Hiep, a famous TV comedian popular for his gaunt feature, was caught in Hanoi carrying 0.18-grams of heroin. He confessed to being addicted for 5 months.

[David Dante]

Okay guys, I've got 13 days in Hanoi. I've been to Relax, New Century, haven't tried Apocalpyse but from all the accounts here not worth it; where else? There must be places.

Bars, good massage places (not the quick in and out affairs) out there?

Will plod the sreets in search. Any advice much appreciated.

Also, be careful late at night around the lake bars - if three or four working girls come up and try to coddle you, shake 'em off politely. One preens while the other picks your pocket. I know it makes common sense but after a few drinks not easy to stay focused.

[Pak Mike]

There has always been girls available at the Relax, not necessarily the waitresses. Thing is that it is all very low key, perhaps not immediately obvious, unlike in a few other countries/cities I could mention. More recently you will find at 4 or 5 gals who are "available".

Any info on the Relax Bar (or is it Relax Cafe)? As I mentioned in my previous post, I went to Hanoi once about 6 years ago. I went to the Relax Bar a few times. It seemed like a nice place, but the only girls there were waitresses who were friendly, but did not seem available, not even for money. At the time, I heard they only go with very few tourists, only ones they like quite a bit. Since I am much older than them, I think I would not be one of the lucky ones. Is it still like that now, or is it possible now for most tourists to pick up one of the girls at the Relax Bar if the price is right? If so, what is the price for short time and for all night?