Citroënella

TGIF! Time for another travel inspiration from us to you, dear hearts. Where to this time? How about a quick jaunt to Hanoi now the weather is cool and dry, perfect walking weather for exploring the tiny atmospheric streets. If you’re less keen on playing dodgems with the motorbike masses, you could always hop about town in a classic chauffeur-driven old Citroën instead; just summon ol’ Parker from the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel. What’s more, the brand new edition of LUXE Hanoi is hot off the press, so you know where to look for the most up-to-date inside running on where to dine, wine, shop and flop. Go on, get in bed with the reds.

Want more pics from the LUXE team’s travels around the world? Check out this album on our Facebook page.

Just cruisin'

The famously stunning, World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, with its thousands of limestone karsts dramatically thrusting out of the sea, has long been the side trip of choice when visiting Hanoi. This has unfortunately meant there are some shonky operators cramming Tonya Tourists onto shoddy boats, but please, if you’re going to do it, do it right. That’s where Life Heritage Resort‘s brand new fleet of 22 trad sailing junks come in, complete with marine safety certification and equipment, so the only thing you need take in, is the magnificent scenery.

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French style meets Viet home cooking at Madame Hiên

Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, enchants with its blend of socialist artwork, Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and tiny, atmospheric streets, but it’s long lagged behind brasher sister Ho Chi Minh City in the dining stakes. We’ve uncovered two buzzing new establishments however, determined to take it to that southern hussy Saigon…

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