Mac Thi Buoi

Head to this happening street of tightly packed temptations for a short and sweet shop. Dive straight into girlvana Ethophen at 89 Mac Thi Buoi / 3825 8325 / packed with retroethnicky-boho gal fash and accessories, complete with mini tea room and nail bar. Treat yourself to a massage, facial, or mani-pedi at #100 L’Apothiquaire (see Spas), or pick up prods to go if you just want to get your shop on. Cross for nifty men’s tailoring at #77 Cao Minh (see Adv. Shop.), and pretty lil’ things at kiddy boutique at #75 Tutti Belli / 3822 0527. Saigon Indian / #73 / 3824 5671 / is great for getting your dosa fix, or duck into cute alleyway Hem 71-73 to discover an array of eateries: #71/2 Lac Thai / 3823 7506; charmant Viet bistro An is at #71/5-6 / 3825 8275; or Middle Eastern at #71/7 Warda (see Rest./Relaxed). Wish you lived in an earlier era? Step back in time Lam Boutique for vintageinspired womenswear / 1/F / #71 / 3823 0069 / lamboutiquevn.com.

Now, turn right back onto Mac Thi Buoi for the teeny Phuc Long Chateau coffee kiosk at #63 / 3825 6288 / brewing good cheap lattes, plus freshly-ground beans to go. Cross Dong Khoi for healthy café tucker at Juice #49 (see Lunch), then visit Mauve at #47 / 3829 6492 / for floaty dresses, tops and girly-twirly jewellery. Take a right down Phan Van Dat for contempo canvasses at #17 Hanoi Studio (see Art), and more café bites at local institution Black Cat at #13 / 3829 2055 / before swinging back up onto Mac Thi Buoi for more reputable artworks at #50 Apricot Gallery (see Art). Ace!