Address: 38 Au Trieu, Hanoi
Phone number: 8289278

From Hoan Kiem it is a five-minute stroll down Trang Tien to the characterful Opera House that dominates the much-photographed landmark square or, rather, round about. Motorcycles buzz like hornets and of an evening a newlywed couple will turn up to be immortalised in front of this gracious building. Trang Tien is itself an interesting street packed with a crop of funky art galleries and bookstores, should you need one. A big, well-stocked bookshop is Thang Long (55 Trang Tien). Or try the Bookshop (41 Trang Tien). Close by is the Music Shop (though its Vietnamese name is different, 29 Trang Tien Street). Here, in a small room that doubles as a CD shop and motorbike parking lot, you'll find DVD movies for 18,000 dong (pronounced "zong"), innumerable music CDs and pirated software for D10,000. For some reason, Vietnamese music CDs are a tad more expensive at D40,000 or so. Close to the Opera House is the delightful Chi Vang store (17 Trang Tien) that stocks a pleasing collection of silk embroidered fabrics put to different uses. Gauzy eye-catching wine bottle presentation wraps are US$5, stylish linen bathrobes US$99, and velvet blankets, should you be so inclined,

(Source: hotelvietnamonline.com)