Hanoi - Juliette Elfick

Hanoi is a picturesque mix of the old and the new, with the fading grandeur of its French colonial history juxtaposed against modern architecture. It's a city where early-morning tai chi is followed by the rush of noisy mopeds as they cruise up wide, tree-lined boulevards; and old-style street food vendors are nestled alongside high-end boutiques and shopping malls. In acompact, light paperback format perfect for slipping into your back pocket, Hanoi Pocket Precinctsis your curated guide to the city's most interesting cultural, shopping, eating and drinking experiences.

Divided into separate precincts, each section lists the best shops, restaurants, bars and sights to see in the area,across 9 precincts covering the four main districts of urban Hanoi. In the centre there's Hon Kim, which contains the Old Quarter crammed with elegant shophouses and temples; to the south there's the fashionable nightlife and shopping district of Hi Ba Trung; to the west there's Ba inh with its mix of French colonial villas, modern skyscrapers, squares and parks; and to the north you'll find genteel, upmarket Ty H.

This handy pocket-sized guide also includes suggested field trips outside Hanoi, including an overnight stay in H Long Bay, as well as maps of the four districts of inner Hanoi.