City guide · Hanoi · 5 min read

How to make friends in Hanoi as a newcomer or visitor

Hanoi is chaotic, delicious and full of travellers swapping tips on tiny plastic stools.

Top 3 things to do — and how to turn them into plans

1
Old Quarter street food walk
Pho, bun cha and egg coffee. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
2
Hoan Kiem lake morning
Locals exercise, travellers wander. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
3
Beer Street evening
Fresh bia hoi and new friends. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.

Sidecar is for locals meeting locals, travellers meeting locals, and fellow travellers meeting each other. Friends only.

A coffee or a short walk in a public place is the easiest first meetup in Hanoi — low pressure, easy to leave, easy to extend.

Hanoi works for every mix: locals meeting locals, travellers meeting locals, and travellers meeting each other. Friends only.

Sidecar shows small, platonic plans in Hanoi in time order, each with a host introduction and a public meeting place. Join one, or post your own.