English Teacher, Hello! English Club Leader. 🇺🇸 🇻🇳

Last update: October 23, 2024

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Welcome to my Vinh Guide. I have lived here since 2013. This guide is my collection of hidden gems, delicious treats and interesting places. You can learn not only about Vinh but also about Nghe An and Central Vietnam.

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

What is Vinh? – Vinh is the capital city of the Nghe An Province. It’s in North Central Vietnam. Vinh offers an authentic look at the Vietnamese way of life. Compared to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, it has a lower cost of living and a lot less traffic. You can make some great memories here by meeting locals, trying exotic food and experiencing Vietnamese culture.

**TOP 11 THINGS TO DO IN VINH / CENTRAL VIETNAM**

  1. Bot Coffee
  2. Quyet Mountain
  3. Ho Chi Minh Square
  4. No Escape Chicken
  5. Coconut Jelly
  6. Nocenco Coffee
  7. Cua Lo Beach
  8. Nam Dan Eco Zoo (Nghe An)
  9. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park & Cave (Quang Binh)
  10. Van Long Nature Reserve (Ninh Binh)
  11. Trang An Grottoes (Ninh Binh)

**VINH STUFF**

I’m the leader of an English club. It’s called Hello! English Club. There are meetings every Saturday night at 8 at LAK Coffee.

Vinh Guru Tours – They offer tours of Vinh and Central Vietnam. They can answer your questions about Vinh, Nghe An or Vietnam. Contact them through their Facebook page. A friendly tour guide (who can speak English) will help you.

Vinh on Instagram - Vinh Life posts about cafes, bars and other points of interest in Vinh. A Little Vinh does pretty much the same thing. Both are cool. 😎

Accommodation

If you need a long-term place to stay, contact me. I can help you find a place to live.

Vinh Videos

Facebook Groups

Spas & Massage

**VINH EXPERIENCES**

Bot Coffee – It’s inside Vinh Market. It’s hard to find but worth it because of the unique coffee and experience. If you go to the market and show someone a picture of the coffee, they will point you in the right direction. Find the picture on the Google maps link.

Vinh Market (Vietnamese: Cho Vinh) – A gigantic indoor/outdoor market that’s fun to explore.

Quyet Mountain – A short, easy hike to the top on a paved path rewards you with beautiful views of Vinh.

Ho Chi Minh Square – See the statue of Ho Chi Minh. There’s a small forest with hiking trails behind the statue.

Central Park – It’s free to the public.

Ho Tung Mau Walking Street - A street in Vinh is closed to traffic. There are food vendors, a stage for singers and sometimes breakdancers. It’s every Friday and Saturday night (7 PM - 12 AM). Go to Ho Tung Mau Street.

Cần Linh Temple – A small Buddhist temple surrounded by a lotus flower pond. It’s next to the Cua Nam Bridge.

Goong Lake – There’s a nice footpath around it.

Nghe An Museum - This museum is the bigger of the two history museums in Vinh. You can make betel nut, wood block prints and more. Follow this link for their website.

Vinh Historical Museum – Learn more about the history of Vinh. Follow this link for their website.

**STREET FOOD & SNACKS**

Coconut Jelly – It’s near Ho Chi Minh Square.

Quán Chè Bưởi Anh Thư - Chè is a traditional Vietnamese sweet beverage or dessert soup/pudding. You can choose your ingredients or pick from the menu. The one I recommend has green sweet sticky rice and coconut ice cream with peanuts sprinkled on top.

Moon – They’ve got delicious finger food. Try the chicken wings or the fruit bowl with coconut milk.

TH True Mart – They have fresh soft serve ice cream (vanilla only). It’s on Quang Trung Street next to Bac A Bank.

Fruit-flavored frozen yogurt – It’s diagonally across from Happy Bakery.

Fresh Fruit Store with Smoothies – They have great fresh fruit like mangosteens and lychees. Try the sugar apple smoothie. It’s on the 2nd floor.

King Juice - They have fresh fruit juice drinks.

Sourdough Bakery - They have delcious apple cinnamon buns and other homemade baked goods. It’s delivery only. Find them on Facebook or Instagram.

Andy’s Honey – He sells natural honey from deep within the jungle. It’s 800,000 VND/liter. Contact Andy at 0978906493 or on Facebook. He can speak English. He also gives jungle tours!

Balut - This Vietnamese street food is only for adventurous eaters. It’s a steamed fertilized duck egg. When in Rome!

**VIETNAMESE RESTAURANTS**

Song Lam Buffet - It’s in Eco Central Park (about 20 minutes from Vinh). They have free beer! Try the BBQ beef. It’s delicious! You can see a video on my Instagram or Facebook.

Hai Vi Seafood Buffet - Their seafood is really fresh. Try the crab.

Saigon-style Banh Mi at Kinh Vĩ Brasserie - This is a huge Vietnamese sandwhich! It’s the only place to get a banh mi like this in Vinh. This is also a great restaurant for a date night.

Saigon Deli - They’ve got noodle bowls, rice plates and more. Fresh, quick and delicious. Ideal for solo eaters or groups.

Thanh Chuong Chicken – They’re famous for the “no escape” chicken (gà không lối thoát). It’s a chicken which is cooked inside a ball of crispy rice. You can dip the rice in a peanut sauce.

Fox (Cáo) Restaurant – This is a great Vietnamese restaurant.

Oc Nho Sai Gon – They have amazing fresh seafood.

Vịt 117 – Everything in this restaurant is made with duck. The crispy duck is fantastic.

Quán Bún Đậu Hiền Lý – A delicious bowl of noodles with vegetables, beef and more.

Gà Sạch 113 – Try the crunchy chicken.

Cháo Canh – A noodle bowl with pork, beef and eggs.

Eel Soup – It’s very popular in Vinh for breakfast. It’s considered a local delicacy.

Pho Thao Tran - This is the best place for pho in Vinh. It’s very busy. You might have to share a table. They have soft and tender beef. And the broth is delicious. They’re not open for lunch or dinner. They are only open in the morning. They close around 10 AM.

Rotisserie Duck – This is a family-run food cart, not a restaurant. You can get a delicious whole duck for 160,000 VND or half for 80,000 VND. I recommend the half. It’s enough for two people. They’re usually open from 4:30 to 8:00 PM (or whenever he sells out). The cart is opposite VRC. There are two carts that sell duck next to each other. You want the cart with the older guy.

**FOREIGN RESTAURANTS**

Del Posto Pizzeria - Try the pulled pork sandwich or the four cheese pizza. They’re excellent! They’ve got great pasta and salads too.

Domino’s Pizza - The legendary American pizza chain is in Vinh. Try their chocolate lava cake for dessert. I made short videos tours which I posted on my Instagram and Facebook.

Hao Chi Dimsum - I recommend the Taiwan Shrimp Rolls and the Guang Dong Fried Noodles. It’s on the third floor of Vinh Centre.

Khao Jao Thai Food - Try the chicken cooked inside a banana leaf. It’s on the third floor of Lotte Mart.

Nathan Thai - It’s a Thai fusion restaurant. I recommend the fried mushrooms and the fried shrimp.

Tao Bistro - It’s the only Chinese food restaurant in Vinh and it’s great. I recommend the Beef Chow Fun or the eggplant dish.

No Duh Burrito - It’s the only place in Vinh that makes burritos. They don’t have a restaurant. It’s delivery only. Call 0915730060 or send a message to their Facebook. They can speak English.

Midori – It’s healthy and delicious Asian fusion.

Han Quoc Quan – It’s a great Korean place. I recommend the beef mushroom noodle stew.

Shogun Japanese Street BBQ – It’s inside City Hub.

Tohoku - This is the best Japanese restaurant in Vinh. They have a delcious bowl of ramen. It’s the Tohoku Special Ramen for 169,000 VND (Mỳ Tohoku Đặc Biệt).

Geisha – A Japanese place.

Fujimo – Another Japanese place. Watch a video tour.

The American Steak – They have cheeseburgers, steak and curry.

Vuvuzela – A mixture of Vietnamese and foreign food.

The Garden Salad – They have more than just salad.

Artisan Bakery & Cafe – They have deli style sandwiches, croissants and a wide variety of baked goods. The address is 58 Le Hong Phong. They just opened this new location in June. Google Maps is having a problem so I can’t link it.

Hutong Hot Pot Paradise – It’s in the CityHub building.

Kebab Torki – You might have to buy two to fill you up.

**VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS**

Vegan Planet - My vegetarian friend loves this place.

Nhà hàng chay Hoan Châu – The chef graduated from Le Cordon Bleu and he can speak English. They have cooking classes.

Bồ Đề – This one is popular with the Buddhist monks.

Dat Thuan Chay

Duyen Lanh

Nhà hàng chay Thiên Phúc

Nha Hang Anh Quoc – It’s near Vinh Stadium.

**CAFES**

Em Mo Cafe - It’s a nice mixture of outside and inside space. You can see what it’s like. I made a 1 minute video about it. It’s on my Facebook and Instagram. They just opened August 25 so they don’t have a business location on Google Maps yet. Their address is 358a Nguyen Van Cu.

Le Marche Cafe - They’ve got a nice coffee bar. They have unique drinks like Pineapple Espresso and Chocolate Tea. Check out my short video tour on Instagram or Facebook.

Có Một Ngày Cafe - It’s a stylish cafe with a comfy couch. They’ve got a small selection of pastries. Check out their reels and pics.

Nocenco Coffee – It’s two floors with nice views from the rooftop. The architecture here is amazing. You must visit it before you leave Vinh.

Giang Cafe - It’s tucked away in a small alley. You’re surrounded by lush greenery. You’ve discovered a secret garden behind a forgotten castle. You must visit this wonderful place before you leave Vinh. It’s on the corner of Phung Chi Kien Street and To Ngoc Van Alley.

Mori Signature - This is definitely a hidden gem in Vinh. Or I should say a hidden forest. There are lush green plants everywhere. You feel like you’re in the middle of a forest. There’s a great coffee bar where you can sit and chat with other customers. They have delicious drinks and snacks too.

Feribe Cafe - It’s hidden in a sleepy neighborhood. It has a chill vibe, good music and a delicious menu. They have an English Breakfast, a Club Sandwhich and other foreign food on their menu. The kitchen is open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. They stay open until 2:00 AM.

Tinh Caphe - It wins the award for the hardest cafe to find. But it’s worth it. You’ll have to go down a couple of small alleys to find it. It’s a beautiful oasis in Vinh. The atmosphere is really nice partly because it’s half inside/half outside. I recommend the ginger cream coffee or the coconut coffee. Watch my short video on Facebook or Instagram.

Hi Camping - It’s a cafe, not a camping place. They have a bubbling brook and it feels like you’re in a rainforest. It’s a relaxing place. You can roast marshmallows in the mini-grills they have.

Góc Sáng Coffee - They have a 200 inch TV! You can watch sports, movies and more. They also have a chill out room with beanbags you can sit on.

UniX Station - It’s a nice place to chill outside. It’s inside Central Park. Walk past the giant statues of the twin dragons. Then you’ll see a sign for Steam Park. It’s next to it.

Passenger Coffee - A lovely place to get a cup of joe.

Leaf Coffee / Cà phê Lá - It isn’t like any cafe I’ve been to in Vinh. I feel like I’m in the middle of the jungle. I’m surrounded by fruit trees, butterflies and nature. It’s beautiful. It’s worth the drive to get there. They have arts and crafts workshops.

Indi Cafe - It’s nestled in a quiet neighborhood next to a small lake. They have delicious freshly made juice drinks and a fish table! Watch my video on Instagram or Facebook.

Cổ Mộc Trà Teahouse - You’re surrounded by natural wood, peaceful music plays and you feel calm. This is the vibe of this place.

Cu’s Cafe / Tiệm Cà Phê Cù - It’s like stepping back in time. Everything is like old Vietnam.

Thanh Xuan Cafe - This is another cafe where the style is like old Vietnam.

An Cat Vien - You should try the “An 5 Tang”. I’ve never had a coffee like this in Vinh.

Leaf Cafe - They’re known for using fresh locally sourced tea leaves. They’re close to Hi Camping.

Maison NAP - A cool lakeside cafe.

East West Book Cafe – This is a reader’s paradise. It’s basically a library and a cafe combined. It’s mostly Vietnamese books (with some French, English and German). They have a lot of children’s books.

La Ca Cafe, Bakery & Playground – They have delicious drinks and pastries. Their playground for kids is fantastic.

Base Coffee - It’s 3 floors.

Cong Cafe - Try their White Coffee. It’s half coconut milk and half coffee.

Moisa Boardgame Cafe - All of their boardgames are in English.

Choa & Sonata Cafe – Both have live music.

**BARS & NIGHTLIFE**

There’s an assortment of bars, cocktail bars, nightclubs and lounges in Vinh.

You can buy IPA craft beer from East West Brewing Company at Lotte Mart.

Hometown Bar - A cozy bar.

Nyxx Cocktail Bar - It’s more of a lounge than a bar. The bartenders are friendly.

Laklu - It’s opposite Hometown. They’re a cocktail bar. They’ve also got an outside spot where you can drink beer hoi (fresh beer).

The Local Wine & Cocktail Bar - Unique mixed drinks.

2 AM - It’s another cocktail bar.

Good Beer / Beer Ngon - It’s a beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating.

Star Beer / Bia Star - Another beer garden in Vinh.

MTSL Rooftop Bar - You’ll find it on the 33rd floor of the Mường Thanh Sông Lam Hotel.

Goong Lake Beer Street - On Phan Dang Luu Street you’ll find a series of places to get bia hoi (fresh / draft beer). There’s a Vida brewery nearby. This is a popular place to try local beer and meet friendly locals.

Dune - A futuristic cocktail bar in Vinh. They have cool parties there like this rap battle.

Zuly – It’s a nightclub.

Club 48 - Bring your earplugs and get ready to talk to the person next to you on your phone because it’s so loud.

**OPEN LATE**

Feribe Cafe - It’s hidden in a sleepy neighborhood. It has a chill vibe, good music and a delicious menu. They have an English Breakfast, a Club Sandwhich and other foreign food on their menu. The kitchen is open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. They stay open until 2:00 AM.

Dream Mart - Go to the Seven AM clothes store on Nguyen Van Cu. Turn the corner and it’ll be on your right.

Sept & More - It’s on Nguyen Van Cu next to the Adidas store.

Food behind the old citadel - It’s pretty much the only place that’s open late night for food.

**SHOPPING**

Wholesale Premium Craft Beer - Two case minimum order (48 bottles). Only 38,500 đ per bottle! It’s made in Vietnam. Contact James on Zalo to order or for questions. His number is 0399946881.

The Meat Company - For all your meaty requirements if you feel like cooking at home. Feel free shop online at Vietnam’s biggest and most loved Meat Lovers Market for the largest selection of TOP quality imported meat cuts vacuum packed in portions! Hand Crafted Butchers Prime sausages from around the world like nothing else in Vietnam! Spices, Sauces, Dried beef, Cold cuts & dairy, cooking and Grilling essentials and much much more! Anything you need about meat.

Avino Wines - Avino Wines offers a vast selection of over 80 wines from six countries: France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and Chile. Their wines are carefully chosen by a French expert with 20 years of experience, who has been working in Vietnam for 13 years. They also provide a wide range of liquors, mainly Scottish, from standard to premium brands. Avino Wines frequently hosts wine tasting events, many of which are free of charge, welcoming both expatriates and the local community. Their English-speaking staff make it easy for customers to find their preferred wines and whiskies. Keep an eye out for these events to explore and enjoy the diverse offerings at Avino Wines!

Lotte Mart - It’s a supermarket with lots of restaurants and cafes.

WinMart – There are many WinMart convenience stores. This is the biggest location on Le Loi Street.

Au Viet Gourmet Market – They’ve got a lot of products from America, Korea and Europe. They have 3 locations in Vinh.

GO! – It’s a supermarket. Formerly known as Big C.

CityHub – It’s five floors with Shogun Japanese Street BBQ, Hutong Hot Pot Paradise, a movie theater and more.

Vinh Recreation Center (VRC) – It’s five floors with a bowling alley, Highlands Cafe, BreadTalk, King BBQ, a movie theater and more. It’s across the street from the train station.

Vinh Centre – It’s next to Ho Chi Minh Square. They have a Highlands and a Jollibee there.

MM MegaMart – It’s a big box store. It’s near the Lam River.

Hong Ha – Electronics, computers and repair.

Viet Nga Computer Store – Gaming PCs, laptops and repair.

Guu Music Shop – For your musical instrument needs and classes.

Phương Nam Bookstore – It’s the best bookstore in Vinh. They have English books for adults and kids.

Baker’s Home – For all your baking needs.

Tung Moscow – A shoe shop for people with Western-sized feet.

ChoVinh.com - It’s an online marketplace. It’s like Craigslist but for Vinh.

**CUA LO BEACH**

This is the most popular beach near Vinh. There are other beaches such as Cua Hoi. You can eat fresh seafood at Cua Lo Beach. You should go there in the late afternoon or early evening to swim and then eat dinner. If you get there very early in the morning you can buy fresh seafood from a fisherman’s boat. You can go squid fishing at night with a local in a very small boat. Ask a restaurant owner about it.

Cua Lo Beach - It’s not in Vinh but it’s about 30 minutes away by car. This is the go to beach for local and foreign tourists. It’s famous for fresh seafood and the beach is nice. Expect it to be really busy during weekends in the summer.

VinWonders Cua Hoi - It’s a water/amuseument park. Next to the park there are restaurants, shops and cafes. It’s just down the road from Cua Lo Beach (about 10 minutes away). There’s a cable car there which will take you to Song Ngu Island.

Song Ngu Island - You can take a cable car here. Or you can take a ferry from Cua Lo Beach. There’s a buffet restaurant with an incredible view of the ocean. It’s a great place to watch the sunset. It’s 450k/person. On this island they have small cafes and shops. There’s a zen garden and other things to do. But some of the island is under construction (as of August 26).

Glamping at Tia To - This is a beautiful place to hang out, enjoy some good food or even stay overnight in a big tent.

Grateful Cafe / On Cafe - This is a wonderful new cafe near the beach. It has a stream running through it. You can camp here too.

Nhà Hàng Hành Hiệp - This is the go-to seafood restaurant for my family and I when we go to Cua Lo Beach. It’s a no-frills place that’s always fresh at a fair price.

Check out Kent Wallace’s Cua Lo Beach website.

**NEAR VINH**

The first four places are accessible by train from Vinh.

Hava Valley (Quang Binh) - They’ve got food, zip lining, swimming and more. It’s about 4 hours away from Vinh.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park & Cave (Quang Binh)

Van Long Nature Reserve (Ninh Binh)

Trang An Grottoes (Ninh Binh)

Nam Dan Eco Zoo – They have a very small zoo, a miniature waterfall you can swim in, an aviary and a tree house. There’s also a place where you can have a BBQ. It’s quiet and surrounded by beautiful nature.

Hong Lam Camping - This campsite is nestled in a glade of lovely pine trees. It’s on a small island of 400 people. It’s well taken care of, clean and a fantastic place to relax. The air is so fresh and it’s quiet. It’s a great place to watch a sunset or sunrise. Your stress is guaranteed to melt away when you visit. The owner’s name is Trinh Miu. She is so friendly and helpful. She can speak English. Her number is 0374048084 and this is her Facebook. They have a small cafe, BBQ, paddle board rentals, a campfire and 3 friendly corgis. There are tents (small and large) where you can stay overnight. You take a small boat there (it can carry your motorbike). Hong Lam Camping is a very relaxing place. Here’s a Google maps link to where you get on the boat. Here’s a map to the campsite. Contact Trinh Miu for more information. You can see a cool drone video on YouTube or Instagram.

Hồ Thạch Kèn Lake – There are beautiful mountains around it. It’s a perfect place to swim or have a picnic.

Dai Tue Pagoda – A Buddhist pagoda on the mountaintop. It’s been there for 1,000 years. It’s 30 minutes by car (1 hour by motorbike) from Vinh. You can hike there. It’s about 2 hours from Nam Dan. There are scenic views and miniature waterfalls along the way. Here’s a drone video.

Birthplace of Ho Chi Minh – It’s in Kim Liên, Nam Dan District.

The Thai Ethnic Group (Hoa Thu Homestay, Nua Village, Yen Khe Commune, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province) – The Thai are the second largest ethnic minority in Vietnam. When you visit them you can try on their traditional clothes, sample the local food/drink (such as “ruou can”) and take part in traditional dancing.

Dong Du Village Lakeside Farm Stay – It’s a village retreat which offers cultural experiences.

Mooc Spring (Quang Binh Province) – It’s a trail through the jungle lined with beautiful orchids. There’s a wooden footpath. There is an amazing place to swim there. It’s so clear and blue.

Ozo Treetop Park - It’s also in Quang Binh.

Kèm Waterfall – It’s in Pu Mat National Park.

Rainbow Container Hotel – It’s near Cua Lo Beach (watch a video tour).

Đảo Chè Tea Islands – It’s in the Thanh Chuong District.

Vinpearl Water Park – It’s in the Ha Tinh Province.

Mương Thanh Safari Land – Here you will find a resort with villas, a hotel, an amusement park and water park, a small flower garden and a zoo with a petting area for kids.

Sunflower Farm – (Google Maps link, Nghĩa Đàn District). It’s open twice a year. Usually from around mid December to early January and early March (depending on the weather and the planting schedule).

Son Kim Hot Springs – They have thermal pools.

**MORE ABOUT VINH & VIETNAM**

“Exploring Vinh” – It’s an ebook. A group of Vietnamese university students and two volunteer teachers from Finland worked together to create a travel book. In it you can discover ten interesting places in Vinh.

Video about how to make friends in Vietnam (and how to not approach a Vietnamese person, featuring Alex from Ninja Teacher and Van Vu at What The Pho)

Video about 10 Things You Should NOT Do in Vietnam (from Van Vu at What The Pho)

Vietnam Coracle - Tom Divers and his team do an excellent job writing independent guides for travelers in Vietnam.

Rusty Compass - Mark Bowyer has written interesting content about Vietnam and Cambodia for many years.

Vietnam Weekly – Michael Tatarski writes about the latest developments in Vietnam from essential news to under-the-radar stories. You can read it online or get a weekly email.

Vietcetera – The latest and most important stories shaping the economy and businesses in Vietnam.

Travelfish Vinh Travel Guide