Hanoi wifi
After grumbling about wifi access in other parts of the world I was both pleased and confused by the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel. In room ethernet cable access will cost ya' something like $7 per hour or circa $20 for 1 day of access - I can't remember the exact prices. However, nip down to the lobby (pictured above) flip open your laptop and you can ride the hotel wifi free of charge regardless of whether you're paying for a room or you're a passing vagrant. Try the same trick at the Sheraton Saigon and you hit an expensive pay wall, but free wifi is ubiquitous in Saigon. I didn't look hard in Hanoi, but I spotted access Puku (thanks NoStar) and at a bar/cafe called Manneken Pis on (I think) Tong Dan street. I'm sure there are other access points. Drop a comment if you know of a good one and I'll update the post.
You posh southerners. Even your passing vagrants have lap tops.
Wifi is pretty much everywhere in Hanoi. It's incresingly a suprise when somewhere doesn't have it. Then again I have also heard of disgruntled cafe owners who have removed it. As you might imagine somebody sipping a single cup of coffee all morning, while surfing the net and taking up a table...well eventually you'd want them to sling their hook.
Posted by: omih | July 01, 2006 at 11:13 PM
Yup, that's the danger I guess... And it's not so dissimilar down south. I will say, if and when I use wifi in town for a good chunk of the afternoon I do try and combine it with lunch and several coffees throughout my time there. Anything else is a bit *too* cheap.
Posted by: pieman | July 04, 2006 at 11:05 AM
No hints on Hanoi, but I did find a similar situation stateside at the Detroit Windham. Astronomical access fees in the room but free surfing via wi-fi in the lobby.
Posted by: Serena | July 05, 2006 at 11:55 PM
Why though? That's what I don't get. I wasn't paying for this hotel, so I wasn't *that* bothered, but I still refused to use the in room connection. Plus the lobby's a pretty nice place to email/blog and catch up on stuff.
Posted by: pieman | July 06, 2006 at 06:16 AM
Does anyone have a updated list of wifi spots around Saigon? I'm heading back for the first time since leaving in 79', and my office mates feel that the world will fall apart if i dont' touch base with the office everyday during my 3 weeks. Lovely.
Awesome blog!
Posted by: Hien Tran | September 25, 2006 at 06:53 AM
Diacritic still has the best list as far as I'm aware:
http://www.diacritic.org/blog/archives/2005/10/wifi_cafes_in_h.htm
I will plug Juice Bar though. I worked out of there on a number of days. Great place, very relaxing, reliable wifi.
Posted by: Graham | September 25, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Le PUB, Hanoi, 25 Hang Be, also has free fast wifi and is open from 7am till late.
Posted by: Brighde Reed | February 24, 2007 at 10:40 AM
A great wi-fi place in Saigon is K&K Cafe on Nguyen Van Troi near where it turns into Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. The place is HUGE so they don't mind if you take up a table for 8 hours... they have plenty.
Also, the coffee is quite good, as is the food. And the parking is free. Music gets a little loud though.
Posted by: Eric Minh | April 17, 2007 at 09:00 AM