Crowds gather at the intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter at night. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

In Hanoi, nightlife is easy to find, with bia hoi (draft beer) flowing from street-side venues and a growing number of craft-beer spots, Time Out editors wrote.

The city's best cocktails and clubs, however, can be harder to discover.

Some venues reflect the city's past curfew culture, when bars had to close at midnight and customers continued drinking behind closed doors.

Workshop14, named one of Asia's 50 Best Bars last year, is known for being difficult to find while The Haflington, an Old Quarter speakeasy, can be reached by passing through a neighbor's drying laundry.

Ta Hien, the city's most famous and talked about backpacker hub, is only about 200 meters long, connecting with Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ma May and Hang Bac streets and home to bars, beer stalls and restaurants, attracting tens of thousands of weekend revelers.

The area attracts foreign tourists every night.