The Haflington

The Haflington opened in 2021 on Hàng Mã in the Old Quarter and styles itself as a quirky cross between a bar and a natural history museum. Polished timber counters, vintage curios and a dinosaur skeleton suspended from the ceiling make it feel far older than it is.

Homegrown bar manager Thanh Cong Nguyen leads a programme built on refined takes on vintage cocktails, with themed seasonal menus; one celebrated Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation with drinks such as Anti Scurvy (tequila, lime and vitamin C cordial) and Wood Damp (rum, fruit liqueur and vermouth).

The bar entered Asia's 50 Best Bars at No. 47 in 2024, one of the first Vietnamese bars to make the main list. It is popular, so weekdays are calmer than weekends, and it suits both curious visitors and serious cocktail fans.