Musicians need a place to play like a bee needs its hive. Indie artists don’t perform in sold-out stadiums. Instead, they find their second home in smoke-filled cafes and dimly lit pubs. These places don’t pay as much, but they have their own unique charm. Each musical venue is a small yet intimate community in and of itself. Artists get a chance to share their passion, and people who visit these venues get a chance to personally connect with artists – and with each other – through the music. Here are 3 exceptional venues you can visit in Hanoi to soak yourself in the complete Indie experience.

(Topgo n.d.)

1. Hanoi Rock City – The mini concert center 

Address: 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân alley, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi, Vietnam. 

This is the first on our list of must-visits for Indie fans. Situated in a quiet area near West Lake in Tô Ngọc Vân alley, this bar encapsulates a surprisingly lively vibe. Hanoi Rock City was founded in 2010 and has been bringing underground artists’ music closer to audiences for almost a decade. The venue features all kinds of genre, from indie to heavy metal, electronic and swing jazz. There most certainly is something for everyone here.

This is undoubtedly a large space. Shows taking place here could be better described as ‘mini concerts’ rather than ‘intimate cafe music’. The stage is relatively big, and there is plenty of space for the audience to move around and liberally dance to the lively tunes. Beer and other soft drinks are served at the back of the room for all the refreshment needs. 

Hanoi Rock City is where people go to feel alive. Nothing keeps you more in touch with yourself than a Friday night spent at this venue, discovering new bands and dancing alongside strangers with a beer in hand. Here, the music isn’t just played. It transcends the atmosphere and becomes one with the bar itself.

(Huong Khanh&Fanpage 2019)

2. HUB café – Artists’ hideout 

Address: 122 Ô Chợ Dừa street, Đống Đa district, Hanoi, Vietnam. 

On my first time visiting HUB, it took me a minute to locate the place. After all, the café does lie on a busy street, with shops and coffee places sprawling left and right. Then I noticed them – the musicians. They were sitting at the foot of the stairs leading up to the café, on those tiny blue plastic chairs, chatting away enthusiastically, cigarettes in hand. I would recognize them anywhere, with their band T-shirts and peculiar hairstyles and all. The musicians play an integral part – they are the soul of HUB. 

HUB is a safe haven for the artistic soul, with its rock band posters plastered all over the walls and the constant appearance of musicians from all sorts of indie bands there. It is not a huge space, with only two floors and limited space, but it is the absolute representation of the Hanoian indie scene – small and down-to-earth. 

The shows hosted here are mainly rock shows, so this venue is a definite hotspot for rock lovers. People visit because of local indie rock bands like School Of Rockk, as well as cover shows of international music.

(Bowyer 2019)

3. Whiskey Mystics and Men – Intimate connection 

Address: 15A/12 Đặng Thai Mai alley, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi, Vietnam. 

Whiskey Mystics and Men – also known as W2M – is located in the same quiet area as Hanoi Rock City, close to West Lake. Although it also hosts live shows, it is inherently a lot more “chill” than Hanoi Rock City. It doesn’t have a huge stage, and is most definitely not designed to be a center for playing mini concerts. Still, it is profoundly charming in its own way. A TripAdvisor review for Whiskey Mystics and Men has even called it ‘A Hidden Gem for Rockers in Hanoi’ (https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d17427175-r672738903-Whiskey_Mystics_and_Men_W2M-Hanoi.html). 

I absolutely agree – ‘a hidden gem’ is the exactly correct phrase to describe this place. Despite constantly hosting live shows that fill out every seating space, it does not create a “crammed” feeling. Rather, there is a certain intimacy to the atmosphere that is almost romantic. Visiting the bar, you can often find audiences sitting closely next to one another on the floor, surrounding the playing band. Here, people come as strangers and leave as friends, and music is the very bond that ties them together.

Reference list: 

Bowyer, M 2019, Whiskey Mystics and Men Bar, Hanoi, Rusty Compass, viewed 28 July 2019,  <https://www.rustycompass.com/vietnam-travel-guide-233/hanoi-5/nightlife-17/whiskey-mystics-and-men-bar-hanoi-1466#.XTyropMzbpA>.

Bowyer, MG 2019, Whiskey Mystics and Men – W2M, West Lake, Hanoi, photograph, viewed 28 July 2019, <https://www.rustycompass.com/vietnam-travel-guide-233/hanoi-5/nightlife-17/whiskey-mystics-and-men-bar-hanoi-1466#.XTy1Y5MzbpA>.

H5456HTdanm 2019, A Hidden Gem for Rockers in Hanoi, TripAdvisor, viewed 28 July 2019, <https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d17427175-r672738903-Whiskey_Mystics_and_Men_W2M-Hanoi.html>.

Hanoi Rock City 2018, Our story, Facebook, 21 November, viewed 28 July 2019, <https://www.facebook.com/hanoirockcity.welive/>.

Hanoi Rock City n.d., About, TripAdvisor, viewed 28 July 2019, <https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293924-d3748946-Reviews-Hanoi_Rock_City-Hanoi.html>.

HUB Café 2019, Past events, Facebook, n.d., viewed 28 July 2019, <https://www.facebook.com/pg/hubartclub/events/?ref=page_internal>.

HUB Café, Clingme, viewed 28 July 2019, <http://clingme.vn/Place/Detail/hub-cafe-tgf5>.

Huong Khanh&Fanpage, MG 2019, Hub coffee – bar, photograph, viewed July 2019, <http://hoahoctro.vn/tin-tuc/neu-ban-muon-tim-mot-quan-ca-phe-that-hay-ho-o-ha-noi-thi-day>.

Musicshow n.d., Bar Hanoi rock city, Musicshow, viewed 28 July 2019, <http://musicshow.vn/user/hanoirockcity_u118>.