Mao's Red Lounge is the comfortable warm sweater of Ha Noi's Bar scene. Nestled in the heart of the old quarter on Ta Hien Street, the bar is an unpretentious, snug and comfy place to lounge, drink and be yourself.

Like a trusty old sweater, it'll keep you warm all night with a late closing time and friendly service. The bar staff here are hard-working but won't hassle you with constant inquiries about whether you'd prefer a Carlsberg beer instead of the cheap Halida you're drinking.

If you want to chill out, have a chat or just check out where my dogs at, Mao's is the destination. Mao himself, who is sometimes affectionately referred to as ‘the Chairman', is a friendly fixture on Ha Noi's bar scene.

The lounge has given Mao more space to move and accomodate some of the backpacker masses who may wander down TaHien Street, although a sizeable and loyal contingent of expats and locals usually outnumbers the tourists at the bar. The main bar is on the ground level while there's also an upstairs area that provides a handy respite when downstairs gets too busy. Just like Half Man, the Red Lounge is often like a party at a mate's house, with good music and cheap drinks. Beers start from VND10,000 while mixed spirits are about VND35,000. Those with the munchies can order some cheap vegetarian snacks from the bar like spring rolls or fried vegetables.

Mao's make-do sound system plays a wide range of rock, dance, funk, Latin and reggae music, and anyone can bring their own CDs to play. There's also an acoustic guitar in the corner for anyone to strum.

The bar doesn't open until 4pm, which is probably when Mao gets out of bed after another late night. The busiest nights are usually Fridays and Saturdays, but one of the best times to drop in is on Sunday nights, when Mao shows his generous side by treating patrons to a free scorching Vietnamese hot-pot dinner. It's also a chance to chew the fat with Mao, who says he's always happy to offer streetsmart advice to tourists who need a helping hand.

The lounge's location on Ta Hien Street makes it an ideal base or launching pad for a night of bar hopping. Watering holes Red Mask and the Tet Bar (formerly Le Maquis) are a stumble away down the street, as is the old quarter's most popular bia hoi corner, at the intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen. And if the chairman takes a fancy to you, he may even slip on his own trusty old sweater, leave the lounge in the hands of his disciples and join in your further forays into the capital's nightlife scene. — VNS