Binh Minh Jazz Club

Binh Minh Jazz Club is Hanoi's home of live jazz, at 1A Trang Tien in Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, just behind the Opera House in the French Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was founded by saxophonist Quyen Van Minh, who taught himself the instrument from smuggled records and later became Vietnam's first jazz professor. The club has an indoor room and a small terrace, and a house band plays standards, bebop and blues nightly from about 21:00, often joined by Minh's son Quyen Thien Dac and visiting soloists. The crowd is a blend of jazz devotees, expatriates, couples and visitors, mostly adults in their late twenties and older, and the atmosphere is attentive and warm, with listening taking priority over conversation during sets. There is no strict dress code, though smart-casual clothing is common for an evening out. The drinks programme covers cocktails, wine, beer and spirits, with drinks at about 90,000-250,000 VND, roughly USD 3.46-9.62. The club opens daily from about 08:30 for food and drinks, and live jazz sets run from 21:00 to 23:00. The live set carries a charge of about 100,000-150,000 VND, or USD 3.85-5.77, per guest. There is no bottle-service culture. Reservations are worthwhile on Friday and Saturday and when a guest soloist is booked, and can be arranged through the club's website or by phone on +84 24 3933 6555. The location beside the Opera House makes it an easy follow-on after a concert or dinner in the French Quarter. Arriving before the first set begins gives the widest choice of seats, particularly near the band, and staff can advise on that night's line-up.