Pho and Fizz: A taste of Hanoi after Dark

I’m a sucker for a good “must-see” list whenever I travel. It doesn’t matter if it’s Hemingway’s go-to dive in Key West—Sloppy Joe’s (which, let’s be honest, is also one of my favorite meals)—or Yves Saint Laurent’s former home in Marrakesh (the blue there? Transcendent). If it’s iconic, I’m in.

So when we made our way to Vietnam with a pit stop in Hanoi, I had to try the city’s infamous Pho Cocktail—a national point of pride. I adore a bowl of pho, but wasn’t quite sure how that would translate into a cocktail. Turns out: surprisingly well… and a little weird.

It starts out promising—gin, Cointreau, fresh lime juice. Then things take a sharp turn with the addition of pho spices. Star anise and coriander in a cocktail? Bold. Confusing. Kind of addictive. After drinking what I can only assume was my body weight in Pho Cocktails (for research, of course), I decided it was time to change it up.

Enter: Vietnamese white wine at Cloud Sky Bar. Light-bodied, fruity, and just acidic enough to pair perfectly with my actual bowl of pho. The view didn’t hurt either.

If you find yourself in Hanoi, I highly recommend grabbing a Pho Cocktail at Cloud Sky Bar, soaking up the skyline, and then slipping downstairs for dinner—ideally with a bottle (or two) of crisp white from Ladora Winery in Da Lat. It’s Vietnam in a glass, with a side of curiosity and charm.