Hanoi is a picturesque mix of the old and the new, with the fading grandeur of its French colonial history juxtaposed against modern architecture. It's a city where early-morning tai chi is followed by the rush of noisy mopeds as they cruise up wide, tree-lined boulevards. It's also a travel hotspot offering inexpensive shopping locations and a mouth-watering array of unique things to eat and drink.

Hanoi Pocket Precincts lists the best of the city – restaurants, bars and cultural sights – in each of the four main districts of urban Hanoi. In the center there's Hoan Kiem, which contains the Old Quarter crammed with elegant shophouses and temples; to the south there's the fashionable nightlife and shopping district of Hai Ba Trung; to the west there's Ba Dinh with its mix of French colonial villas, modern skyscrapers, squares and parks; and to the north you'll find genteel, upmarket Tay Ho. The book also includes suggested field trips outside Hanoi, including an overnight stay in Ha Long Bay as well as a fold-out map of the four districts of inner Hanoi.