La Badiane

Opened by three French expats, La Badiane is considered one of the best French restaurants in Hanoi. The space has a contemporary casual atmosphere with an interior patio for eating outside in nice weather and a series of dining rooms decorated in an airy fashion with splashes of bright colors, rattan chairs and large photographs and Vietnamese art. The chef, Benjamin Rascalou, trained at some legendary restaurants in Paris before coming east to prepare global fusion cuisine. Among the specialties that you might find on the tasting menu are crab remoulade in ginger oil with beets and asparagus and pan-fried duck breast with tamarind red wine sauce. Reservations are recommended as this is an extremely popular spot.