TNH

I have spent many an hour over a coffee or beer sitting on their 'deck' looking out over Truc Bac and enjoying being in Hanoi.

Now that the weather is less extreme it is even more pleasant :-)

I have only had breakfast and sandwiches there, both of which were very reasonably priced at 25,000VND for a cheese and ham croissant or similar and 50,000VND for a really big and yummy smoked salmon sandwich served in lovely big baguette type roll. (both served with chips/french fries!)

The staff were incredibly attentive and even brought sauces without being asked for them. Only downside was the addition of 2,000VND per UNUSED wet wipe they left on the table but not unusual for Hanoi.

The bakery downstairs sells quite good bread and good unsweetened yoghurt for very reasonable prices. The cake isn't all that but some are nice enough.

If you're feeling flush and a bit self-indulgent when the winter starts to set in the baileys hot chocolate is a creamy delight but around 50,000vnd I think!

Overall I like the Happy House for a snack or drink with a very pleasant aspect to boot.

I had lunch there once with my sister and ordered a Lasagna, after two spoons I discovered there was a cockroach in my food. I called the water and told them about it, they took it away and didn't say anything too me. After abt 10 mins waiting I asked them what's going on, a guy (I think he is the manager, speaking a bit mix southern and northern Vietnamese) came to me and said "Because there is a cockroach in your plate so we took it away, you dont have to pay for it!" I asked them what about my lunch, he said "You didnt order anything else, if you like we will make another one for you".

I was very angry and asked them at least say sorry and that guy refused to say sorry. He said exactly his to me "We are working here, everyday we say thank you to many people and it event not enough, we dont have to say sorry."

I paid my bill, left the place and thought I would never come back there again.

However, there was another the time that I was going with a friend and he wanted to go there so I went there again. This time we only had some drinks and it was fine. When I go out to take my bike, the security guys (two guys at that time) didnt help me with the bike. I fail and drop my phone, I didnt realized until I go to the middle of Thanh Nien road and wanted to make a phone call. I came back (less than 5 mins) but my phone was gone and the security guys said they didnt know anything abt it (last time i use my phone was when I was paying the bill and the waitress saw it). I went inside the restaurant try to ask for help because I was pretty sure that the security guys took it but I didnt accuse them right away. I ask the manager if they know anything or anyone found my phone let me know and I wanted to leave my contact there so they can contact me if they found it. The manager also refused to do that. He said because I went out of his restaurant to the public space (bike parking) so he was not responsible for anything and didnt want to take my contact. I was very angry.

I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Expensive and not very special at all. You can get the same drinks from a cafe over the road for about a 3rd of the price...and yeah - it pissed me off that they charge you for a wetwipe you don't even use! My advice - keep walking around Trúc Bạch Lake and find somewhere else

Yeap. agree with Obladi, the staff there are not normal ! Not the way Nguyen Son can keep going ! :(
I went there and sit outside with my friend who visited here for so long he gone away ! The staff looked quite sleepy when they served us, so slowly to do every character ... ><... with a person who dont have much of patient like me... its unacceptable...!!!
Anw, keep 2 stars for 2 reasons
1--- cake is still good.
2--- the view of this place is so nice !

I've never gone to this Nguyen Son for food just coffee and the pleasant atmosphere of being lakeside. Good place to chill out, read a book, and watch people pedaling around on the Swans.

Staff were really pleasant. After reading the below review, I'll definitely stick to just coffee or juice.. no lasagna for me!