Firmly established in Hanoi, the cosy, auberge-style Cafe Des Arts is warmly embraced by those pining for excellent French home cooking. Wines, cheeses, sausages and pates are imported directly from France, whilst fresh pasta is made on-site.

Traditional dishes such as fried sweet-breads of veal (VND 138,000), feature throughout the a la carte and set menus ($7, 10, and 18), and the everchanging Plat du Jour (VND 100,000). But modern influences, such as "Le Grill" pervade and new Franco-Arab dishes, like cous-cous, (amongst old favourites such as cassoulet) feature on the Plat du Weekend (VND 120,000). The name's apt, with exhibitions of traditional Vietnamese art and informal music performances.