So, you’re visiting Vietnam and you want to score some weed? Marijuana, Cannabis, Ganja, Dope, Hash, Smoke… Whatever you wanna call it, it’s highly illegal in Vietnam. Cannabis laws in Vietnam are very strict and penalties are severe!
Vietnamese authorities seem to be relaxed about drug usage in Vietnam. However, I don’t encourage anyone to smoke weed under any circumstances.
Some of you probably know there’s a vast wealth of weed wisdom out there to aid you with even the most ridiculous of pot-related problems.
If you’re an occasional stoner (not a junkie) and want to get weed in Hanoi, then smoke at your own risk. This blog post is for educational purposes only.
Let’s get started!
Hoan Kiem Lake in the Old Quarter
Just in case you’re wondering, Can sa (khan-sah) is the Vietnamese word for Marijuana. Grab a motorbike or taxi and ask the driver to drop you off at Hoan Kiem Lake.
During the night hours, random men will approach you and offer a bike ride and they’ll be like, “Taxi? Marijuana?” Be careful though coz I heard some of them sell fake shit.
If you decide to buy smokes from them, examine the bag coz they might mix it with other herbs other than cannabis. Currently, the price of Can sa or weed in Hoan Kiem Lake is around $20 (463,450 VND) for a gram.
There are frequent police who patrol that area so some of them might be doing undercover operations so be careful.
Backpacker Hostels in the Old Quarter
I cannot name names here because I don’t wanna get sued by hostel owners in Hanoi. But I can give you some ideas from my reliable sources on how to score Marijuana.
Backpacker hostels around Hanoi are full of tourists from different parts of the world looking for wild and crazy time in Hanoi. Make friends and ask around if they know anyone selling it.
World travelers who just wanna have a good time are usually kind and generous so chances are they’ll give you some advice on where to buy it. Others might share their dope with you if they wanna have someone to get high with.
Hostel receptionists will probably help you out and give you a much more decent weed compared to the ones you’ll get from Hoan Kiem.
Motorbike Drivers
Where ever part of Hanoi you are, motorbike drivers are everywhere. Most of them have hookups and will be able to help you get some. However, the price might be higher than usual because they’ll mark it up.
Some of them have balls and try to rip you off so do that in your own risk. Use the Vietnamese word for weed, don’t say “Marijuana” because elder people won’t understand it. Just say “Can sa”.
Young folks usually smoke it so if you have the Grab App (it’s kinda similar to Uber) and you got a young dude driver, you can casually ask them to hook you up.
In case you got a dunk (the slang term for a bad weed), don’t try to argue with the locals. Life in Vietnam is cheap, you can get killed over the small stuff.
Pubs
There are a lot of pubs/bars in Hanoi where you can freely smoke your weed. Most of them are owned by mobs who bribe the authorities to do whatever the fuck they want. Here are some of them:
- Tet Bar – It’s located in Hoan Kiem District, Apini Pub near Flower Market. You’ll smell it from smokers there and try to get a small blunt. One of my friend’s style goes like this… He’ll approach the smoker to borrow a lighter. Then he’ll sniff secretly to make sure it’s an authentic weed. Once confirmed, he’ll ask for a hookup. This trick usually works because I’ve seen him do this trick many times.
- Corner Pub Hanoi – Also located in Hoan Kiem District, this pub’s loaded with people who appreciate rock music and play pool. Though we didn’t visit this pub when we were in Hanoi, I was told you can smoke in there with no problem.
- Rastaman Pub – When you google “bar that sells weed in Hanoi”, this is probably the first one that’s gonna come up in the results page. They said the mob owns this place and you’ll know why from reading their Trip Advisor’s review.
Cafes
Vietnamese Coffee is so good! There are several cafes in Hanoi with great views and you’re free to smoke whatever the hell you want, do it discreetly though.
Drinking coffee and smoking is very common in Vietnam. In some hidden cafes, locals pass around their joints and the coffee shop staff don’t seem to care.
This may be off-topic but if it’s your first time in Hanoi, please try Egg Coffee. I know it sounds weird but they look and taste really good.
Tinder
If you’re single and ready to mingle, I’m pretty sure you have Tinder App on your phone. You don’t have to deny it coz nobody cares, it’s the new Facebook as they say.
When you scan it, you’ll notice a lot of women in their early 20’s will have a leaf emoji or the word “420” in their profile.
Hit the “like” button and hope that they match with you. If you get a match, congratulations. Start a conversation about Marijuana and see if you have something in common. If you click with them, you’ll automatically get a smoking buddy.
Some of them are not just stoners, others are in the weed industry hustlin’ on the side. US-quality weed is quite expensive in Hanoi, $50-$60 for a gram. Try to bargain since it’s part of Asian culture.
Take advantage of the search button on Instagram. Stoners in Hanoi use the hashtags #HanoiWeed #Hanoi420 #HanoiMarijuana #WeedHanoi #CBDHanoi #HanoiCannabis #SmokeHanoi #SativaHanoi #THCHanoi #IndicaHanoi, etc.
Just browse their pictures and use your common sense. If you see a picture of a blunt, joint, or a container filled with buds, then you already know what to do.
Most of them would respond to a DM especially if you’re using a real IG account. Locals are friendly but always protect yourself from any troubles.
Some Useful Tips
Smoking in Hanoi is like taking a risk. It’s fun to get high every now and then but always listen to your gut. If you decide to smoke, don’t do it publicly and jeopardize your future.
Don’t carry it with you when you’re traveling around the city. You can always get away with a bribe in case you get caught, but you don’t wanna do that and spend your travel funds.
Always be smart when you’re traveling. Have fun in Hanoi! 🙂
