Set in a 100-year old beautifully restored French villa, this Vietnamese restaurant is a breathing cultural heritage. Dine al fresco in the chandelier-lit garden courtyard, or saok up history in the refined, yet cosy interior. Home for a French family for years, the villa is adorned with century-old artifacts, such as oil lamps and faded sepia photographs of times past. Le Tonkin (an area of North Vietnam during Indochina) is a great introduction to Vietnamese cuisine. The extensive menu on offer is modified for western palaces, (not too spicy, meat off the bone, etc) and is ideal for those not staying long and needing a quick crash-course; no wonder it's popular with small tour groups. Helpful staff dressed in traditional attire can advise on orders.

It's also a great place to sample local dishes, all the usual favourites are served, such as Bun Bo Nam Bo (spicy fried beef with lemon grass and chilli served with fresh noodles), but without having to squat on small plastic stools! Offering the very best of Vietnam's cuisine (although predominately of the north), from Appetizers (VND 33,000 - 52,000), try the refreshingly tangy fruit salad and prawns (VND 52,000); fish ball soup with cuc leaves from the soup selection. Mains (VND 37,000 - 127,000) again leaves you spoilt for choice, recommended are prawns delicately stewed in clay-pot with ginger, turmeric and lemongrass (VND 57,000), or tasty leaf-wrapped barbecued beef with noodles (VND 37,000). All dishes are exquisitely presented and accompanied by traditional music performances.