I paid a prostitute in Hanoi

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I paid a prostitute in Hanoi

It was a Friday night in Hanoi.

I had just finished up some client work and figured it was time to let loose and kick off the weekend.

To get things rolling, I met a cute local girl from Badoo. We walked around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, then drifted into the night market where you can find plush North Fake jackets and all kinds of knock-off brand-name stuff.

We eventually stopped by a Circle K for beers and sat by the lake to enjoy them while they were still ice-cold.

“Girls on Badoo are bad girls, Jef. You be careful,” she told me.

“They can’t all be bad,” I replied. “For example, you haven’t stolen anything from me — not yet.”

She punched my arm and flashed a big smile. Moments like that are what make dating in Asia weirdly fun.

We talked for a while, but eventually the conversation dissolved into the usual suspects like “what’s your favorite color?” and “will you stay here long time?” That’s when I knew it was time to go.

She gave me a hug and a shy kiss on the cheek before she returned home (or perhaps another swipe-right date).

The next adventure

There was a cafe near my apartment I walked by every day. The architecture was old-school with tropical plants everywhere.

Turned out it was a restaurant with nothing but food and beer on the menu. A perfect find. I thought I ordered one beer, but they brought me two.

At 20,000 VND for both—just $2.29 CAD—it felt wrong to say no.

I sat with the owner while we drank. In the back, a falcon sat on a perch like something out of a dream. Shee gave me a glove and let me hold it.

I think the place was called Tùng Bản Quán—but don’t hold me to it. Last I checked, it either shut down or turned into something else entirely. It had some real character though.

Anyway, by the time I finished my beers, it just past 11 pm, prime time to explore Hanoi’s nightlife.

I headed back to my apartment, locked up my passport, wallet, and laptop. I kept 300,000 VND (about $16.65 CAD), my phone, and my wild Jesus hair.

That’s more than enough for me to have a little fun in Vietnam!

Where to find a prostitute in Hanoi

I ordered a grab. When the driver the first thing he asked was, “Massage happy ending?”

I laughed. “Take me to Beer Corner. Good luck selling that to your next ride.”

The drive was short—11 minutes. I paid the 23,000 VND ($1.32 CAD) and walked toward Tạ Hiện Street, a spot known for its nightlife… and its working girls.

As I walked in, I didn’t get far before the local pimps and drug dealers started stalking me to sell some of their, uh, precious goods

The pimps would walk by my side and show photos of women on their phones. Some looked sexy. Others… maybe too young to be there.

After rejecting their girls, the drug dealers would swoop in and whisper sweet nothings in my ear: “You want marijuana, MDMA, DMT, cocaine…”

“Maybe next time,” I said. “For now, I just want a beer!”

Hanoi’s nightlife is chaotic. It’s both beautiful and disturbing at the same time.

But let’s skip the foreplay and get to the part where I actually paid a prostitute.

Where to find a prostitute in Hanoi

It was around 2 AM. The bars were closing. I was nearly out of cash and didn’t have enough for another Grab, so I started walking.

I was just outside the Old Quarter when a woman on a motorbike pulled up beside me.

“Ride? You want ride?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ve got feet.”

“Massage? You want massage?”

“Maybe next time, sweetheart.”

She had a face mask on, so all I could see were her eyes—dark and round like polished stones.

She kept following, easing her bike closer until it brushed my leg. Then she reached out and gently grabbed my wrist.

“Massage?” she asked again, tilting her head. “You like?”

There was something different about her. She wasn’t aggressive like the guys on Tạ Hiện. She was soft. Calm. Strangely sweet.

I was also a little tipsy and her firm grip, admittedly, got me a little turned on. But I didn’t have the cash, and I just wanted to go home.

So, I wiggled my way out of her ready-to-squeeze-and-please you grip and continued walking down the street.

She pulled up again. Then again. Each time a little more sultry and seductive. We played the same game three, four times.

By the last round, I stopped, dug into my pocket, and handed her the last of my cash.

“Here, it’s all I got. Leave me alone.”

She took it without hesitation, then paused to count. It was just 7,000 VND—less than 50 cents. Her lips curled into a confused little pout.

As I walked away, that’s when I realized… I just paid a prostitute in Hanoi and now, I want my money’s worth.

She was still tucking away the money when I turned and said, “Hey, give me a kiss, okay? I promise to remember you forever.”

She smiled, lowered her mask, and revealed her face. Late 30s, maybe 40s—could’ve been older. Who knows. Asians age like vampires.

As I leaned in close, I noticed her sharp jawline, creamy cappuccino skin, delicate lips, and perky tits.

‘What if I had more money right now?’ I thought to myself.

But, since I was just a broke-ass digital nomad at that time, I committed to giving her one hell of a kiss on her cheek.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” I laughed and began to walk away.

“Wait! You wait!”

I turned.

She was still on her bike, biting her lip, eyes locked on me.

“It your turn. I kiss you.”

Unreal!

I walked back toward her. She reached out, both hands on my head, and pulled me in.

Right before her lips touched mine, I turned my face to the side. I couldn’t do it. My instincts kicked in.

As tempting as it was, who knows how many eggplants she was munching this evening? Last thing I wanted was to wake up with cold sores thanks to my dumb decisions on a drunk night out.

Afterward, she giggled and smiled like a teenager.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

And that was it.

The cheapest kiss of my life.

And the first time I paid a prostitute in Hanoi.

Hell, it was the first time I ever paid a prostitute. Period.

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I will definitely remember this beauty for the rest of my days.

And yeah—I’ll remember her. Probably for the rest of my life.

If you’re looking for something similar in Hanoi, head to the Old Quarter. You’ll find endless entertainment, and it won’t cost you much.

Whatever you do, be smart. Stay safe. Wrap it up. And if something starts burning, go see a doctor.