VietNamNet Bridge – If you’re looking for a wide open space away from the city to enjoy a family meal, then head down to Sunshine on the Red River. Minh Thu reports

Grapefruit salad with prawns, a healthy dish with stunning flavour.

When my family looks for a venue to gather at the weekend, we prefer to find a place which is spacious enough for around 20 people and child-friendly.

Nắng Sông Hồng (Sunshine on Red River) Restaurant is an ideal option with a spacious grassy area, beautiful view over the Red River, private rooms designed in the traditional northern style and an exciting playground for children.

Though it’s not located at the heart of the city, I think it’s worth the travel because it’s an escape from the busy and crowded city life.

With premium hospitality, the restaurant serves the very best food from the northern region, and displays authentic culture from Hanoi and the surroundings areas.

We were looking for a space for our large family and didn’t realise they had a water puppetry show at the weekend. It goes without saying that the children were excited.

Gourmets can reserve seats to enjoy the fresh air and views of the Red River. The riverbank is an ideal spot to watch boats gliding along against the backdrop of the sun setting over Hanoi’s skyline.

There are also options inside the traditional buildings, where the rooms are all named after flowers.

A waiter told us that customers can also organise other traditional performing arts such as quan họ (love duets) and chầu văn (spiritual singing).

Like its name, the restaurant is dedicated to celebrating the harmonious flavours of authentic aquatic products from the Red River, like snails, crabs, prawns and fish.

Northern Vietnamese cuisine relies on the freshness of the ingredients and the skill to execute timeless recipes and create exceptional signature dishes.

We started the meal with a grapefruit salad with prawns, spring rolls and summer rolls.

A corner of Nắng Sông Hồng Restaurant with a large grass area.  Summer rolls with prawns and vegetables. VNS Photos Tung Truong

Though all of us have enjoyed these dishes before, we were still amazed by how good they were.

All of the ingredients were fresh and mixed together in harmony, creating a delight for gourmets.

“Vegetables are cultivated onsite on our own farm guaranteeing food safety and hight quality as well as freshness,” said waitress Nguyen Thi Xuan.

Next we ordered a hotpot of lăng fish (catfish) to crown the meal.

Xuan took us to an aquarium to select a 4kg fish. She told us that the strong flow of Red River meant the fish had plenty of “exercise”, making them more tender.  

A full plate of white flesh, dotted with some thinly sliced pineapple, carrots, spring onions, dill and chili was well presented.

The raw fish slices were put into the bubbling broth together with vegetables (morning glory, cabbage, canola ...).

The serving was pretty impressive and colourful with slices of sweetcorn, fresh mushrooms, pineapples and tomatoes. The broth incorporated different tastes and scents that made all of our mouths water as we waited for the fish to cook.

“The elegantly designed dining rooms and premises among quiet and relaxed surroundings, together with a sublime view across the Red River, create a gentle ambience that cannot be found anywhere else in the city," said Truong Thanh Tung, a customer.

Premium service coupled with stylish design and inspiring architecture creates a cozy atmosphere that transports you to a refuge of calm and peace in Hanoi. The restaurant really brings gourmets a retreat by the Red River. 

Source: VNS