You need to upgrade your Flash Player
Old quarter streets (3km/1.8 miles)
- - Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao
- - Dong Xuan Market, Night market in Hang Dao street
HANOI
Founded in 1010, originally known as Thang Long, Ha Noi literally translated as River Interior. As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered to be one of cultural centres of Vietnam, where most of Vietnamese dynasties had left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Hanoi hosts more cultural sites than any city in Vietnam, including over 600 pagodas and temples.
HANOI OLD QUARTER
The Old Quarter, near Hoan Kiem lake, has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. At the beginning of the 20th century the city consisted of only about 36 streets, most of which are now part of the old quarter. Each street then had merchants and households specialized in a particular trade, such as silk traders, jewellery, etc. The street names nowadays still reflect these specializations, although few of them remain exclusively in their original commerce. The area is famous for its small artisans and merchants, including many silk shops. Local cuisine specialties as well as several clubs and bars can be found here also. A night market (near Đồng Xuân market) in the heart of the district opens for business every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening with a variety of clothing, souvenirs and food.
Hang Bac street was one of the oldest streets in Vietnam, dated back from the 13th century. Today, the street has jewelers of different types like engravers, smelters, polishers or gold-leaf makers.
One of Vietnam’s oldest streets, Hang Dao was the street where red-dyed fabrics are sold in the old days. This street today specializes in ready-made clothes.
Dong Xuan market, Vietnam’s oldest and largest market. In 1992, the market was renovated and a new facade of Dong Xuan was built.
Hang Quat street sells traditional crafts, various religious items like ancestral altars, porcelain Buddhas and wood carved stamps. Along the street, there are some French colonial tea houses, the Den Dau (Strawberry Temple), and the traditional wooden house honoring Vietnamese soldiers.
Hang Gai street offers silk ready-made and tailored clothes, embroideries and silver products.
Hang Ma (Paper Offering) Street glimmers with shiny paper products, from gift wrappings, wedding decorations to votive papers which burn for the dead.