Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi tours, people also know “Hanoi with 36 streets” or “Hanoi old town”, with roads that have preserved the historical memories of the capital. The ancient town is now an attractive tourist destination that tourists cannot ignore when coming here. We will help you explore Hanoi Old Quarter through the following article.

General introduction of Hanoi ancient street for tourists

Alternatively called Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Ancient Quarter, or just simply 36 Streets, the Old Quarter of Hanoi is a must-see for anyone visiting Vietnam. Located at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter is the home of most economical hotels, tourist shops, and cafes in Hanoi.

Hanoi tours to discover human life here. The Old Quarter is truly old: people have called Hanoi home continuously for more than 2,000 years, and the Old Quarter is the first area settled by humans. Most of Vietnamese history and culture has unfurled from the location of the Old Quarter. Unlike other cities with “old towns”, which by-and-large have become nothing more than souvenir shops and cheap tourist attractions, Hanoi’s Old Quarter is still the vibrant center of life in Hanoi. With people on the street by 5:30 a.m., and restaurants opening by 6:00 a.m., the hustle-and-bustle of the Old Quarter doesn’t really start to slow down until 9:30 at night.

The 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter are all named for the type of good or service they used to sell there. There are streets named for bamboo, silk, silver, medicine, shoes, fans, chickens, and even coffins. This method of naming the street after goods or services goes back to the days when craftsmen would work together in guilds to produce and sell their wares. Even today, walking through the Old Quarter, you might come across an entire block of nothing but paper makers, tinsmiths, or tailors

The long homes lining the streets of Old Hanoi are called “tunnel homes” because they are not very wide but extend far behind the street front. The section of the home facing the street is generally where the merchants produce and sell their goods; behind the public section is a garden courtyard, and behind that is the residence where the family lives.

Everywhere in Old Hanoi, life spills out from these tunnel houses onto the streets. On the streets, you’ll find average Vietnamese people going about their day, tourists looking for some interesting shopping, and street vendors selling their wares. Hanoi tours, you must experience the cuisine here. You’ll have to walk around stools set onto the sidewalks, where cafe customers are eating their rice or drinking tea, and you’ll need to watch out for the motorbikes racing by in the streets.

Places to hang out and visit in Hanoi Old Quarter

Hoan Kiem lake

Or there is another name called Ho Guom, associated with the legend of the turtle god demanding the sword. Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the city center, which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists. Next, to the lake, there are many other tourist attractions: Temple Ngoc Son, Thap But, The Huc Bridge … Here you can enjoy the famous Trang Tien ice cream. Hoan Kiem Lake is a place not to be missed when traveling to Hanoi Old Quarter. This is a certain place for visitors to visit Hanoi tours.

Ngoc Son Temple

Ngoc Son Temple is located on Ngoc island of Hoan Kiem Lake, which is a place to worship Van Xuong god and Tran Tran. To enter the temple you have to go through The Huc Bridge. The complex of works Ngoc Son Temple is ranked as a national monument especially in Vietnam. Here you will learn about the legend of the Sword Lake or the history of Hanoi.

Dong Xuan market

Dong Xuan Market is one of the largest markets in Hanoi and also the largest market located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Here you will witness the bustling shopping and bustling scene, trading many items. You can go to Dong Xuan Market to buy gifts to bring back as gifts.

We hope that the above information Hanoi tours will help you to have the experience of discovering Hanoi’s old town happily.