Living in Hanoi – Old quarter is one of the best place to visit
Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi old quarter includes streets, which are defined as follows: in the North is Hang Dau street; in the West is Phung Hung street; Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go street are in the South and Tran Quang Khai, Tran Nhat Duat street are in the East.
Hanoi old quarter is a valuable architectural legacy, which contains Vietnamese cultural tradition and being the pride and symbol for the soul of one thousand- year Hanoi capital.
With 100ha in site area, Hanoi old quarter was founded in 11th century. It has been existing as an crowed urban of trading thousand years, where residents live on handicraft and trade. All of these made specific streets and each street contains separated tradition of people in each. Craftmen from industry villas around Thang Long imperial city once moved to there, following each area in which their work was specific. So, every streets were very crowed, animated in trading, working as mini industry villas. And the products, which were traded, became the name of street, where they were traded, with the word “Hang” put in front, such as Hang Gao, Hang Duong, Hang Muoi... Therefore, Vietnamese people got used to call Hanoi as “ Hanoi 36 streets and districts”, in which the word “district” meant the area of people who were in the same handicrafts and traded the same products. They said that “trading together with partner, selling together in district”.
Another feature of Hanoi old quarter is old- house architecture. The houses are designed with tube form, inclined roofs and the front is trade strore. Most of these houses were built in 18th to 19th century. Hanoi people cleverly arranged rooms, mezzanines and back yard so that it could meet life demands. Although each old house in Hanoi is not large but it still has space for trade, producing, worship, living room, bedroom, taking the air,...
Visiting Hanoi old quarter, tourists are attracted by cultural value which is contained in about 100 old architectural construction, such as communal houses, temples, pagodas, and club- houses; despite of how much fastidious they are. Especially Bach Ma temple in Hang Buom street is considered as one of the four guards of Thang Long imperial city.
Many foreigns visit Hanoi in the first time will be nervous when walking between streets, which are quite similar in the name, stores selling the same products, crowed restaurants, too many people and vehicles. But that feeling will be quickly forgotten. They will feel excited when they find that the life in there is very active, full of vitality, always moving and romantic. They seem to be attracted to homeland of food, from traditional food such as Bun Cha, Pho, Bun Ca.. to food in small restaurants on the sidewalk such as balut, glutinous rice doughnut, Bun Oc, Bun Dau Mam Tom...
On the weekend, Hang Dao- Dong Xuan walking street connects to Dong Xuan night market, which create a walking space about 3km in old quarter in the evening. Walking between old quarter and souvernir trade space, visitors really experience the attraction of night market and old quarter at night.
Near by the chains of stalls, people still find that old quarter at night is very pensive through closed small houses, which creat the feeling of easwhile. Especially in every Saturday evening, there are some folk shows such as Vietnamese popular opera, ceremonial,singing like a strolling blind musician, loveduet... which are performed by Vietnamese musicians. It also raise the antique and distinction of Hanoi old quarter.
Hanoi old quarter with lovely small tube houses, crowed streets, pagodas with curved roofs, space, sound or unique taste of food... all of these make the distinctive beauty of Hanoi.
