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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jul 6, 2023
By Ms. Anh Thu
Hanoi Old Quarter is well-known for its diverse attractions, excellent cuisine, active nightlife, and one-of-a-kind handicrafts. The city's ups and downs are readily visible in this downtown area. This is why it is regarded as a good location for travelers to enjoy Hanoi's culture and sightseeing on foot. Continue reading Hanoi Old Quarter Guide post to the end for additional information on the Hanoi Old Quarter!
The Old Quarter in Hanoi is situated to the west and north of Hoan Kiem Lake. There are 36 streets in this area of the city. Hang Dau Street runs along the northern edge of the historic district, while Phung Hung Street runs along the western edge. Hang Bong Street, Hang Gai Street, Cau Go Street, and Hang Thung Street are in the southern area, while Tran Quang Khai Street and Tran Nhat Duat Street are in the eastern section.
For a visit to Hanoi Old Quarter, you may take a bus, taxi, motorbike taxi, or any mode of transportation. If you use the bus, you can go to Hoan Kiem Lake by taking bus numbers 09, 14, 36, or 03, 11, 14, 18, 22, 34, 40 O Quan Chuong Gate.
Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter reflects Vietnam's notable past. Its history dates back to the 11th century, when Emperor Ly Thai To decided to relocate the capital from Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh, to Hanoi after gaining independence from China. Today, the imperial castle of Thang Long and the O Quan Chuong gate, both located near the Old Quarter, serve as reminders of this notable past.
The Hanoi Old Quarter quickly became known as a hub for arts and crafts, attracting experienced artisans to live and work there. Migrants frequently came from the same village and operated in guilds, often living in a single street and specialized in a single commodity or service. They also brought their religious beliefs with them, erecting temples, pagodas, and other structures.
Because property in the nineteenth-century Nguyen Dynasty was taxed exclusively by street frontage, the practice of the construction of "tube houses," which is common in Hanoi's Old Quarter, arose as a tax-saving measure. These historic streets earned the Old Quarter the moniker "36 Old Streets," and many are still named after the product they specialized in, reflecting the area's craft traditions and heritage.
Nowadays, one can see the 19th and 20th-century French influence, especially in the yellow exteriors of the historic villas, residences, and buildings, as well as the wide tree-lined boulevards leading into the historic Quarter. All of this history coexists with Hanoi's modern high-rises and buildings, making the Old Quarter an attractive tourist attraction.
Hanoi Old Quarter Streets
Many historic craft villages have been preserved in the Old Quarter, including Hang Ma, Hang Thiec, Thuoc Bac, and Hang Tre streets, among others.Tourists can go to these craft villages to buy and learn more about these things by questioning the vendor about the origins and development history of these communities.
Tourists can also take a walk or participate in a variety of activities on the walking street surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake. On weekends, guests can participate in music and dance events as well as outdoor games such as rope jumping, tug-of-war, and shuttlecock kicking.
Thang Long water puppet theater has been a great cultural destination for travelers, as well as a one-of-a-kind spiritual program. With several improvements over the years, the theater is now equipped with modern facilities, ready to host 300 spectators per show. Thang Long water puppet theater attracts many tourists who come to discover the essence of Vietnamese culture on a daily basis.
Sitting on a cyclo to explore and appreciate the sights of Hanoi's Old Quarter is an exciting experience that no tourist should pass up. This trip introduces you to new and intriguing moments that bring you closer to the pulse of Hanoi life and culture. Since the early years of the twentieth century, the tinkling sound of cyclo has been associated with the life of Hanoians. The image of cyclo riders has influenced the culture and traditional lifestyle of Hanoi's picturesque Old Quarter.
Ta Hien street, known as the "street that never sleeps" in the center of the capital, is a popular entertainment destination. When the sun goes down, this street begins to light up and rapidly becomes colorful and bustling with the busy flow of people and the music from the bars. You can go alone, with a group of friends, or with your family to any restaurant and drink beer while enjoying food and the Hanoi nightlife...
The Hanoi Old Quarter is still believed to be the most picturesque at night. The pace of life is slower at night than it is during the day. The night market features about 4000 kiosks selling hundreds of things ranging from clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and handcrafts at reasonable costs. However, before purchasing anything, you should check the price and possibly bargain a little if you believe the price is a little greater than their value. Tourists can also enjoy a variety of street food and spectacular street music activities.
The best food in Hanoi's Old Quarter is pho. It is suitable for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Beef bones are used to make the broth. Pho meat can be beef or chicken, and the seasonings include green onion, pepper, chili vinegar, sliced lemon, and so on.
This is a traditional Northern Vietnamese dish. It comes with vermicelli noodles, a plethora of fresh herbs, tender and juicy pork meatballs, and the traditional dipping sauce. It is a cuisine that many people in Northern Vietnam in general, and Hanoi in particular, cherish.
This is a sophisticated noodle soup with delectable toppings like shredded chicken, pork sausage, egg crepes, shrimp floss, and aromatic herbs. The broth is made up of chicken, shrimp, and shiitake mushrooms.
This dish is made out of a little bowl of fermented shrimp paste, fresh herbs, fried tofu, and rice vermicelli. The mix of fermented shrimp paste and kumquat juice is its feature.
This meal combines grilled fish marinated in turmeric with sautéed onions and dills, as well as vermicelli noodles, toasted peanuts, and dipping sauce. It offers an ideal balance of savory, sweet, and sour flavors.
Come to the Hanoi Old Quarter, and you'll find the famous Vietnamese coffee in the most unexpected places - with just a plastic tool on a simple sidewalk, you may enjoy your very personal Vietnamese coffee culture.
In Hanoi's Old Quarter, you can get sidewalk coffee practically anywhere. You may find one in no time if you take a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. You won't be disappointed if you include sidewalk cafés on your evening tour of Hanoi.
Ta Hien Street beer is quite well-known, thus it is not an exaggeration to claim that this is the ideal area to enjoy Hanoi's busy nightlife while sipping a chilled beer. If you're in Hanoi on a hot day, grab a beer and rejoice with your pals at this spot! Instead of sitting in pubs, you will sit on an outside stool to drink beer from bottles placed on a stool. This is an excellent opportunity for visitors to learn about Hanoi's traditional and modest way of life. Furthermore, the beer is commonly paired with delectable foods like roasted squid, fried fermented pig buns, roasted chicken, or sunflower nuts.
There are numerous tours that depart from Hanoi Old Quarter. Thus, if you are staying at a hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, it is easy for you to be picked up for trips to other destinations included below tours:
By taking this tour, you can visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Temple of Literature,...
You'll visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam's former capital, explore Mua underground and enjoy views from the mountain above, take a boat ride through the Tam Coc caves, and cycle across the fields to the Bich Dong Pagoda underground temples.
This Hanoi to Halong Bay tour offers access from Hanoi to Halong Bay - the country’s most impressive attraction. You can learn and admire a lot during our journey through the north of the country. You also can visit Sung Sot cave, Ti Top island, Luon cave, Bo Nau cave, Me Cung cave, Trong Mai Islet, etc. .. that can be explored by kayaking and swimming among forested karsts, all while seeking absolute relaxation on the deck of a slow-moving boat.
