Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi's Old Quarter, or 36 Pho Phuong (36 Streets), with over a thousand years of history, remains one of Vietnam's most lively and unusual places, where you can buy anything from a gravestone to silk pyjamas.

Whatever way you choose to discover Hanoi Vietnam, whether by walking or by cyclo, your most abiding impression of the Old Quarter in Hanoi will probably be the constant bustle and animation. To most Hanoians, it is the very heart of their city, and to visitors it is a highlight of their visit to the City of the Ascending Dragon.

Inside a modern and dynamic city, there appears an antique quarter, the Hanoi's Old Quarter - the represented eternal soul of the city. These days, most Vietnamese and Westerners are familiar with the phrase "Hà Nội - Ba mươi sáu phố phường" (translated as "Ha Noi - 36 districts" or "Hanoi - 36 Old Streets"), or "Phố cổ Hà Nội" (translated as "Hanoi's Old Quarter").

It is located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall.

It would be a big surprise should you know that Hanoi's Old Quarter came into being at the time King Ly Thai To selected Thang Long as the country's capital in 1010, that is, the streets have a nearly 1,000-year old history and became crowded & lively in 15th century

In the past, as artisans moved to the capital city to do business, they gathered together in this area to share the resources. As a result, many of the streets were named after the crafts sold at that individual street. Pho Hang Bun (Vermicelli), Pho Hang Ma (Paper Product), Pho Hang Bac (Silver), etc. are examples of the streets carrying the name of the products sold there.

Although many of the streets no longer sell the products after which they were named, some still do. Today, the Old Quarter in Hanoi has become the unique classical feature of Hanoi Vietnam, and the inspiration of numerous writers, poets, and painters, and one of the desired tourist destinations in Hanoi Vietnam.

Hanoi Attractions

Hanoi City is a sacred land of Vietnam. The year 1010 then became an historical date for Hanoi and for the whole country in general.For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long (Soaring Dragon), then changing to Dong Do, Dong Kinh, and finally to Hanoi Vietnam, in 1831. This sacred piece of land thereafter continued to be the theatre of many fateful events. Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), the Temple of Literature (built in 1070), Hanoi Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Hanoi Old Quarter... Hanoi also characteristically contains 18 beautiful lakes

More Hanoi Attractions

• History of Military Museum
• Hoan Kiem Lake
• Co Loa Historical Site
• Hanoi Flag Tower
• Ho Chi Minh Museum
• Tay Phuong Pagoda
• Hanoi Zoological Garden
• Air Force Museum

• Ngoc Son Temple
• Ho Tay Water Park
• Ly Quoc Su Pagoda
• President Ho Chi Minh's Residence
• Ancient houses in Hanoi
• One Pillar Pagoda
• Pavilion's constellation of Literature
• Hoa Lo Prison Museum

• Hanoi Opera House
• Hanoi Cathedral
• Vietnam History Museum
• West Lake Hanoi
• Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
• Thay Pagoda - Hanoi
• Fine Arts Museum

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