Hanoi Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the cultural heart of Hanoi, where the pulse of life has been beating for nearly 2,000 years. Daily routine starts early and builds to a friendly bustle, while streets have distinct character and are named after the crafts once made there: silver, ladder, silk, paper.

St Joseph’s Cathedral rings for mass regularly throughout the day, and travelers can follow the sound of the bells to check out its Neo-Gothic style. Huyen Thien Pagoda is another of the many temples peppered around this part of town, and the Old City Gate is one of four original entrances to the heart of the Royal City. It has survived over a thousand years. Take time to sample the spirit, atmosphere and shopping on offer here; nothing says Hanoi like its Old Quarter.

The following is a translation of just some of the streets and the trades that were practiced in the Old Quarter. Some of the streets below still sell or produce the same items; others have evolved to more modern goods, but the clumps-of-industry principle remains. Look for the following:

Street Name Translations of Old Quarter Trades

Hang Bac silver

Hang Be rattan rafts

Hang Bo baskets

Hang Bong cotton

Hang Buom sails

Hang Ca fish

Hang Can scales

Hang Cot bamboo mats

Hang Da leather

Hang Dao silk

Hang Dau beans

Hang Dieu bongs and pipes

Hang Dong brass

Hang Duong sugar

Hang Ga chicken

Hang Gai hemp and rope

Hang Giay paper

Hang Hom coffins

Hang Khoai sweet potatoes

Hang Luoc combs

Hang Ma paper replicas/toys

Hang Mam fish

Hang Manh bamboo shades

Hang Muoi salt

Hang Non conical hats

Hang Quat fans

Hang Than charcoal

Hang Thiec tin

Hang Thung barrels

Hang Tre bamboo

Hang Trong drums

Hang Vai cloth

Hanoi Old Quarter is a triangular area of approximately 36 streets centered next to Lake Ho Hoan Kiem. Areas by the lake itself are more touristy and expensive, head into its heart to find true local gems. The Old Quarter gets very busy on weekends, so why not do as the locals do and start early to avoid peak crowds?

The Old Quarter is the cultural heart of Hanoi, where the pulse of life has been beating for nearly 2,000 years. Daily routine starts early and builds to a friendly bustle, while streets have distinct character and are named after the crafts once made there: silver, ladder, silk, paper.

St Joseph’s Cathedral rings for mass regularly throughout the day, and travelers can follow the sound of the bells to check out its Neo-Gothic style. Huyen Thien Pagoda is another of the many temples peppered around this part of town, and the Old City Gate is one of four original entrances to the heart of the Royal City. It has survived over a thousand years. Take time to sample the spirit, atmosphere and shopping on offer here; nothing says Hanoi like its Old Quarter.

The following is a translation of just some of the streets and the trades that were practiced in the Old Quarter. Some of the streets below still sell or produce the same items; others have evolved to more modern goods, but the clumps-of-industry principle remains. Look for the following:

Street Name Translations of Old Quarter Trades

Hang Bac silver

Hang Be rattan rafts

Hang Bo baskets

Hang Bong cotton

Hang Buom sails

Hang Ca fish

Hang Can scales

Hang Cot bamboo mats

Hang Da leather

Hang Dao silk

Hang Dau beans

Hang Dieu bongs and pipes

Hang Dong brass

Hang Duong sugar

Hang Ga chicken

Hang Gai hemp and rope

Hang Giay paper

Hang Hom coffins

Hang Khoai sweet potatoes

Hang Luoc combs

Hang Ma paper replicas/toys

Hang Mam fish

Hang Manh bamboo shades

Hang Muoi salt

Hang Non conical hats

Hang Quat fans

Hang Than charcoal

Hang Thiec tin

Hang Thung barrels

Hang Tre bamboo

Hang Trong drums

Hang Vai cloth

Hanoi Old Quarter is a triangular area of approximately 36 streets centered next to Lake Ho Hoan Kiem. Areas by the lake itself are more touristy and expensive, head into its heart to find true local gems. The Old Quarter gets very busy on weekends, so why not do as the locals do and start early to avoid peak crowds?

The Old Quarter is the cultural heart of Hanoi, where the pulse of life has been beating for nearly 2,000 years. Daily routine starts early and builds to a friendly bustle, while streets have distinct character and are named after the crafts once made there: silver, ladder, silk, paper.

St Joseph’s Cathedral rings for mass regularly throughout the day, and travelers can follow the sound of the bells to check out its Neo-Gothic style. Huyen Thien Pagoda is another of the many temples peppered around this part of town, and the Old City Gate is one of four original entrances to the heart of the Royal City. It has survived over a thousand years. Take time to sample the spirit, atmosphere and shopping on offer here; nothing says Hanoi like its Old Quarter.

The following is a translation of just some of the streets and the trades that were practiced in the Old Quarter. Some of the streets below still sell or produce the same items; others have evolved to more modern goods, but the clumps-of-industry principle remains. Look for the following:

Street Name Translations of Old Quarter Trades

Hang Bac silver

Hang Be rattan rafts

Hang Bo baskets

Hang Bong cotton

Hang Buom sails

Hang Ca fish

Hang Can scales

Hang Cot bamboo mats

Hang Da leather

Hang Dao silk

Hang Dau beans

Hang Dieu bongs and pipes

Hang Dong brass

Hang Duong sugar

Hang Ga chicken

Hang Gai hemp and rope

Hang Giay paper

Hang Hom coffins

Hang Khoai sweet potatoes

Hang Luoc combs

Hang Ma paper replicas/toys

Hang Mam fish

Hang Manh bamboo shades

Hang Muoi salt

Hang Non conical hats

Hang Quat fans

Hang Than charcoal

Hang Thiec tin

Hang Thung barrels

Hang Tre bamboo

Hang Trong drums

Hang Vai cloth

Hanoi Old Quarter is a triangular area of approximately 36 streets centered next to Lake Ho Hoan Kiem. Areas by the lake itself are more touristy and expensive, head into its heart to find true local gems. The Old Quarter gets very busy on weekends, so why not do as the locals do and start early to avoid peak crowds?