Where is Hanoi Old Quarter situated?
Hanoi Old Quarter is located among the
Lake of the Restored Sword, the
Long Bien
Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall of
Hanoi. Actually, Hanoi Old
Quarter consists of 36 old streets inside, which started as a snake and
alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of
houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts
around their headquarters. In the past, the Chinese called it “Dominated Annam”
or “Protected South”.
What are their names’ origins?
Due to their long-lasting age, they are called “Old Quarter” or “36 Old Streets”
(as consisting of 36 member streets). Similarly to the Guilded age of Europe,“Ha
Noi’s 36 districts” is Vietnam’s version of the guild concept. 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.
The phrase “36 pho phuong” often causes much confusion for most people; “Phố”
means a street or a place for merchants to gather to do business, while
“Phường”, a district or a guild of artisans specializing in a particular trade
(phuong cheo, phuong tho, etc.). Yet, in any case, both are right to some
extent.
Specialized craft streets and guilds: Most tourists are eager for exploring the
old streets well-known for each one’s specialized industry. Hang Gai Street
offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products.
Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the
visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious
objects and clothing. To Tich Street connects the above two and is still the
wood turner’s street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift
wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead.
Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the
sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders, etc.
Coming here, you may feel as if you were in a classical-styled area in terms of
both architecture and product types!
How old are the streets?
It would be a big surprise should you know that Hanoi Old Quarter came into
being at the time King Ly Thai To selected Thang Long as the capital in 1010,
that is, the streets have a nearly 1,000-year old history and became crowded and
lively in 15th century. What makes them unique is that many of them remain in
their very ancient architecture of the 15th century. Up to now, it has been the
oldest continuously developed area in Vietnam.
36 Old Streets or more?
Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the “36 Old Streets”, there
are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36
came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which
were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild
names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract
concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of ”plenty”. Nine times
the four directions make 36, which simply mean “many”. In fact, there are now
more than 70 streets in the area.
Although many of the streets no longer sell the products after which they were
named, some still do. Today, the Old Quarter has become the unique classical
feature of Hanoi, and the inspiration of numerous writers, poets, and painters,
and one of the desired
tourist destinations in Hanoi.