Hanoi Old Quarter is the common name of a local urban area of Hanoi built outside of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Coming to this location, you will learn about the daily life, culture, and people of Hanoi, Vietnam.
This urban area concentrates on the handicraft products and top trading activities, forming typical craft streets. It brings the distinct traditional features of urban residents and the capital.
Today, Hanoi Old Quarter is an attractive destination for those who want to learn about Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. You can also enjoy and explore the unique culinary of Hanoi. In the article’s framework below, we will show you everything about the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Table of Contents
Where is Hanoi Old Quarter?
Hanoi Old Quarter is in the West and North of Hoan Kiem Lake. The area contains 36 streets. Although Hanoi’s Old Quarter is not too wide, this location concentrates on many residents. And on each street, people sell unique items, which create a vibrant atmosphere all day long.
Starting at Hoan Kiem Lake, before walking, take a tram ride to see the street for easy navigation and see the historic architecture. The cost per trip of the tram is VND20,000 for an adult and free for children under the age of three years old.
When traveling to Hanoi, the most ideal time is September, November, and March because all the locations are well-decorated and the weather is cool and pleasant. When riding a tram, after being booked, visitors will go through 28 streets.
Visitors will return to the starting point at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. The tour of Hanoi Old Quarter begins. If you want to have a full day of Hanoi Old Quarter tourism, stay around this central area. It is convenient for travel and comfortable to visit.
How to get to the Hanoi Old Quarter?
There are many vehicles for you to choose from in Hanoi Old Quarter such as bus, motorbike taxi, taxi, etc. If you go by bus, you can choose the bus routes of 09, 14, and 36. If you choose the bus routes of 03, 11, 14, 18, 22, 34, and 40, you will reach O Quang Chuong.
Tourist Locations in Hanoi Old Quarter
The following locations are not all the tourist attractions available in Hanoi Old Quarter, the Quarter area is wide and there are many locations to explore. But the following points are the ones you should visit and enjoy when you have only a one-day tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The folklore of Hoan Kiem Lake (named after folklore about this lake) is associated with the legend of the Turtle God demanding swords. The lake is in the city center which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists.
Son Temple and The Huc Bridge. Come to this wonderful place, you can enjoy the famous Trang Tien ice cream. It is a must-see when traveling to Hanoi Old Quarter.
It lines the two sides with willow trees; the canopies leaning down to embrace the water of the turquoise lake, sparkling with golden sunlight. Around the area are beautifully decorated flower gardens, But Tower, and Ly Thai To monument.
Ngoc Son Temple
Ngoc Son Temple is on Ngoc Island. It is the place to worship Van Xuong and Duc Thanh Tran. To get into the temple, go through The Huc Bridge. People rank the Ngoc Son Temple complex work as a special national monument in Vietnam. Here, you will learn about the legend or the history of Hanoi.
Dong Xuan Market
Born in 1889, it is the oldest market in Hanoi. Coming here, you will witness the bustling buying and selling scene. To learn more about the Old Quarter and Hanoi, you cannot ignore this market.
It is one of the largest markets in Hanoi and also the largest market in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, with a busy trading space and bustling shopping scene. Here, visitors can choose many items such as clothes or souvenirs. The sold items are plentiful. Behind the market is a delicious and cheap food court.
Like Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, you will witness the busy buying and selling atmosphere that the vendors and stores trade many items. You can go to the market to buy souvenirs for your Vietnam trip.
Hang Ma Street
In the old town, we consider Hang Ma Street one of the most crowded and colorful streets in Hanoi. Especially on Tet Holidays. They decorate the street with lanterns, glowing toys, and balloons. These items make the street not only filled with sound, color, and light but also have a spiritual imprint of Hanoi culture.
Ma May Ancient House
As one of the attractive places to visit in the old town, the Ancient House at 87 Ma May Street is a traditional house that recreates the living space and characteristics of the Hanoi people. The house is open regularly for tourists to visit with the entrance fee is VND10,000.
Figure 6. Ma May Ancient House
Bach Ma Temple
Bach Ma Temple is one of the four towns belonging to Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The temple is in the middle of Hang Buom Street, at house number 76-78. In the temple of Long Do and the white horse, many historical books have been recorded.
It is a thousand-year-old historical and cultural relic. It is the oldest temple among the ancient temples of Thang Long Imperial Citadel remaining up to now. This place worships Long Do God, also known as To Lich Gian Than. It is a large temple, restored and embellished by many dynasties.
The temple’s architecture is a hallmark of the architectural style of the 19th century. The unique architecture of the temple lies in the crab-shaped dome behind the temple.
Ta Hien Street
The next location is the intersection of Luong Ngoc Quyen – Ta Hien streets, where many small alleys gather the traditions of ancient Hanoi. Small alleys are characteristic of the old town of Hanoi. The alleys, only about 70-centimeter wide, were formed about half a century ago.
Ta Hien Street is a small street in the center of Hanoi. The street is a bridge between modern life and ancient cultural features. Here, visitors can stop by, choose a seat, sip an ancient beer, enjoy traditional Hanoi dishes, and watch the streets.
This place is called the International Crossroads because when you come here, no matter what country you come from and what language you speak, the tourists are all welcomed. The street is always full of people.
Also, it is a famous beer-drinking place in Hanoi that is loved by young people and tourists. This place is in the list of must-see places when traveling to Hanoi by foreign tourists.
O Quang Chuong
O Quang Chuong is one of the five remaining doorways of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. They design the place in the style of a gazebo. It is a typical architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The people gave the names of the doorways to remember the merits and heroic sacrifice of the Grand Master in the anti-French era.
As the only city gate of Hanoi still standing with war and time, O Quang Chuong is a testament to the strong vitality of the nation and the capital of Vietnam.
St. Joseph Cathedral
St. Joseph Cathedral was built in the neo-Gothic style of the 19th century, with many details imitating the architectural style of Notre Dame Cathedral. It is the place of religious activities of many parishioners of Hanoi archdiocese.
It is also a tourist attraction attracting many adults and foreign tourists. Built during the French colonial period, St. Joseph Cathedral is a typical colonial-style architectural class for guilds.
Hanoi Old Quarter Night Market
They operate Old Quarter Night Market from 06 P.M. to 11 P.M. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The goods here are very diverse and rich from clothes to shoes, household appliances, crafts, and souvenirs at affordable prices.
Every Saturday evening, the two ends of the street will hold performances and exchange of traditional folk arts such as cheo, mandarin, and ca tru. It is the uniqueness of the market which attracts a lot of tourists, especially foreign visitors.
Hotels and Motels in Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is the center of Hanoi with a lot of commercial activities and services. So, the hotel system here is also very plentiful from cheap and affordable hotels to high-end luxury hotels. Hotels and motels in the Old Quarter will satisfy even the most discerning guest.
Golden Time Hostel 3
Address: 108 Ma May, Hoan Kiem District, Old Quarter, Hanoi
Room price: $15 – $21
The hotel is conveniently on Ma May Street, from where you can move to other tourist destinations quickly and easily. The hotel can provide you with a full range of amenities for you to have the best time to rest.
Rising Dragon Villa Hotel
Address: 43A Bat Su, Hoan Kiem District, Old Quarter, Hanoi
Room price: 422 – $69
In the heart of Old Town, the hotel provides you with many services and the best facilities for your stay. The hotel will suggest to you the most attractive fun activities. Here you will be dedicated to wonderful service. The friendly staffs will help you have the best vacation,
BC Family Homestay
Address: 9A Lane Trung Yen, Dinh Liet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Room price: $16 – $25
From the map, this homestay is in the city center. You will be comfortable to move to the entertainment places that you love. Modern amenities in all rooms, good quality service will bring the most comfortable feeling. The hotel also guides entertainment activities for you during your stay.
Culinary of the Old Quarter
Bun Thang
Bun Thang is a rights reserved dish for Hanoi families. It is one of the most delicate dishes of Ha Thanh cuisine. The vermicelli restaurant in Cau Go is one of the best restaurants that have decades of experience in the profession. It has been attached to many generations of people in Hanoi with clear and sweet broth, and the bowl of Bun Thang is rich in shrimp taste.
With experience and ingenuity, the owners have created a very delicious noodle broth. The most famous of the vermicelli restaurants in Hanoi include Ba Duc (48 Cau Go Street), 32 Cau Go Street, the restaurant in the middle of Luong Van Can street, the small vendor in Hang Chi Lane, and the restaurant at the D2 Giang Vo Street.
Xoi Che
People consider Vietnamese Che as a typical dessert in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is both simple and frugal with unique characteristics. Ba Thin Xoi Che restaurant, which started from carrying street vendors in Hanoi 30 years ago, has become a familiar restaurant in Hanoi.
Che has the glossy black color of black beans or cool yellow color of green beans stretching seeds. The beans are evenly grounded, and the sweetness is decent. It is a famous restaurant with many traditional dishes. And Xoi (sticky rice) is very pliable and fragrant.
Chicken Stew with Herbs
Chicken stew on Hang Cot street is the most famous cuisine in Hanoi. They stuff wormwood into the heart of each chicken, so its smell and bitterness are fragrant.
Traditional rights reserved for medicinal ingredients such as Goji berries and jujube are added moderately. The dish is suitable for diners with a gentle taste that creates a sweet feeling. After enough time, we bring the chicken to the bowl and serve the customers.
Trang Tien Ice Cream
Go to Hoan Kiem lake to have fun. First, you must eat Trang Tien ice cream before going on. Trang Tien ice cream has become a very typical feature of Hanoi, it is a waste to come to Hanoi without eating ice cream standing in the center of Trang Tien ice cream. Whether it’s winter or summer, sunny or rainy, they always pack the ice cream shop with ice cream customers.
There are many flavors such as coconut milk, chocolate, and green beans. You will be spoiled for enjoyment.
Fun Activities at the Old Quarter
Walking street is an interesting cultural and entertainment space for Hanoi people and tourists coming here. With a large space, open roads, suitable for re-enacting folk games of intense play, the child will share the opportunity to access such as jumping rope, tug of war, play volleyball, and soccer.
The Old Quarter offers many activities not only for entertainment but also for community-connecting activities. Regardless of whether you are old or young, you should be ready to be a part of the game.
Moving up the Turtle Tower, you can see the Ca Tru perform by the artists in the Cheo Group. They set the stage up. The artists represent the viewers through folk arts such as singing and associated with the tinkling train road from the city.
Near Ly Thai To Street, you can find many houses as coffee shops for foreign tourists to chat, date, or read a book for hours. The staff people are friendly with professional services. You should add some locations to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in the Hanoi Old Quarter?
Traveling to the Old Quarter, one thing not to be missed is to enjoy the Old Quarter cuisine. There are many delicious and attractive dishes that you should enjoy such as bun cha, bun dau mam tom (vermicelli with shrimp paste), pho, boiled snails, fried noodles, teas, and banh mi.
What district is the Old Quarter in Hanoi?
The location of the Old Quarter up to 1995 was defined relatively in Hoan Kiem District with an area of about 100 hectares. It includes 76 streets and 10 wards as Hang Dao, Hang Bac, Hang Buom, Hang Bo, Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Hang Ma, and Ly Thai To.
Although the Old Quarter of Hanoi still expands outside the above area, these are the places that keep the most inherent features and are the busiest places representing 36 streets.
Is the Old Quarter safe?
Hoan Kiem District Police (Hanoi) is drastically directing professional teams. The police of the wards under main management always enhance security to prevent crime against property losses of international tourists. They also prevent many people who commit crimes in the Old Quarter area of Hanoi.
The police force is everywhere and can be ready to serve you anytime when you need it, such as asking for directions, asking for the address, and especially, helping you to solve the problems you encounter.
What can I buy in the Old Quarter?
The Old Quarter has a ton of things you can buy as gifts for loved ones and family such as crafts, small souvenirs, clothes, shoes, and jewelry. There are many quality and reputable shopping addresses in the Old Quarter, such as Old Quarter night markets.
According to many foreign tourists’ reviews, for high-quality shopping in the Old Quarter, go shopping in the afternoon because the vendors are very abstinent.
Where can I go to old quarters?
You can start moving at 8:00 A.M. The first place in the journey should be Dong Xuan Market for breakfast. You can choose for yourself attractive breakfast dishes. After breakfast, you can visit the market. The market is enormous and can take one hour of visiting.
Continue the journey of self-sufficient and cheap Old Quarter travel to O Quan Truong. You can check in with the only remaining city gate of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. After taking a souvenir photo, you continue to move to the temple to visit the temple and then move to the Ma May Ancient House. It is an attractive tourist destination of the Old Quarter for you to learn about the life and culture of the original Hanoi people.
After visiting Bach Ma Temple and Ma May Ancient House around 10:30 P.M., continue to move to Kim Ngan communal house in Bac Street. It is the temple worshiping the ancestor of the jewelry profession.
Final Words
Hanoi Old Quarter is an urban area outside Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It is a famous commercial and traditional area for its busy domestic trade with many professions. Above are some brief information about Hanoi Old Quarter, there are many interesting things such as specialized food or practical experiences in Hanoi waiting for you to come.
We hope you have discoveries and interesting experiences when traveling to the Hanoi Old Quarter, especially from Ho Chi Minh City. Hopefully, with the above travel experiences of Hanoi Old Quarter, you will have a meaningful day to explore all 36 typical streets of the capital.
If you have further questions, please write in the comment section, press Enter, or email us.
