Hanoi Old Quarter

You are in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the historic heart of the city. Back in 1010, when King Lý Thái Tổ founded Thăng Long, this neighborhood grew around the imperial citadel. Artisans and merchants from nearby villages settled here, grouped by their craft, forming the open-air markets that shaped the area. Each trade eventually gathered along a single street, giving rise to the famous “Hàng” streets — literally “merchandise streets” — like Hàng Bac for silver, Hàng Gai for silk, or Hàng Mã for ritual paper. That’s why the district is also called the “36 Streets and Guilds.” The number 36, which you’ll see everywhere, wasn’t exact: it originally marked roughly 36 major craft areas, became an official division in the eighteenth century, and also symbolized the variety of trades. As you walk, look up: the iconic tube houses are narrow at the street front but stretch deep into the block, sometimes for dozens of meters. Balconies, shutters, and cement decorations reflect French colonial influence, which left its mark without replacing the Vietnamese architecture. The neighborhood hums with activity, as homes open directly onto spaces where people live, work, and trade, right outside their doors.