Hanoi Old Quarter

Phố cổ Hà Nội

A thousand-year-old merchant quarter whose streets are named after their trades. Narrow tube houses, street-side pho and coffee, and a flood of motorbikes make it Hanoi's most iconic urban experience.

The 36 Streets refers to the roughly 100-hectare old district north of Hoan Kiem Lake, which took shape during the Ly dynasty. Each street is named after a trade: Hàng Bạc (Silver Street), Hàng Mã (Paper Offerings Street, busiest at the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year), Hàng Gai (Silk Street), Hàng Đường (Sugar Street), and others. Many still sell the same goods today. The buildings are mostly 'tube houses', terraced shophouses only 2 to 4 metres wide but dozens of metres deep. Must-sees and must-eats: Đồng Xuân Market, the largest market in the Old Quarter; the old house at No. 87 Mã Mây Street (admission 10,000 dong, showing the traditional layout of Old Quarter homes); the queue-only pho shop on Bát Đàn Street; the 'beer street' on Tạ Hiện Street, where small plastic stools fill the road by evening and fresh draft beer costs about 10,000 to 20,000 dong a glass; the mung bean cakes of Hàng Than Street; and bún chả (grilled pork noodles), bánh mì, and egg coffee. Walking route: start from Hàng Đào Street on the north shore of Hoan Kiem Lake, pass Hàng Ngang and Hàng Đường to reach Đồng Xuân Market, then loop back via Hàng Mã, Mã Mây, and Tạ Hiện. The walk takes about 2 to 3 hours. You can also take a cyclo (about 150,000 to 200,000 dong for a ride of about 1 hour 15 minutes; agree on the price first) or join a street food tour. On Friday to Sunday, a night market stretches from Hàng Đào Street to Đồng Xuân Market after 18:00. Getting there: on foot or by Grab. Note: Pavements are often taken over by motorbikes and street stalls, so walk along the edge of the road. Carry small change and bargain. Tạ Hiện Street is extremely crowded in the evening.

Hanoi Old Quarter

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Places to eat nearby