The Hanoitimes - Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery. Mentioning the old streets of Hanoi, the essay “Notes taken on rainy days” by Pham Dinh Ho writes: “Dien Hung ward (present-day Hang Ngang) and Dong Lac ward (present-day Hang Dao) are places where many cloths and silk products are sold.” According to Hanoi researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc, all kinds of papers, such as Giay ban (tissue paper), Giay moi (inferior tissue paper), Giay boi (coarse paper) and other popular papers made by people in Buoi and Cot Villages were sold on Hang Giay Street in the past. Some streets were named after a legend or special ana, such as Hang Chao (rice porridge) Street which was the place selling rice porridge to candidates who came to the capital … [Read more...] about Hanoi – Old streets and traditional trades
Hanoi 36 streets
Hanoi tourism sector focuses on drawing more tourists
There are more than 100 days remaining to the anniversary of 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi and this will be a great opportunity for travel agents to set up tours to attract more visitors to Vietnam's capital city. Establishing more new tours Mr. Phung Van Khai, Director of Hapro Travel, said that in aiming to attract tourists, especially those from high-income markets, the agent established 10 tours which focus on Hanoi, such as: Hanoi, the historical and cultural routes; Hanoi, 36 streets; Hanoi, land and people, Hanoi - Hung Temple - Hai Ba Trung Temple, the foundation and defense of the country; Hanoi - Ninh Binh, independence and the royal proclamation of the moving of the capital city; trade village and gastronomy culture of Hanoi people. The Red River Tourism Development and Investment travel company has also launched tours titled "Coming back to Hoa Lu" with destinations of Hanoi - Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Bai Dinh Pagoda - Trang An tourist site - Tran Temple - … [Read more...] about Hanoi tourism sector focuses on drawing more tourists
Hanoi tourism ready for giant celebration
Hotels, travel agents, and airlines in Hanoi finished preparations and are ready for welcoming tourists to the capital’s millennium birthday. “Hanoi has nearly 300 hotels of three to five stars and thousands of small hotels to be capable of receiving millions of tourists during the giant celebration”, said Mr. Ho Quang Loi, Head of the Hanoi Party Committe’s Department of Propaganda and Training. So far, Boss Hotel at 20 Lo Su Street, Hoan Kiem has had 25 out of 52 rooms booked for 10 days of the anniversary. Mr. To Tuan Anh, Head of the hotel’s Marketing Office said that Boss upgraded rooms and opened more tours to Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh. Ms Huong, Deputy Director of Hoa Binh four-star Hotel said that the hotel repaired the interior to meet the demand of tourists. From the end of September to the beginning of October, 55 rooms were booked and only 15 rooms are put aside for the last two days of the anniversary, October 8th and 10th. Some travel agents … [Read more...] about Hanoi tourism ready for giant celebration
Enjoying Hanoi’s Pho (Noodle Soup)
The Hanoitimes - Today, "pho Hanoi" (Hanoi noodle soup) is not only a popular dish but also a national dish of Vietnam. As a culinary ambassador, it promotes the city's culture around the world. Famous Vietnamese writers such as Nguyen Cong Hoan, Thach Lam, and Bang Son have praised the Vietnamese national dish in their literary works. Nguyen Cong Hoan affirmed the 100 year history of pho in his autobiography, recalling a memory from 1913 when he occasionally had the chance to enjoy pho sold by a street vendor. Thach Lam said in his "Hanoi-36 Streets of the Old Quarter" that pho is a daily nosh of all Hanoians, especially public employees and workers, and, although it is available in many other places, it is at its best in Hanoi. Pho is one of the most popular dishes in Hanoi, but there are many different theories about its origin. Some people say that pho is a Vietnamese adaptation of the French "pot-au-feu" (beef stew) while others think that it comes from Vietnam's … [Read more...] about Enjoying Hanoi’s Pho (Noodle Soup)
Hanoi’s ancient streets resonate with nostalgia
The appearance of Hanoi's streets and houses has changed a lot over the past 1,000 years. Now a modern city, some features still remain of the old French colonial style, which was brought to Vietnam in the second half of the 19th century. The remainders of the bygone era still attract many nostalgic western tourists. We walked through Hanoi's ancient quarter one afternoon earlier this month when the weather was quite chilly. Traces of the historic cold spell that hit the capital earlier in the year could still be seen, with pedestrians wearing jackets and scarves. Despite the cold weather, the streets were bustling with sellers and buyers. History books say that during the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225), Hanoi's streets surrounded the ancient citadel. In the Le Dynasty in the early 16th century, the old town area became the production and trade center of Thang Long Imperial City (now Hanoi) with 36 streets and wards. Each ward was a trade village. During the French colonial … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s ancient streets resonate with nostalgia