Living in the South of Vietnam, the winter here is totally different from the North. While the weather gets chiller in other regions as the year comes to an end, we only have a few showers. 

It only started to feel like winter in the past few days when it chilled in the early morning and that was enough to make me feel nostalgic about our field trip during this time last year in Hanoi — the capital city.

![The Old Quarter (1).png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/2432QRExMcoCdcTcjAHW8yNBZxGq58Lbtj2gGU6u4okDXgSzKCTebirmyfsBDbaT7wqna.png)

To many tourists, including me, Hanoi appears to be a transit area where everyone makes a short stop here and then travels to more worthy destinations in the northern region. However, if you are not in a rush, try to take a step back and listen to the stories this city has to offer.

![20201228_150013.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EogMNx2DeWUk28JRfEtw1iGdJpT1i9yeb1STYhFPWKS2oPRS5h3F3iHuvF3Z78RfM5o.jpg)

Priding itself on the history of over a millennium, it has witnessed many upheavals of the area and the country as a whole. And if I have to choose a place that can tell the story of the capital city, it must be **“Phố Cổ”,** also known as **“The old quarter”** to many foreigners.

![20201228_152256.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/Eonk3BVDGhHtsqFfBccbGWk2F46qNdgmiHFQYwww9LJ5FViWC7EabgukDNV97f8vgbF.jpg)

Located right in the business district of the city, it is easy to discover the quarter and stroll around Hoang Kiem lake or Guom lake which is another iconic place of the city.

![20201228_162951.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EpEJHGQ1rgkvQB7B3p3wd8Lnr1RL8F1neVuaizD8At3HGT1tJHGaEsjA7No6xBvHq6u.jpg)

Leaving our bikes on the side of the road, we passed the “Ham Ca Map” building and Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square to start our tour around the area.

The history of the Old Quarter could be traced back to the Ly and Tran dynasties. This was a residing and trading area just outside the imperial citadel of Thang Long. 

Now you could see shops that sell similar things on the same street. Each one has a very unique name that is derived from the products and services that were available at the time. For example, you could find stores that offer all kinds of toys, paper goods, and especially paper votive offerings in Hang Ma street, “mã” means things that are made of papers such as money, house, belongings that are burned as part of a spirited ritual to honor the dead. Along with paper votive offerings that are sold all year round, the street is also a destination for people who look for decorations and ornaments for Christmas, Mid- Autumn festival or Tet holiday.

![hang_ma2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EogNPp6c8nt8GtR6v6UTUhwC5z2BUa3EDuCZxfhUBCnUWahsiguwfcNT6UwKPVrkikQ.jpg)
[source](https://tapchicongthuong.vn/bai-viet/pho-hang-ma-da-len-den-don-trung-thu-74887.htm)
However, Hang Ma is not the only place that has changed its specialty over the years. For those streets that have remained their names, many stores have changed their functions. Some of the streets have changed their names as well.

![IMG_7468.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/23wWw2fk8pxcaAwTmn7HY7hEnTc7DmZjCNDHxXxdQRhLCAKKazqUwPqCp6upzRrDpQLB1.jpg)
<center>A mobile florist - they take the flowers every where on their bikes</center> 

![_MG_0149.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EokcgczcAktdXqdk14uLkyKip9xRsQXSZmpa94npqhZ3fxACGgcyWpwngGmD3bProTM.jpg)
<center>This rickshaw will take you around town in a totally different way</center>
As we were walking along Hang Buom street, we wondered why most of the stores sell candies, snacks and other treats because “Buồm” means “sails”, as in a sailboat, it is supposed to sell things that are connected with boats or the sea, at the least. It turns out this area is used to be surrounded by To Lich River in the North and Hong river (Red River) in the East. There used to be a harbor at To Lich river and merchants followed the canals to do trading with stores along the river.

We wondered it would look like Venice if this place was still covered with the canal system and everyone commuted by boats, LOL. Even though the city has many lakes left, the size of the water coverage has been greatly reduced over the years.

###  **“Hanoi 36 streets”**

The Old quarter is also renowned for the name **“Hà Nội 36 phố phường”** —  **“Hanoi 36 streets”.** At first, I thought “36” refers to the number of streets in the Old quarter. However, the assumption between the meaning of “phường” and “phố” has led to this misinterpretation. Perhaps to fully understand this, we need to look at their definitions.

“Phường” is usually an administrative division, whereas “phố” is an area that people can show things that can be sold or traded. The phrase “phố phường” in **“Hà Nội 36 phố phường”** is, however, refers to a “phường” that includes a lot of “phố”, or an urban area that has stores on both sides of the street.  

In reality, this area has hundreds of “phố”, not just 36.

![IMG_3266.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/23xyLcMVT3PHoupTsp6urEFgTw9DjKcxz1dq3JAsvjtwTvVaBtEr1ftnC9TtCLuPceu3z.jpg)

![IMG_3769.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/Eoc67PBxh92McK3P9mhXxYYuHhs9n1K6MxdxdWCw7V7emsPSv81pXahwQXnnphrcYYC.jpg)

![IMG_7473.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EowEjCcJWbPLRaFfq96YBCdYxRBHLKGdShfn838Wkcmga3RKpNufXiYZg6TFnDbv67k.jpg)

![phố cổ phơi đồ 2.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/23tGXuXDpmZ8oxx4E1i6Gj5L6CED4533e4hCdQGMvw3kWcrqGTd4pFtm79orUyPCwjNc7.jpg)
<center>Hanging clothes in a small alley</center>
### **Indochine** **architecture**

We couldn’t help, but notice the architecture of some of houses and shops in the area.

Though the Indochine style can be seen in many public buildings in the city, the Old Quarter also reflects the Indochine architecture during the French colonial times.

From the mid-1920s, the Indochine style was expressed itself on many residential constructions and buildings across the city.

![20201228_153909.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EqNEDYZgtZLWvbsY27TS88Wax3qJMM8eTYiwDFuDbdDscZ8GrcnNNnGVW5xtNjkLow6.jpg)
<center>Ta Hien - a very busy street at night now quiet because of Covid</center>
It is basically the combination between European and Asian architectural design that is considered the tropical climate and other weather conditions of the Indochina.

The typical structure of residential houses are tubular ones, the roof is tiled which was influenced by the Vietnamese architecture.

![IMG_7473.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EowEjCcJWbPLRaFfq96YBCdYxRBHLKGdShfn838Wkcmga3RKpNufXiYZg6TFnDbv67k.jpg)

The facades of “tubular” houses were followed Western architectural style, but the influence of traditional style were still shown on the layout. However, new material such as brick, steel and even reinforced concrete were used instead of wood. 

![20201228_162659.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/23xATJpwASqNqqqtk8tVFoiXJPs8uXhRRLiLRGUJ2Q87xge9dLyCU5owKRur7DYm39t85.jpg)

A house on Hang Dao street has Chinese characters because some of them were owned by Chinese traders.

![20201228_152359.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/Eou8HVjRn2KGuVYBTD818pvL8aCccxKyz1ojaNjHwMYoe4FusoHxyBFtYP2EyqPcqKA.jpg)

<center>Some of the houses here are however in poor conditions.</center>

Following one of our local friends, we also visited an old primary school on Hang Dau street. The school is an interesting example of “Beaux Arts” that still exists in the heart of the city with the yard inside, steel balconies and marble columns on both sides.  

![IMG20201228152146.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EoGwspSAgRjtVsWsKw5fenLJxSavNvrCLodSia86eEGs7y5HU2gAxz8ikhtHtSjxTAV.jpg)

![IMG_7469.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/sunnyvo/EorzsE5CkpGffk5Xd9BGXpQJbuogvS6GGSSd8bChDcBsCUCfqYQLsM8Ja9bz3EpsxMK.jpg)
<center>A house was converted into a trendy cafe</center>
***
It was an amazing experience to look back and learn about the streets, the architecture and the places that we thought we knew it all or perhaps a glimpse of it.

This is great luggage that I would bring with me into the new year, a warm heart and an open mind.

*I hope whatever you carry with you, it keeps you hungry to discover the world with an open mind.*

*Happy new year!*
***
*Photos are taken by me and my friends during our trip.*

[//]:# (!pinmapple 21.034264 lat 105.849899 long Hanoi Old Quarter d3scr)