Old Quarter

Historic core of Hanoi with a maze of narrow streets, colonial-era shophouses, markets, and street food that showcase the city’s traditional commercial life.

As the historic commercial heart of Hanoi, the Old Quarter grew from specialized craft guild streets clustered outside the Thang Long imperial citadel over a thousand years ago, creating the famous '36 streets' of artisans and merchants. Its dense tube houses, temples and guild halls preserve layers of Vietnamese, Chinese and French influence, making it a living museum of urban life and small‑scale commerce that still shapes how Hanoians experience their capital today.