In the heart of the lake lies a Turtle Tower which is small and ancient, adding to the lakes charm. A large soft-shell turtle is a spiritual icon of the Hanoians. Hoan Kiem Lake is where Le Loi gave back the sword to the God after peace was restored. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple : Hoan Kiem Lake, which means “Lake of the Returned Sword”, is named after a tale that a Golden Turtle God lent Emperor Le Loi a magical sword to help him protect the country. Many of Hanoi’s major attractions are within or nearby the Old Quarter, including Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Opera House, National Museum of Vietnamese History, Ba Dinh Square, a former Governor-General of French Indochina’s mansion, the One Pillar Pagoda, Bach Ma Temple, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre and Dong Xuan, Hanoi’s largest market. Even today, walking through the Old Quarter, you might come across an entire block of nothing but paper makers, tinsmiths, or tailors. This method of naming the street after goods or services goes back to the days when craftsmen would work together in guilds to produce and sell their wares. There are streets named for bamboo, silk, silver, medicine, shoes, fans, chickens, and even coffins.

The 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter are all named for the type of good or serve they used to sell there. With people on the street by 5:30 a.m., and restaurants opening by 6:00 a.m., the hustle-and-bustle of the Old Quarter doesn't really start to slow down until 9:30 at night. Unlike other cities with “old towns”, which by-and-large have become nothing more than souvenir shops and cheap tourist attractions, Hanoi's Old Quarter is still the vibrant centre of life in Hanoi. Most of Vietnamese history and culture has unfurled from the location of the Old Quarter. The Old Quarter is truly old: people have called Hanoi home continuously for more than 2,000 years, and the Old Quarter is the first area settled by humans. Located at the northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter is the home of most the economical hotels, tourist shops, and cafes in Hanoi. Meet the people, delve into the past and witness the awakening of a Hanoi on the move.Īlternatively called Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ancient Quarter, or just simply 36 Streets, the Old Quarter of Hanoi is a must-see for anyone visiting Vietnam.

Defiant real-deal farmers hawk their wares, while city folks breakfast on noodles, practise t’ai chi at dawn on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake, or play chess with goateed grandfathers.ĭine on the wild and wonderful at every corner, sample market wares, uncover an evolving arts scene, then sleep soundly in a little luxury for very little cost. Negotiate a passage past the ubiquitous knock-off merchants and you’ll find the original streets of the Old Quarter. The streets surge with scooters vying for right of way amid the din of constantly blaring horns, and all around layers of history reveal periods of French and Chinese occupation – offering a glimpse into the resilience of ambitious, proud Hanoians.

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