My walking full day around the Hanoi Old Quarter

This article is being written after finishing a full walking full day around the Hanoi Old Quarter. This wandering helps you can discover Hanoi the way you like. You can either explore by this following itinerary or dicover yourself.

Where is Hanoi Old Quarter located?

This area focuses almost in Hoan Kiem district, located in the northern and southern of Hoan Kiem lake. There are many original residents focus on living in 36 guild streets where each street sells specialized products and these streets were named by those ones. When visting Hanoi, you’d better stay somewhere nearby this area. Everything is comfortable when having sightseeing or shopping.

Attractive spots in Hanoi Old Quarter

These are not all in the Old Quarter scale where the area is pretty large and lots of for sightseeings. Below destinations that you should visit and taste Hanoi cuisine.

Dong Xuan market: The largest market in Hanoi constructed in 1889, on the site of one of Hanoi's lakes. It is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters, occupying half of the street. Dong Xuan is mostly reserved for bulk sale and distribution points for many retailers in Hanoi. Main products include electronic devices, household equipments and clothing. Suppliers for the market come mainly from North Vietnam with many Chinese blends.

Quan Chuong gate: one of five remaining old gates with renovated gate for more stable.

Ice tea and sunflower seeds: There are many places to hang out with friends but there are famous places where Vietnames young generation often visit are Cho Gao and Ly Quoc Su street-in front of the Cathedral.

Bach Ma temple (White house temple): This temple was built in Ly Dynasty relating Thang Long citadel story. If you like to find out about histories, you shouldn’t miss this place.

87 Ma may street traditional house: This house was built at the end of the 19th century, It is typical of the traditional architecture in the Old Quarter. It was the first restoration of this kind in the Old Quarter. Since then, the house helps to promote at local and international levels the cooperation projects, and more specifically to present the Vietnamese architecture and building techniques (facade, inner house organization). It was recognized as Vietnamese National Heritage in 2004.

Local beer at Ta Hien – Luong Ngoc Quyen corner: as the cheapest beer in the world. You’ll be amazed about its flavour and the atmostphere here as well. This corner is where many native of Hanoi or tourists often come.

Eating snails: At Dinh Liet street, they serve every afternoon and night. This shop is well known about boiled snails that attracts people.

Café Giang: Giang café is considered as the most famous café shop about Egg coffee. Giang Café is humbly hidden on a small lane on Nguyen Huu Huan Street in the city’s old quarter. It may be difficult to find for visitors, but it is well worth the effort.

The coffee is brewed in a small cup with a filter before the addition of a well-whisked mixture of the yolk and other ingredients such as butter, sugar, condensed milk or cheese.

Hotels in the Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the center of Hanoi, heart of the capital. Here often takes place many trade and tourism activities. Thus, The number of hotels are pretty large and diverse. You can choose many kinds of hotels from Dorms to 5 star hotels.