Located in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi , Ly Quoc Su Street starts from the intersection of Hang Bong and Hang Manh Streets and runs south to Nha Tho Street. Previously, it was part of Tien Thi Village in Thuan My Commune, Tho Xuong District and was called Rue Lamblo during the time of French colonialism.
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Located
in Hoan Kiem District,
Hanoi
,
Ly Quoc Su Street
starts from the
intersection of Hang Bong and Hang Manh Streets and runs south to Nha Tho
Street. Previously, it was part of
Tien
Thi
Village
in
Thuan My Commune, Tho Xuong District and was called Rue Lamblo during the
time of French colonialism.
|
nbsp;
For
centuries, the 250m long Ly Quoc Su Street has always been one of the most
bustling and animated streets in the capital of Hanoi. Anyone strolling on
the street shares a common feeling towards it: the past and the present,
the old and the new harmonize to create the unique features.
According to
historical records, Ly Quoc Su means “The teacher of the court under the
Ly Dynasty”. This title went to Nguyen Chi Thanh (1066-1141) who lived in
Diem Xa Village of Gia Vien District (present-day Ninh Binh Province). He followed Buddhism and
was known as Buddhist Monk Minh Khong. In 1136, he cured King Ly Than Tong
of a disease that many famous doctors failed to do. For his unyielding
virtue and talent, he was given the title “Ly Quoc Su”. King Ly Than Tong
also provided him with a serene residential quarter near Bao Thien Pagoda,
now Ly Quoc Su Pagoda on Ly Quoc Su Street, where he led a religious life.
Ly Quoc Su died in August in Tan Dau Year (the Year of the Rooster -
1141). Ly Quoc Su Pagoda now preserves a stele with inscriptions made by
famous Doctor Le Dinh Duyen in the 8th Tu Duc Year that tells
about the pagoda’s great restoration. In addition, the Pagoda has many
statues of the sculptural style of the Le Dynasty and a bell named “Bao
Thap tu chung” (bell of Bao Thap Temple) which was cast in the Year
of the Pig (1815) in the Gia Long Dynasty. The Street also boasts the
ancient temple of Phu Ung at No.25 which was built by Phu Ung
villagers in the 19th century to worship famous general Pham Ngu
Lao.
Together with
the development of other streets in
Hanoi
,
Ly Quoc Su Street
has seen great changes as well. Shops
have mushroomed on the Street, selling various products, from European
jewellery, costume, perfumes and decorative lamps to traditional
Vietnamese items, such as brocades, embroideries, statues, etc. All
attract much attention from foreign tourists.
The Street is
also known as a “must-to-visit” cuisine address of both locals and
foreigners with prestigious restaurants where delicious dishes are always
available, such as Quangdong roasted duck, pizzas, ribs, Ly Quoc Su
pho (rice noodle
soup), Mrs. My porridge, cakes, fruits mixed with salt, sugar and fresh
chilli, etc.
According to a
legend, famous poetess Ho Xuan Huong (in the 18th century)
owned a tea stall on the street where men of letters of the
land of
Ha
Thanh (present-day
Hanoi
) socialized. Located in the middle
of Ly Quoc Su Street is Sao Viet Vistar Company Ltd., the sole
representative in Vietnam of many sound, light and musical instrument
companies from Japan, the US and Germany, which was established 20 years
ago.
With its
historical and cultural values, Ly Quoc
Su Street
has become an
indispensable part of
Hanoi
and an interesting destination for
foreign tourists.
Story: Le Huu
Tuan
Photos: Hoang
Giap
nbsp;
