Hang Quat (Fan-Making) Street runs 200 metres, from Luong Van Can Street to Hang Non Street. It was built on the ground of the former To Tich and Thuan My Hamlets in Tien Tuc (later changed to Thuan My) Canton of Tho Xuong Precinct. During the time of French occupation, it was called Rue des Eventails, which was changed into Hang Quat Street in 1945 (after the victory of the August Revolution).
As defined by its name of fan-making, the street had many shops where the owners made fans from bamboo, paper and palm leave, which were purchased from other localities, and sold their products. It is said that the craft of fan making on Hang Quat Street was first done by villagers from Dao Xa Hamlet, An Thi District, Hung Yen Province. They settled down on the street, made fans and built a temple to worship the craft's Patron Saint, now located at House No. 4 and named Xuan Phien Thi (Spring Fans Market). According to researchers of Hanoi, in the past there may have been a market here to sell fans to customers coming from other localities.
The fans were made by villagers from different localities and their products were named after their native place, such as Lu fans made by Kim Lu villagers (Thanh Tri District, Hanoi), Hoi fans by Hai Yen villagers (Tien Lu District, Hung Yen Province), Vac fans by Canh Hoach villagers (Thanh Oai District, Hanoi) and Vo fans by Nong Vu villagers (Gia Lam District, Hanoi). The fan frames are made with bamboo ribs, in the shape of a leaf or trapezium (by Ve villagers in Gia Lam District, Hanoi), or with goose feathers (by Do Dinh villagers in Ha Dong, Hanoi).
At present, fans are no longer sold on Hang Quat Street. The local shops have changed their traditional trade to selling worshipping items or those used in ritual ceremonies, or wooden gilt handicraft articles. These shops are always brilliant with colourful lights. Also there are small shops selling wooden seals with their front entrance of over 1m wide but are always crowded with visitors.
Pham Ngoc Toan, a famous wooden seal carver at House No.6 and a member of the 3rd generation of his family line doing this craft, said that those who buy a wooden seal want to leave some personal imprints on their family’s books, with the hope of encouraging their children’s thirst for learning. Others may be interested in the seal for calligraphic writings. Whoever they are, when they walk along the street to view its heritage, they all want to have something to bring home that reminds them of one of Hanoi's old streets.
Story: Huu Tuan
Photos: Tat Son