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Hanoi has an old quarter of 36 streets, each being closely attached
to a traditional trade that is clearly shown by its name, such as Hang
Muoi (salt) Street selling salt, Hang Manh (curtain) Street selling bamboo
curtains, Hang Bac (silver) Street selling silver jewellery, etc.
Mentioning the
old streets of Hanoi, the essay “Notes taken on rainy days” by Pham Dinh
Ho writes: “Dien Hung ward (present-day Hang Ngang) and Dong Lac ward
(present-day Hang Dao) are places where many cloths and silk products are
sold.” According to Hanoi researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc, all kinds of
papers, such as Giay ban (tissue paper), Giay moi (inferior
tissue paper), Giay boi (coarse paper) and other popular papers
made by people in Buoi and Cot Villages were sold on Hang Giay Street in
the past. Some streets were named after a legend or special ana, such as
Hang Chao (rice porridge) Street which was the place selling rice porridge
to candidates who came to the capital to attend “Thi Hoi” (National
Examination) and “Thi Dinh” (Court Examination) or Trang Tien Street near
Hoan Kiem Lake where once existed a coin casting workshop of the Nguyen
Dynasty (the 19th
century).
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nbsp;Lo Duc is the only
street having rows of Sao trees (Hopea odorata) hundreds of years
old.
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A corner of Hang Quat Street in Hanoi.
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A family engaging in the traditional
goldsmithery on Hang Bac Street.
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Making unicorn’s heads on Hang Ma
Street.
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Traditional toys are available on Hang Ma
Street.
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A stall selling different kinds of bamboo
curtains on Hang Manh Street.
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Thin Pho restaurant on Lo Duc Street.
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Hang Than Street is famous nationwide for
making cakes for wedding ceremonies.
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Hang Bac Street is one of the most ancient
streets in Hanoi with the traditional goldsmithery.
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Hang Thiec Street still preserves the
traditional craft and now the locals in the street
also
participate in making other mechanical products.
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Making bronze products on Hang Dong
Street.
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At
present, the number of old streets in Hanoi is a matter of controversy
because someone said that 36 is only a symbolic number. However, it is
correct to say that people on each old street engaged in a trade. In the
past, people from all parts of the country flocked to the capital to set
themselves up in business. Following the trade motto “It needs friends
when trading and it needs to establish guilds when selling”, they lived
together in one place and gradually established guilds specializing in
trades and products. nbsp;
Due to
this unique feature, Hanoians usually think of one street where they can
buy what they want. For example, the locals usually venture to Hang Manh
Street to buy bamboo curtains, Thuoc Bac Street to buy medicinal herbs,
Hang Chieu Street to buy mats, etc.
Hanoi is
undergoing drastic changes daily and the old quarter with “Hang” streets
are also affected by the process of development. Hotels, restaurants,
coffee shops, etc., have mushroomed on these streets, so only a few
streets with the traditional trades remain, such as Hang Bac, Hang Ma,
Hang Manh, Hang Chieu, Hang Dong, etc. The others have engaged in other
trades, for example, Hang Than Street now sells Banh com (green rice flake cakes), teas and
cigarettes in service of wedding ceremonies; Hang Vai Street sells bamboo
products; Hang Chao sells mechanical and electric products to meet the
demand of customers in the modern life. In addition, many new streets with
new trades have been established in Hanoi, such as Hai Ba Trung Street
selling electronic products, Ly Nam De Street selling computers, Luong Van
Can Street selling children toys, Hoang Hoa Tham Street selling ornamental
trees and Dang Dung Street selling second-hand mobile
telephones.
Strolling
through the old quarter or “36 streets” of Hanoi one can perceive the
beauty as well as typical feature of these streets which should be
preserved by not only the authorities but also the locals.
Story: Thanh
Hoa
Photos: An Thanh
Dat – Le Minh – Dinh Cong Hoan – Hoang Giap – Hoang Minh – Vu
Hieunbsp; |