With 1000-year old history, “36 Old Streets” or “Old Quarter” still can retain its charming and ancient colonial architecture, Buddhist temples and pagodas. In the past, artisans gathered together in this area to share the resources to do business in the capital city.
As a result, many of the streets were named after the crafts sold at that individual street. Pho Hang Bun (Vermicelli), Pho Hang Ma (Paper Product), Pho Hang Bac (Silver), etc. are examples of the streets with the products being sold there. All these specialized crafts are the reason for the eagerness of tourists toward the old streets.
For instance, Hang Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. However, there are many streets nowadays no long sell the products after which they were named as they evolved to some modern goods.
Furthermore, the designs of coffee shops in the Old Quarter are brilliant as they have taken advantage of the antique architecture that is already available and blended it in with some modern elements.
Coming to these shops, not only you will get to taste unique and delicious coffee blends like egg coffee or coconut coffee but also gasp the Vietnamese drinking culture.
The Old Quarter’s nightlife will get you surprised at how crowded, and exciting it can get. Live music, discos, clubs and bars as well as decent karaoke joints are the norm here.
On every weekend, the Old Quarter becomes pedestrian-only zone and night market is organized in a flea market kind of style selling a lot of things from foods, souvenirs to clothes. They can be very cheap if you know how to bargain.
Moreover, there will be traditional music performance and entertainment for free.
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