All You Need to Know About the Hanoi Old Quarter

Unlike Ho Chi Minh City, which is filled with urban facilities, Hanoi has many historical buildings and is popular for its old-fashioned retro atmosphere. The streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi are lined with food stalls, shops with a diversity of goods, cafes, etc. The Old Quarter is a place where you can enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, and it is always crowded with locals and tourists. If you're planning to take a tour to Vietnam, the old quarter in Hanoi could be on your bucket list.

Where Is the Old Quarter

A large lake named "Hoan Kiem Lake" is in the center of Hanoi and the area spreading to the north is the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It's a bit rough, but the basic concept of the Old Quarter area is from the north side of Hoan Kiem Lake to Han Kho Ai Street behind Dong Xuan Market.

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Old Quarter

You can enjoy the Old Quarter no matter during the day or at night. Walking in the Old Quarter during the day will be a pleasant experience seeing the beauty of the city in bright daylight. If you visit during a hotter time, you may choose an air-conditioned cafe to take a break from the heat as locals do. At dusk, you can try the Cyclo experience and have a luxurious dinner at a famous restaurant. Or, finish your day with a cocktail at the hotel's stylish rooftop bar and admire the night view of Hanoi.

Things to Do at the Old Quarter

Take a Rickshaw Through Ancient Streets

A Cyclo is a vehicle like a rickshaw, you can get an authentic taste of Vietnam by having a Cyclo experience. Sitting inside a Cyclo, you will be able to leisurely stroll around Hanoi Cathedral, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and the streets of Hanoi. One lap is about 30 minutes. Moreover, if you make a reservation in advance, you won't have to worry about price negotiations. The cyclists are very friendly, and they really like to chat to foreign tourists.

Old Quarter Trishaw Cyclo Tour

Shopping at Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan Market is a large indoor market located in the inner part of the Old Quarter. It is also the terminal of the night market, and many locals come and go from morning to night. The market includes groceries, daily necessities, a souvenir corner, and even a cafeteria. Also, there are many restaurants around the market, so it might be a good idea to have a meal with the locals at lunchtime.

Visit the Bach Ma Temple

Bach Ma Temple on Hang Buom Street is a must-see spot in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Its origins date back to 1010. When the capital was moved to Hanoi (then called Thang Long), when Emperor Ly Thai To prayed in Lon Do Temple after he watched the walls he had built collapse, a white horse appeared, ran around, and came back to the temple. Because the wall built after did not collapse, the emperor changed the name Lon Do Temple to Bach Ma (White Horse) Temple. You can enjoy the atmosphere of ancient times in the temple. And during the Vietnamese New Year(Tet), there will also be celebrations held in the Temple. Admission is free and it's open 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM every day.

Shopping at Night Market

The night market of Hanoi Old Quarter is held on every Friday to Sunday. It begins on Hung Dao Street, the entrance to the Old Quarter in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a pedestrian zone running north from Hung Dao Street to Dong Xuan Market. There are countless types of shops for clothing, jeans, bags, sandals, accessories, street food, and more. It starts to get crowded around 19:00 every night, and peaks around 22:00. It is open until around 24:00.

Watch a Water Puppet Show

Water puppetry can now be seen in tourist cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, but originally it has been performed mostly in the north. There are now two theaters around Hoan Kiem Lake. Water puppetry has a history of about 1,000 years, and is said to have originated from rain rituals and folk performing arts that spread to rural areas. It is now established as a tourist spot for foreign tourists. The themes of the water puppet show consist of Vietnamese history, customs, legends, myths, and lifestyles. It is a historical spot that you definitely want to visit on your trip to Hanoi.

Taste The Local Street Food

Street food is a must for any tourist visiting Hanoi. You can enjoy dishes such as pho noodle soup, banh mi sandwiches, Bun Cha meatballs, egg coffee and so much more while learning about the city's rich culture and culinary traditions. These street food restaurants are usually small, local family-run restaurants and they seem to have a flavor that high-end Vietnamese restaurants don't have. You can sit in a small plastic chair on a street corner of Hanoi where motorbikes come and go, and enjoy the authentic local cuisine.

Streets to Visit in the Old Quarter

Cau Go Street

Cau Go Street is the first street you see when you walk north along Hoan Kiem Lake. You can find some tour desks and mini-hotels here. Also, Hoan Kiem Lake is within walking distance, so it is perfect for a night walk. There are many souvenir shops, so if you are looking for Vietnamese souvenirs, this area is recommended. Usually, the prices are fixed, but there is plenty of room for negotiation.

Ma May Street

Ma May Street is a street that runs north-south through the eastern part of the Old Town. The street connects Luong Ngoc Quyen Street and Hang Bac Street, which runs east-west. It's also one of the busiest streets in the Old Quarter, lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and massage shops. Ma May Street is also where you can find many top-rated spas and restaurants on TripAdvisor. In particular, the restaurants on this street are showing a great variety. There are traditional bamboo houses where you can experience local Vietnamese foods and modern hotel restaurants where you can enjoy fine dining.

Ta Hien Street

Ta Hien Street, which leads to Dinh Liet Street in the north, is one of the busiest areas of the Old Quarter at night. It is a quiet street with few people in the daytime, and there are no shops because it is a residential area. At night, however, the plastic tables and chairs start to be lined up, and the area is crowded with locals and tourists. Everyone seems to have fun with beer and snacks. It is an area that you want to keep in mind when traveling in Hanoi.

Cha Ca Street

This street is lined with famous restaurants of river fish oil pot dishes called Hanoi specialty "Cha Ca La Vong", which also inspired the name Cha Ca Street. There are several long-established Cha Ca La Vong restaurants on this street, as well as children's clothing and toy stores.

Street View of Hanoi Old Quarter

Where to Eat at the Old Quarter

Bun Cha Ta

"Bun Cha Ta" is popular for Hanoi's specialty noodles "Bun Cha". It is a small but high-rated restaurant on the east side of the Old Quarter. In addition to Bun Cha, they also sell popular menus and specialty dishes such as pho, but the most recommended dish is Bun Cha. You may not be able to imagine it from the outside, but the inside of the restaurant is very beautiful. Lunchtime is crowded with many tourists, but the lively atmosphere is very attractive. You can eat simple Bun Cha for around 60000 VND and fried spring rolls for around 20000 VND.

Essence Restaurant

Essence Restaurant is a directly managed restaurant of Essence Hanoi Hotel & Spa in the Old Quarter. During dinnertime, Essence Restaurant is more of a high-class restaurant. But during lunchtime, it is relatively empty and the budget is more reasonable. It is also good for tourists since that anyone can easily visit without a reservation. At Essence Restaurant, you can choose a course or a la carte, but the course is cheaper for lunch. The budget is about 400,000 VND. The food here is mainly Vietnamese cuisine with a French taste. All dishes are using Vietnamese ingredients and they are appetizing and satisfying.

Cau Go Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant

CAU GO is a restaurant where you can dine while looking at Hoan Kiem Lake and the cityscape. The interior is furnished with antique-style furniture and has a calm atmosphere. The restaurant is located on the 5th and 6th floors of a skyscraper, and you can spend an elegant time with a view. Dinnertime is especially recommended since you can see the beautiful night view. You can fully enjoy modern Vietnamese cuisine with beautiful views of Hanoi. The budget is about 300,000 VND.

Sadhu Vegetarian Restaurant

Sadhu is a Vietnamese vegetarian buffet in the Old Quarter. Healthy vegetarian dishes are popular among Vietnamese people, so during lunch and dinner times, it is very crowded. You can enjoy traditional dishes from various parts of Vietnam, such as southern cuisine, Hue royal cuisine, and northern cuisine (Hanoi, Hoa Lu). It's an order buffet, so it's easy to order because the dishes you ordered are brought for the number of people. The price is about 186,000 VDN per person.

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Where to Stay in the Old Quarter

In Hanoi Old Quarter you can find many boutique and luxury hotels. Since most part of the area hasn’t been rebuilt, many buildings remain as they looked in the past. And some of the buildings turned into unique boutique hotels. Here are some hotels that are recommended for those who would like to stay in the Old Quarter area.

Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa by AIRA is a new 5-star hotel that opened in 2020. It is a boutique hotel with sophisticated interiors on the west side of the Old Quarter. There is a rooftop pool that allows you to overlook the old city.

The Oriental Jade Hotel Hanoi is a 5-star hotel that opened in 2019. The hotel is located on Hang Chong Street, where spas and souvenir shops are lined up, and it is a 3-minute walk to the Great Church of Hanoi. You can enjoy the view of the Old Quarter and St Joseph Cathedral from your elegant and stylish room.

Silk Queen Grand Hotel is a 4-star boutique hotel. You can find a rooftop bar and pool which create a stylish space. The rooms are designed with a cozy atmosphere. It is only 5 minute walk to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hanoi La Siesta Hotel Central is a 4-star hotel along Cau Go Street. The front side of the hotel is lined with shops, and the back side of the hotel is surrounded by beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. The 27 rooms are designed in colonial style with a sense of comfort, elegance, and luxury. The hotel is facilitated with a Vietnamese restaurant, a stylish rooftop terrace bar, a luxury spa, etc.

Golden Lotus Luxury Hotel is a 3.5-star boutique hotel. Their guest room is chic and calm with a Vietnamese style. The access to the Old Quarter is also convenient, and a convenience store is within walking distance.

Golden Silk Boutique Hotel is a 3-star boutique hotel in the Old Quarter. The Vietnamese taste of their guest room is chic and traditional which will help you create memories in Hanoi. The Old Quarter is within walking distance, so it is suitable for those who have a sightseeing plan and a tighter budget.

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History of the Hanoi Old Quarter

From the 11th century to the 19th century, the capital of northern Vietnam was called Thang Long. Hanoi is the new name to replace Thang Long. The Old Quarter was an area that was a major commercial area at the time. Although it is not currently designated as a World Heritage Site, it is a designated heritage site under the jurisdiction of the Vietnamese government. Therefore, the original old city view is left without being rebuilt.

The Old Quarter is the most popular tourist attraction in Hanoi. It is also called "36 Streets" because there used to be 36 craftsmen's unions. There are various shops such as silver shops, incense shops, Chinese medicine shops, hardware shops, tin products, tombstones, and bamboo products. The Old Quarter, made up of 36 unions, is now called "Hanoi 36 Streets". However, this is the name among foreigners, and the Vietnamese normally call it "Pho Co", which means "old city".

The Old Quarter area is a very attractive plan for Hanoi travel. Even if you are a short-stay traveler, it is recommended visit at least once. In addition to the streets and spots introduced this time, there are many other places to discover. To make the full of your vacation, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our experienced travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.