Hà Nội’s Ancient Quarter And Old Streets (Part I)

Since 1954, many new residential quarters have been built in the inner part of Hà Nội: Nguvễn Công Trứ, Kim Liên, Trung Tự, Kim Giang, Thanh Xuân, Nghĩa Đô, Thủ Lệ, Ngọc Khánh, Giảng Võ, I lào Nam, Thành Công, Yên Lãng, Vĩnh Hồ, Bách Khoa, Trương Định, etc.
However, these new buildings are different from the ancient quarter and the old streets in the center of Hà Nội, the pride of Hanoians.
Ancient Quarter

Hà Nội and Hội An are the only cities in Việt Nam that still keep their ancient quarters. The cur-rent ancient quarter in Hà Nội has an appearance that dates back to the end of the 19th century because climate, war and other factors had eroded many architectural peculiarities of the previous times. However, according to historical sources, this ancient quarter was the heart of the Thang Long Capital when it was established a thousand years ago.

Hà Nội’s ancient quarter has the shape of an isosceles triangle with its top being Hàng Than Street; its east side is the Red River’s dyke, the west side is Hàng Cót, Hàng Điếu and Hàng Da Streets, and its base is Hàng Bông, Hàng Gai and Cầu Gỗ Streets. Prior to the French occupation, this ancient section was laid out in an order similar to a chess board and with its streets bearing the names of the goods manufactured there, for instance, Hàng Đường (Sugar) Street, Hàng Bạc (Silver) Street, Hàng Bồ (Bamboo Basket) Street, etc. All the hous-es in this section of the City have the same shape, which are called “tube houses”.

Hanoi French Quarter

They have naưovv widths and deep lengths, and sometimes open into other lanes or streets. The houses have similar dispositions, with the front rooms serving as the places where goods are manufactured or sold. Next to it is a small open courtyard to let in light (on the courtyard there are usually ornamental water pools with goldfish, miniature decorative mountains, ornamental plants and flowers). Behind this yard comes one back rooms used as bed room and dining room. Most of these houses have only one storey, roofed with small tiles. Two side walls (gables) grow higher than the roof. At the front side of the roof are two graceful pillars. At some houses, a low second storey is added sometimes with a very small win-dow. (In the past, common people were not allowed to look at the King’s face, especially looking down-ward, when the King traveled along the street).

Hà Nội’s Ancient Quarter And Old Streets (Part I)

“Tube houses” in Hà Nội, thus, are small and simple. They can be used as “factories” for making handicraft products, shops and living rooms. The ancient quarter is always crowded and bustling. The houses stand side by side, supporting one another and thus creating the attractiveness of the quarter.

Scattered among the ancient “tube houses” are a number of pagodas, temples and other places of worship. They were primarily the halls of worship of the past villages and guilds. The temple at No. 38 Hàng Đường Street was that of Đức Môn village through which Hàng Đường Street ran; Huyền Thiên Pagoda at No.54 Hàng Khoai belonged to the village with the same name which is now around Hàng Khoai Street.

These constructions testify to the origins of the first inhabitants, a considerable number of whom came from other provinces. Hoa Lộc Temple, at No.90 Hàng Đào Street, was founded by the people from Đan Loan dying village, Hải Dương province; Tú Đình Thị Temple, at No. 2 A Yên Thái Lane, was built by the people from Quất Động embroidery village, Hà Tây province. On the other hand, the existence of these pagodas and temples attests to the spiritual life of the old Hanoians, who always sought to integrate themselves into the spiritual world of the nation. The ancient quarter is where the present and the past intermingle to create its attractiveness.

Today, after many historical ups and downs, Ha Noi’s ancient quarter remains virtually unchanged from their original look. We can still see there many small “tube houses”, crowded streets, curved- roofed pagodas and temples and rows of green trees. All of these are “souvenirs” of the past for the generations to come to discover.

Hà Nội authority is currently studying some projects to protect and promote this treasure of the City.