In the past, villagers in Vietnam tended to specialise in making particular items to meet their needs, sharing their skills with neighbours and relatives. This led to individual villages becoming known for a particular handicraft. As people moved to the cities they gravitated towards others with the same trade and hence we have areas such … read the full post

Hang Dieu comprises a strange melee of stores. Running north from the six-way junction at Duong Thanh until it turns into Hang Ga, it sold cigarettes in the 19th Centure and, more recently, leather shoes and sandals. Neither of these wares are in evidence anymore and now I think of it as “bedding street”, in … read the full post

A few places in Hanoi worth a visit if you’re interested in its military history

Our 36 streets series looks at streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, originally settled by artisan guilds, to see what is produced there today. Coming through the arch of Hanoi’s Old City Gate, the road straight ahead is Hang Chieu. A dozen or so shops have stayed reasonably true to the street’s original wares – Vietnamese grass tatami mats — … read the full post

Ask any foreigner in Hanoi, particularly one who’s already tried to learn the language, and you’ll be told how difficult it is to master. Well, not just to master: even to speak more than a few words. I came to Hanoi full of positive expectations: I was top of the class at languages at school, … read the full post

A few months ago I wrote about Dong Xuan Market, perhaps the best known market to tourists in Hanoi. However, Hanoi’s a city full of markets so there are a lot more worth exploring. Food markets can be found all over town. Despite the growth of the supermarket, most shopping is still conducted at local … read the full post

An overview of what can be found on two of the Old Quarter’s 36 streets.

Cheap and pricey gyms in Hanoi – you get what you pay for.

A rundown of four places you can take a cookery course in Hanoi

As well as being a tasty and cheap dining option, eating street food provides a great opportunity for people watching and an insight into local life. If you want to take this one step further, it’s worth considering a street food tour: not only will it take you to eateries and markets you might otherwise shy away … read the full post