Try as I might, I can’t find out what “Ta Hien”, one of Hanoi‘s 36 streets, originally sold, although according to a friend’s father, it sold food when he was young and during his parents’ generation — whether that was the original wares sold here or not, I’m not sure. Perhaps this lack of information … read the full post

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

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

When visiting Hanoi, most tourists stay in Old Quarter, and for good reason: it’s here that the majority of the hotels, Westernised restaurants and souvenir shops are located and of course it has heaps of character, local life and the attraction of Hoan Kiem Lake. But if you’re the sort of traveller who likes to buck the trend other … read the full post