Half Day in Hanoi: Old Quarter
Half Day in Hanoi: Old Quarter
Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter
Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter to deepen your understanding of the city’s historical, geographic, and cultural foundations.
Plan to spend a short amount of time browsing the stalls at the Dong Xuan Market. All other stops are designed to be experienced from the outside, with only very brief interior visits where appropriate. Sample some local specialties, such as pho, bun cha, and bánh mì, as the mood strikes you along the way.
Requirements for respectful/modest attire apply at temples, mosques, and other religious sites. Visitors should avoid disrupting religious observances and remain mindful of posted customs.
Where to Start
Use the associated audioguides when visiting the following locations:
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral: A neo-Gothic landmark reflecting French colonial influence and the role of Catholicism in Hanoi
- Hoan Kiem Lake: The symbolic heart of Hanoi, where legend, daily life, and civic space come together
- Ngoc Son Temple: A small island temple dedicated to scholars and national heroes, reached by the iconic red Huc Bridge
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre: A venue preserving traditional water puppet performances, which feature lacquer-wood puppets, live music, legends, and stories about rural life
What to See Next
After the theatre, use the Old Quarter audioguide for an introduction to the guild streets known for specific trades or crafts.
- Hang Gai (Silk Street): A guild street known for high-quality silk products and tailoring
- Hang Bac Street or Silver Street: A guild street known for intricate silversmithing and other fine metalwork and jewelry
- Pho Hang Ma or Paper Street: A guild street known for colorful ritual paper goods used in festivals, ancestor worship, and ceremonial life
- Traditional House of the Hanoi or Old House at 87 Ma May Street: A preserved merchant home offering insight into traditional Old Quarter domestic architecture and trade-based living
- Bach Ma Temple: The oldest temple in the Old Quarter, dedicated to the White Horse spirit believed to protect the ancient city
- Ta Hien Street or Beer Street: A lively social crossroads where street food, beer, and nightlife culture converge
- O Quan Chuong Gate: One of the last surviving gates of the old city wall, marking the northern edge of the historic quarter
- Dong Xuan Market: Hanoi’s largest traditional market and a major center of local trade and everyday commerce
- Phung Hung Mural Street or Street Murals at Train Street: A revitalized railway-arch corridor featuring public art
After the Tour
After the tour, attend the Thang Long Water Puppet Show, a traditional performance that brings Vietnamese folklore and rural life to life. The show features wooden puppets animated on a water stage, accompanied by live musicians playing traditional instruments and narrating scenes of farming, fishing, village festivals, and legendary tales.
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