Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi’s centuries-old merchant district: guild streets, tube houses, temples, markets and the best street food in Vietnam.
- Hanoi
- Included in 6 tours
- Tours from $25
- Updated October 2026
About the Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is the historic heart of Hanoi, a dense grid of narrow streets just north of Hoan Kiem Lake. It grew up a thousand years ago beside the Thang Long royal citadel, when craft villages from the countryside sent their artisans to sell to the court and the city. Each guild settled in its own street, and the street took the name of its trade.
That is why so many streets start with Hang, meaning goods or merchandise: Hang Bac for silver, Hang Gai for silk, Hang Ma for paper goods, Hang Thiec for tin. Locals still call the area 36 pho phuong, the “36 streets and guilds”, although today it covers around 70 streets in a district of about one square kilometre.
Many buildings are “tube houses”: very narrow at the front and long at the back, with a shop on the street, courtyards and living space behind. Between them you will find small communal houses (dinh), temples, French-era shophouses, hidden cafés up steep staircases and family food stalls that have served the same dish for decades.
Why it is the best base in Hanoi
Most of Hanoi’s budget and boutique hotels are here or around Hoan Kiem Lake, and the main sights — the lake, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Train Street and Long Bien Bridge — are all within walking distance. It is also where our jeep and e-scooter city tours start, with free pickup from Old Quarter hotels.
How to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is made for wandering on foot: follow the Hang streets, each once home to a single trade, and duck into temples, tube houses and cafes up narrow staircases. Start early, when markets are busiest and the air is cool, or in the evening for street food and, at weekends, the walking street. Because the sights are spread across about 70 streets, many visitors also see it from a vintage jeep or electric scooter first, then return on foot to the corners they liked.
Worth it?
Why visit Hanoi Old Quarter?
- Living historyA street plan from the Ly and Tran dynasties, with guild streets that still sell what their names say.
- Street food capitalPho, bun cha, banh mi, cha ca and egg coffee — many of Hanoi’s most famous dishes were born on these streets.
- Temples and tube housesHidden temples, communal houses and restored 19th-century homes between the busy shopfronts.
- Night markets and walking streetsFrom Friday to Sunday evening the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake close to traffic and a night market fills Hang Dao.
- Everything within walking distanceHoan Kiem Lake, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Train Street and Long Bien Bridge are all close by.
- Shopping for real craftsSilk, silver, lacquerware, lanterns, conical hats and coffee — often from the families who make them.
Make the most of it
11 best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter
Walk the guild streets
Start on Hang Bac (silver), continue to Hang Gai (silk and tailors) and Hang Ma (paper lanterns and decorations, at their most colourful before Mid-Autumn Festival and Tet). Look up: the upper floors show the oldest façades.
Step inside the heritage house at 87 Ma May
A restored 19th-century tube house with wooden rooms, courtyards and family altars — the easiest way to see how Old Quarter merchants lived. Small entrance fee, about 10,000 VND; open roughly 8:00–20:00 with a lunch break.
Visit Bach Ma Temple, 76 Hang Buom
Dedicated to the White Horse spirit, the temple is traditionally one of the four guardian temples of ancient Thang Long and among the oldest in the city. Free; cover shoulders and knees.
See O Quan Chuong gate
The last surviving gate of the old city wall, on Thanh Ha street at the eastern edge of the quarter. Best early in the morning, before the traffic.
Shop at Dong Xuan Market
Hanoi’s biggest covered market, first built by the French in 1889. Wholesale goods, fabrics, dried foods and a food court; open about 6:00–18:00.
Browse the weekend night market
From Friday to Sunday, about 18:00–23:00, stalls line the street from Hang Dao up to Dong Xuan Market: souvenirs, clothes and snacks. Bargain politely.
Join the Hoan Kiem walking street
From Friday evening to Sunday night the roads around Hoan Kiem Lake close to traffic. Locals come out for music, street games and family walks.
Watch a water puppet show
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang puts on ~50-minute shows of this northern Vietnamese folk art. Tickets about 100,000–200,000 VND; book ahead from November to March.
Drink bia hoi on Ta Hien
Fresh draught beer on tiny plastic stools at the junction of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen — loud, cheap and very Hanoi. Liveliest after 20:00.
Find a hidden café
Climb to a rooftop for a view of Hoan Kiem Lake, or try egg coffee where it was invented in 1946 at Cafe Giang, 39 Nguyen Huu Huan.
Ride the backstreets with a local
The quarter is big and the traffic is intense. On our vintage jeep and electric scooter tours you see the highlights in 2–4 hours, with food stops and stories along the way.
Good to know
Street guide: what each Old Quarter street sells
| Hang Bac | Silver and jewellery — one of the oldest streets in the quarter |
|---|---|
| Hang Gai | Silk, embroidery, scarves and tailors |
| Hang Ma | Paper goods, lanterns and festival decorations |
| Hang Dao | Clothes and fabrics; the start of the weekend night market |
| Hang Buom | Sweets, dried goods and Bach Ma Temple |
| Lan Ong | Traditional herbal medicine shops |
| Hang Thiec | Tin and metal workshops |
| Hang Quat | Altar goods, red banners and religious items |
| Ma May | Heritage house, cafés and travel agencies |
| Ta Hien | Bars, bia hoi and nightlife |
| Cha Ca | Named after cha ca, Hanoi’s turmeric fish with dill |
Some streets have changed trade over the centuries, but they keep their old names — part of the fun is spotting which still match.
Timing
Best time to visit Hanoi Old Quarter
Locals exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake, pho stalls are busy and the streets are cool and quiet — the best light for photos.
Hot and busy; some family shops close for lunch. A good time for a museum, the heritage house or a café break.
Street food, lights and beer corners. The quarter is at its most atmospheric after sunset.
Walking street around the lake and the night market on Hang Dao. Lively and crowded.
October to December and March to April are the most comfortable. Around Tet (late January or February) many shops close for several days.
Plan your visit
Walking route: one morning in the Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake and The Huc Bridge
Start around 7:00 with locals doing tai chi. Cross the red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple (50,000 VND for adults, free for children under 15).
Hang Gai and Hang Bac
Walk north into the silk and silver streets as the shops open.
87 Ma May heritage house
Spend 20 minutes inside a restored merchant’s home.
Bach Ma Temple
A few steps away on Hang Buom — one of the oldest temples in Hanoi.
O Quan Chuong gate
The last old city gate, at the eastern edge of the quarter.
Dong Xuan Market
Explore the market halls, then finish with bun cha or a bowl of pho nearby.
Map & directions
How to get to Hanoi Old Quarter
- From Noi Bai International AirportAbout 30 km, 45–60 minutes by taxi or Grab. The airport bus 86 also runs to the Hoan Kiem area.
- From Hanoi Railway StationAbout 10 minutes by Grab or taxi, or a 20-minute walk.
- Getting aroundWalk, or use Grab motorbike and car taxis for longer distances. Electric shuttle cars also run sightseeing loops from Dong Xuan Market.
- With a local guideOur city tours include free pickup from hotels in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Eat like a local
Where to eat near Hanoi Old Quarter
- Pho Gia Truyen, 49 Bat DanClassic Hanoi beef pho, served in the morning. Expect a queue and shared tables.
- Bun cha, Hang Manh and Hang QuatGrilled pork patties with rice noodles, herbs and dipping sauce — a lunchtime favourite.
- Banh Mi 25, 25 Hang CaPopular banh mi stall with many fillings and an easy menu.
- Cha Ca La Vong, 14 Cha CaTurmeric fish fried at your table with dill and spring onion; the street is named after this dish.
- Bun thang, Cau Go streetA delicate noodle soup with shredded chicken, egg and pork — a Hanoi speciality.
- Xoi Yen, 35 Nguyen Huu HuanSticky rice with toppings, open from early morning — a cheap and filling breakfast.
- Cafe Giang, 39 Nguyen Huu HuanEgg coffee from the family who created it in 1946.
- Bia hoi on Ta HienFresh, light draught beer and snacks on the pavement in the evening.
For your camera
Best photo spots at Hanoi Old Quarter
- Hang Ma lantern streetRows of red and gold lanterns, especially in the weeks before Mid-Autumn Festival.
- O Quan Chuong gate at dawnThe old gate without traffic, in soft morning light.
- 87 Ma May courtyardWooden beams and light falling into the inner courtyard.
- Rooftop over Hoan Kiem LakeCafés around Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square look over the lake and the traffic roundabout.
- Street-food stalls at nightSteam, lanterns and tiny stools — ask the cook before you take close-ups.
Local advice
Tips for visiting Hanoi Old Quarter
Do
- Cross the street slowly and steadily — scooters will flow around you
- Carry small notes of Vietnamese dong for food stalls and drinks
- Cover shoulders and knees in temples and pagodas
- Agree on the price before buying or taking a cyclo ride
- Eat where locals queue — high turnover means fresh food
Don’t
- Run or stop suddenly in the middle of the road
- Leave your phone on a street-side table or hold it loosely by the road
- Pick up a fruit seller’s carrying pole for a photo unless you are happy to pay
- Take photos of people praying in temples without asking
- Expect every shop to be open around Tet
Visit with a local
Tours that visit Hanoi Old Quarter
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Electric Scooter City Highlights Tour
234+ booked
From $45
$38
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Sunrise & Sunset Electric Scooter Tour
678+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Female Riders City Highlights Tour
345+ booked
From $47
$40
per adult
Hanoi · Instagram & Photo
Hanoi Instagram Tour: City Highlights by Jeep, Limo or Motorbike
397+ booked
From $72
$60
per adult
Good to know
Hanoi Old Quarter: questions & answers
What is the Hanoi Old Quarter famous for?
Its guild streets named after the goods once sold there, its tube houses and temples, and above all its street food: pho, bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee.
How many streets are in the Old Quarter?
Traditionally it is called the “36 streets”, but today the Old Quarter has around 70 streets in roughly one square kilometre north of Hoan Kiem Lake.
How much time do I need in the Old Quarter?
Half a day covers the main streets, a market, a temple and a few food stops. With a guided jeep or scooter tour you can see the highlights in 2–4 hours.
Is the Hanoi Old Quarter safe at night?
Yes, it is generally safe and very lively in the evening. Watch out for traffic and keep phones and bags close, as snatch theft from motorbikes can happen.
When is the Old Quarter night market?
Friday to Sunday from about 18:00 to 23:00, along Hang Dao towards Dong Xuan Market.
What should I buy in the Old Quarter?
Silk scarves on Hang Gai, silver on Hang Bac, lacquerware, paper lanterns, conical hats and Vietnamese coffee. Compare prices and bargain politely in markets.
Is the Old Quarter a good place to stay?
Yes. It is the most convenient base for first-time visitors: most sights are walkable, and there are hotels for every budget.
Is there a map of the Hanoi Old Quarter?
Use the map on this page to see where the quarter is. Most of the area lies between Hoan Kiem Lake to the south, Dong Xuan Market to the north and the railway to the west.
What is the best way to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter?
On foot for the lanes, temples and street food, ideally early morning or in the evening. As the quarter covers about 70 streets, many visitors first take a jeep or electric scooter city tour to get their bearings and cover more ground, then return on foot to explore the streets they liked most.
Is the Hanoi Old Quarter walkable?
Very. It is only about one square kilometre, so you can cross it in 15 to 20 minutes, and walking is the best way to see it. Pavements are often full of parked motorbikes and food stalls, so you will sometimes walk at the edge of the road; keep to the side and stay alert.
Hanoi
