15. Ancient house at 87 Ma May
Dating back to the 19th century, this very special house is a stunning example of the type of the old pipeshaped architecture. Located in the Hanoi Old Quarter (which has thirty-six streets) the house is consistent with hanoi homes built in the 1890s.
Covering an area of 157.6 square meters, the house is 28 meters long, 5 meters wide in the front and 6 meters wide at the back. As the owner of the house was a trader, he designed the house in the no hau style (narrow in the front and wide at the back) believing that this would provide luck for his business.
In 1999, the house was resorted under the “Preserving and restoring the Hanoi Old Quater” project. The restoration was financed by the hanoi government and Toulouse (France) provincial government. The house is now a tourist attraction and preserves the bustling history of “Old Hanoi”.
16. The Old Quarter
In 1995 it was decided that the Hanoi Old Quarter would include: Hang Dau, Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go and Hang Thung, Tran Nhan Duat, Hang cot, Hang Ga, Hang Dieu, and Hang Da streets. The streets in the Old Quaeter are always busy and bustling.
The street in this are are narrow and winding. Most of the streets are named after the traders of the guilds that dominated the streets, such as Hang Duong(sweets), Hang Bac(silver). In the early 19th century, houses in Hanoi were traditionally built in a pipe shape.
You can also find lots of pagodas and temples scattered around the old streets. Life of Hanoians tends to harmonize with the spirit world, so the space in central Hanoi is sacred and legendary. This all comes together to create the unique beauty of the capital city.
The typical old streets with their traditional merchandise include:
– Hang Dao/ Hang Ngang/ Hang Duong/ Dong Xuan/ Hnag Giay. They are the biggest and busiest streets in hanoi. Many household products are sold retail and wholesale.
– Hang bac/ Hang Bo streets where you’ll find shops that sell stone carvings, coffee shops, tourist services, souvenir shops, and jewelry shops
– Hang Bong/Hang Gai streets are where silk products and lacquer paintings are sold.
– Luong Van Can/ Hang Can/ Cha Ca are where handicraft products are sold. You can also have your traditional Vietnamese woman’s dress the ao dai, tailor-made on thesr streets. The famous Cha Ca La Vong restaurant is situated on Cha Ca street.
– Hang Quat/ Hang Thiec streets are where worship offerings traditional clothes, drums and tin products are sold.
– Lan Ong street is where Oriental medicine is sold.
17. Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market is located inside the Hanoi Old Quarter, on the north of Hang Khoai street, south of Cau Dong and east of the Dong Xuan market. Next to Dong Xuan market is Bac Qua market. There fore, the area is also known as the Dong Xuan-Bac Qua market.
Dong Xuan is the biggest wholesale market in hanoi as well as in Vietnam, selling all kinds of household products.
18. Dong Xuan Market by night
Dong Xuan market is located on hang Khoai street, not very far from West lake, Hoan Kiem lake and bustling streets of Hang Ngang ang Hang Dao.
The market gets busy fom around 10pm untill late. This market offers a variety of items such as traditional embroidery products, shoes, bags, hats, handicraft, souvenirs, etc. Both hanoians and foreign tourists enjoy going to the night market and consider it great entertainment.
19. The History Museum
Is located at 1 Trang Tien where thousands of objects are displayed in chronological order.
20. Fine Arts Museum
Is situated at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc. This museum displays art works and objects of the various nationalities that lived in Vietnam throughout its history.
21. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
This museum is located on Nguyen Van Huyen street, Cau Giay district. Covering an area of over 3 ha, the museum is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the lifestyles of the ethnic groups of Vietnam. The mission of the Museum is scientific research, collectionm documentation, conservation, exhibition and preserving the cultural and historic patrimony of the nation’s different ethnic groups.
In addition there are several other museum around Hanoi including: The Revolution Museum in Tran Quaang Khai street, The Ho Chi Minh Museum on the right hand of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Army Museum on Dien Bien Phu street.
22. Thang Long water puppet theatre
Located across fom Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long water puppet theatre is proud to introduce the unique performances of the Vietnamese puppet on a stage of water. The water puppets are a traditional performance art in Vietnam and a distinct aspect of the nation’s cultural identity. Water puppetry cam into existence, developed and diversified over a thousand years ago in the Red River Delta. Vietnam water pupetry has won the hearts of a large number of audiences from all over the world.
Thang Long water puppet theatre
57 B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
Tel: (84.4) 8 249494/8 255450
23. Cha Ca la Vong restaurant
Located in Cha Ca street, Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant was founded nearly one century ago and is famous for its roasted fish, The restaurant is mentioned in a book named “1000 places to see before you die” by Patricia Schultz (Workman, New York, 2003).
There are many places in the world referred to in the book such as luxurious five – stat hotels, wonders of the world’s civilizations, entertainment areas of the coastal regions and more. After the book was published, many media companies like MSNBC and the BBC made comments on the book. Cha Ca La Vong was chosen by MSNBC as one of the “ten places to see before you die.”
24. Zen Spa
Located in bonsai garden with a variety of ornamental plants, Zen Spa is decorated with rows of pottery jars that are full of flowers. Following this beautiful lane will lead you to a simple house where you can drink and seek consultation. You will here the sounds of small birds singing and the gently blowing breezes softly into the spa. You will pass through a small pond which is full of water lilies; there you ‘ll see rows of bamboo houses which are where the spa services are offered.
Zen Spa is located on the Nghi Tam road, near West Lake. It takes about 40 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the city centre to get there.
Source from Travel Live Magazine
Vietnam Travel Tips 