LOCATION

So called the 36 Streets area, the Old Quarter is Hanoi's main commercial area. In sharp contrast to the French-style sections of the city, in the Old Quarter you'll find maze of narrow streets, pagodas, a mosque theaters, guesthouses, restaurants and a general buzz of activity. The names of the streets are prefaced by the word "Hang", meaning "goods", followed by a product that the street previously specialized in. The earliest settlers of Hanoi established their particular trade in one street, where they also erected their meeting house. Although today the names don't always depict the trade carried out, you'll still find streets specializing in paper products, bamboo, rattan, tin, aluminum, silk, etc.