Hanoi Old Quarter is the historic trading district of Vietnam’s capital, about 100 hectares of narrow streets just north of Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the “36 streets” after the craft guilds that once gave each street its name and trade. Today it holds more than 70 streets of tube houses, temples, markets and street food, from Hang Gai’s silk shops to Ta Hien’s beer corners, and it is the base for most first-time visitors to Hanoi. The Old Quarter lies in Hoan Kiem ward in the centre of the city, about 30 km from Noi Bai Airport, and it is free to walk around.
This guide from Vietnamtour.in covers what the Old Quarter is, 8 things to do there with addresses, opening hours and entry fees in rupees, the weekend walking street and night market, and tips for Indian travellers, including where to find vegetarian food.
The 8 things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter at a glance:
| # | Thing to do | Where | Cost | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walk the 36 ancient streets | Hang Gai, Hang Ma, Hang Bac, Ma May | Free | Morning or late afternoon |
| 2 | Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple | South edge of the Old Quarter | Lake free; temple 50,000 VND (₹185) | Early morning; weekend evenings |
| 3 | Historical sites | O Quan Chuong Gate, 87 Ma May, Ba Da Pagoda, St. Joseph’s Cathedral | Free to small fees | Daytime |
| 4 | Local food | Across the quarter | About 30,000–100,000 VND (₹110–₹365) a dish | Breakfast to late night |
| 5 | Dong Xuan Market and the night market | North end of the quarter | Free | Market by day; night market Fri–Sun |
| 6 | Handicraft shopping | Hang Gai, Hang Bac, Hang Trong | Free to browse | Afternoon |
| 7 | Draft beer on Ta Hien Street | Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen | About 15,000–30,000 VND (₹55–₹110) a glass | Evening |
| 8 | Bars and clubs | Ta Hien and the streets nearby | Drinks priced per venue | Late night |
Prices are 2026 rates converted at ₹1 ≈ 273 VND; the lake area and the main streets close to traffic from Friday evening to Sunday night.
What Is Hanoi Old Quarter?
Hanoi Old Quarter is the merchant district that grew up between the royal citadel and the Red River from the 11th century onwards, where each street was settled by a craft guild and named after its trade, such as Hang Bac (silver), Hang Gai (hemp, now silk) and Hang Ma (paper goods). The area runs from Hoan Kiem Lake in the south to Dong Xuan Market and Long Bien Bridge in the north, and from the Red River dyke in the east to the railway line in the west.
Often called old town Hanoi, the area takes the name “36 streets” from the old guild system, but the quarter now has more than 70 streets, many still selling the goods in their names. Its houses are narrow “tube houses”, often only 2–4 m wide but up to 60 m deep, with a shop at the front and living quarters behind. The Old Quarter is the most popular place to stay in Hanoi for first-time visitors because the lake, the markets, the food streets and the Water Puppet Theatre are all within a 10–15 minute walk.
Wander Through The Ancient Streets
Walking the ancient streets is the best way to see Hanoi Old Quarter, from the silk shops of Hang Gai and Hang Dao to the paper lanterns of Hang Ma, the silversmiths of Hang Bac and the restored houses of Ma May. A loop of the main streets takes 2–3 hours on foot, and early morning shows the quarter at its most local, with street breakfasts and the markets opening.
The streets worth walking first are:
- Hang Gai and Hang Dao: Silk, scarves, ao dai and tailors.
- Hang Ma: Paper lanterns and festival decorations, most colourful before Mid-Autumn and Tet.
- Hang Bac: Silver jewellery workshops, 1 of the oldest guild streets.
- Ma May and Ta Hien: Restored houses by day and the busiest food and beer corners at night.
Crossing the streets takes a slow, steady pace, since motorbikes flow around walkers rather than stopping.
Strolling Around and Relax By Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of Hanoi at the southern edge of the Old Quarter, a 12-hectare lake with Turtle Tower in the middle and Ngoc Son Temple on an island reached by the red The Huc Bridge. The lake path is free and busiest at dawn, when locals exercise, and on weekend evenings, when the streets around it close to traffic.
The practical details are:
- Ngoc Son Temple: 50,000 VND (₹185) adult, free for children under 15; open about 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and to 9:00 PM at weekends
- Walking street: The streets around the lake close to cars and motorbikes from 7:00 PM on Friday to midnight on Sunday
- Time needed: 1–2 hours
The weekend walking street brings street performers, folk games and families out around the lake, and the routes and parking points are covered in the guide to the Hanoi walking street. Trang Tien ice cream, sold just south of the lake, is the classic stop on the way.
Discovering Historical Sites
The main historical sites in and around Hanoi Old Quarter are O Quan Chuong Gate, the heritage house at 87 Ma May, Ba Da Pagoda and St. Joseph’s Cathedral, all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Most are free or charge a small fee, and together they show the quarter’s royal, merchant, Buddhist and French layers in a single morning.
O Quan Chuong Gate
O Quan Chuong is the last surviving gate of the old city walls, rebuilt in 1817 at the eastern edge of the Old Quarter, with a curved-roof watchtower above its arches. Motorbikes still pass through the arches, and the gate is free to see at any time. Of the 16 gates that once ringed the walled city, it is the only one left standing, and it sits at the end of Hang Chieu Street, a 5-minute walk from Dong Xuan Market.
Ma May House
The heritage house at 87 Ma May is a restored 19th-century tube house that shows how a merchant family lived and traded in the Old Quarter, with a shop at the front, open courtyards and living rooms behind. A small entry fee applies, and the house is 1 of the few in the quarter open to visitors inside. Old photos, carved wooden doors and a small craft corner show the trades of the guild streets, and the visit takes about 20–30 minutes.
Ba Da Pagoda
Ba Da Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda on Nha Tho Street, next to St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and the seat of the Hanoi Buddhist Association. Its quiet courtyard of stone lanterns and bonsai is a calm stop between the busy streets, and modest dress is expected inside. The pagoda takes its name, “stone lady”, from a statue found here in the 15th century, and it is busiest on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month.
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a neo-Gothic church completed in 1886 on the south-western edge of the Old Quarter, the oldest church in Hanoi, with twin bell towers and stained-glass windows. It mixes French design with Vietnamese touches such as red tiles and altars, and its square fills with lemon-tea stalls in the evening. More French-era buildings, from the Opera House to the colonial villas, are covered in the guide to the French Quarter Hanoi, a short walk south.
Trying Local Foods
Hanoi Old Quarter is the best place in the city to try local food, with pho, bun cha, banh mi, banh cuon and egg coffee served from street stalls and small family restaurants that have run for decades. Most dishes cost about 30,000–100,000 VND (₹110–₹365).
The famous addresses in Old Quarter Hanoi for each dish are:
- Pho: Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan for beef pho, or Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su.
- Bun cha: Bun Cha Huong Lien, known as the “Obama bun cha”.
- Banh mi: Banh Mi 25 on Hang Ca.
- Cha ca: Cha Ca Thang Long, grilled fish with turmeric, dill and noodles.
- Banh cuon: Steamed rice rolls at the Old Quarter breakfast stalls.
- Egg coffee: Giang Cafe or Cafe Dinh, the 2 best-known names.
Most of these dishes are made with meat or fish sauce, so vegetarian travellers can ask for “chay” (vegetarian) dishes, try the Buddhist vegetarian restaurants near Hang Bac and Ba Da Pagoda, or eat at the Indian restaurants on the edge of the quarter. Egg coffee contains raw egg yolk, so coconut coffee is the usual swap for strict vegetarians.
Visiting Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market is the largest covered market in Hanoi, at the north end of the Old Quarter, selling clothes, fabric, household goods and dried food by day, with the weekend night market running south from its gate along Hang Dao Street. The market building dates from 1889 and was rebuilt after a fire in 1994.
The practical details are:
- Dong Xuan Market: Open daily from early morning to about 6:00 PM; free entry
- Night market: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from about 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, along Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Duong and Dong Xuan streets
- Length: About 1 km from the lake end to the market
The night market sells clothes, souvenirs and grilled snacks, and bargaining is expected. The stalls, the best buys and the food are set out in the guide to the Hanoi night market.
Shopping at Handicraft Stores
Handicraft stores in Hanoi Old Quarter sell lacquerware, silk, embroidery, ceramics and ethnic textiles, with Hang Gai, Hang Bac and Hang Trong the best streets and fair-trade shops such as Craftlink supporting artisan communities. Prices in the fixed-price shops are higher than at the markets, but the quality is easier to trust.
Lacquer boxes, silk scarves, Bat Trang ceramics and embroidered bags from the northern hill tribes are the most practical gifts to carry home. Shop staff often explain which village or ethnic group made each piece, which adds to the value of the gift. The full list of Vietnam special things worth buying, with prices, covers coffee, cashews and other items that pack well.
Drinking Draft Beer at Ta Hien Street
Ta Hien Street is the “beer street” of Hanoi Old Quarter, where crowds sit on low plastic stools outside bars and pubs every evening, drinking bia hoi (fresh draught beer) and eating grilled snacks. The corner of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen is busiest from about 8:00 PM, especially on weekends.
A glass of draught beer costs about 15,000–30,000 VND (₹55–₹110), and soft drinks and juices are on every menu for non-drinkers. Bar hours, the best corners and safety tips are covered in the guide to Ta Hien Street.
Having Fun At Some Bars And Clubs
The bars and clubs of Hanoi Old Quarter cluster around Ta Hien Street, with 1900 Le Théâtre at 8B Ta Hien the best-known club, open late with DJs and light shows. Smaller pubs and rooftop bars around Luong Ngoc Quyen and the lake suit a quieter evening.
Clubs in central Hanoi usually open from about 9:00 PM and stay busy past midnight, with entry and drink prices set by each venue. The clubs, their music styles and dress codes are compared in the guide to Hanoi clubs, and a foot or body massage in the quarter is the usual way to end a long day, as covered in the guide to Hanoi massage.
Plan Your Hanoi Old Quarter Visit with Vietnamtour.in
Hanoi Old Quarter fits into 1 full day on foot, with the streets and historical sites in the morning, the lake and food in the afternoon, and the night market or Ta Hien Street in the evening, ideally on a Friday to Sunday for the walking street. A short walk west of the old town, the narrow track where trains pass between houses draws photographers, and the current rules for visiting are set out in the guide to the Hanoi train street. The wider city, from the Temple of Literature to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, is set out in the guide to the places to visit in Hanoi, and the travel guide to the Vietnam capital name, Hanoi, covers hotels, transport and the best time to visit.
The parts that catch most Indian travellers out are the motorbike traffic, finding vegetarian food among the street stalls, and timing the visit for the weekend walking street. Vietnamtour.in has planned Vietnam trips for more than 428,000 Indian travellers since 2015, and every Vietnam tours from India that starts in Hanoi includes an Old Quarter walk with a guide and Indian or Jain meals arranged nearby. Beach-first travellers often end the trip on the island with a Phu Quoc trip package from India.
To plan Hanoi around your own dates, share the travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below. A Vietnamtour.in expert will place your hotel within walking distance of the lake, time the visit for the walking street, and arrange vegetarian or Jain meals near Hanoi Old Quarter.
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