If you want to experience the charm of traditional Vietnamese culture, surrounded by endless shops and quirky cafés serving unique creations like salted coffee, coconut coffee and the famous egg coffee, then Hanoi’s Old Quarter, known locally as Phố Phường or the 36 Streets, is the perfect place to explore.

This historic district was once home to 36 traditional trades, each concentrated on its own street, with names originally referring not to streets but to craft guilds. Today, you can still wander along roads that reflect their origins: Hang Gai for silk, Hang Bac for silverware, Hang Ma for decorative paper used in festivals, Hang Buom for local snacks and sweets, and Hang Tre for bamboo handicrafts, to name but a few. As you stroll through the area, you’ll also enjoy charming, colonial-era architecture, classic cultural cafés, street-food stalls, and carts piled high with snacks and tropical fruits, perfect for food lovers, shoppers, photographers, and anyone who loves capturing travel moments.

Another amazing spot in the Old Quarter is the Hanoi Train Street, where railway tracks run through a narrow residential lane. Visitors can sit just a few steps away from the tracks and watch the train rumble past—an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience. The old shophouses flanking the tracks are just as picturesque, making this one of the most photographed corners of Hanoi.

Getting there: Hanoi Train Street is within walking distance from the Old Quarter—approximately 800 metres.

Fly to Hanoi with THAI. Click here.