Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam where I have lived.
where will you arrive if you come to Hanoi. Of course, you can't not arrive at Hanoi's Old Quarter(the 36 streets).
As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam. Hanoi's Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represent the eternal soul of the city. Located between the lake of Restored Sword and the Longbien bridge, a former city rampart and a citadel wall. The Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator- infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of house on stilts and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named " Dominated Annam" or "Protected South" by the Chinese.
The Old Quarter began to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King LY THAI TO built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated in the business Quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoner's homes evolved out of market stalls before streets was formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the with of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the building. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called " tube house". Typical measurements for such house are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long.
The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. when craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, one each street in the Quarter there is at least one temple.
Now, many of the old building in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of buildings' religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs.
Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the " 36 old streets" there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when the might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, no streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the number 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine is Asia represents the concept of " plenty". Nine times the four directions makes thirty- six, which simply means "many", there are now more the 70 streets in the area.
Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Hang Gai street offers silk clothing ready- made and tailored,embroidery and silver product. Hang Quat street that formerly sold silk and feather fans. Now, stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral, festival flags and religious objects and clothing. Hang Thung street connects the two and is still the wood turner's street. Hang Ma street glimmers with shiny paper products such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper object to burn for the dead. Lan Ong street smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders,
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