July 13th, 2006
A riverbank ancient quarter of Hanoi
The ancient quarter is located on an area of about 100 ha, within the territory of Hoan Kiem district. Geometrically, the ancient quarter has a shape of triangle, whose peak is constituted by Hang Than street, eastern side by Red River damp, western side by the streets of Hang Cot, Hang Dieu, Hang Da, and base by the axis of Hang Bong - Hang Gai - Cau Go streets. According to the assessment of some historians, the ancient quarter made its appearance immediately after the Thang Long’s establishment, i.e. nearly a thousand years ago.
Most of houses presently existing within the ancient quarter’s borders have, however, their age of only more than 100 years. In this quarter, those houses that keep an air of anxiety are no longer so numerous. It is just the phenomena of extension that has sharply and negatively deformed its spatial appearance. Under such circumstances, the embellishment and preservation of this quarter has required great efforts.
There is a well-known riverbank quarter of ancient streets in Hanoi. It includes Hang Chieu Hang Buom Hang Khoai Nguyen Sieu streets and others which connect the Quan Chuong city gate with Dong Xuan street. In the past this quarter was called Thanh Ha, a village of Hau Tuc canton in Tho Xuong district, a big northern district where the Tay Ho land with “the Tran Vu bell sound and Tho Xuong cock crow” is located.
On the main dome of the Quan Chuong city gate remain three engraved words “Dong Ila Mon” means Dong Ha gate. The word “Ha” in the name of places like Thanh Ha, Dong Ha and Ha Khau only emerged in the first half of the 18th century. “Ha” means tile Red River (also called Cai river).
At present many historical and Cultural relics remain in the ancient streets even through the urbanization of the last years of the 20th century. They have been preserved as beau- Cultural Features to be transferred to the 21 st century.