Hang Bong Street, Hanoi (must see)

Hang Bong Street, stretching for about 932 metres through Hanoi’s historic centre towards the former South Gate, is one of the longest and busiest streets in the Old Quarter. Its name translates roughly as “Cotton Street,” recalling the cotton dealers and craftsmen who once produced clothing and warm blankets here. As soon as you step onto the paved western end of Hang Bong Street from the surrounding junction, get ready to take in the bustling flow of pedestrians and commerce.

Historically, present-day Hang Bong consisted of several smaller sections, each with its own name and commercial speciality. Hang Manh was known for shops selling traditional shoes, hats and ceremonial paper goods, while Hang Bong Dem was populated by merchants dealing in cotton and blankets. Other sections were associated with silk dyers, fish sellers and various craftsmen. One area even took its name from a banyan tree and a small temple dedicated to Co Quyen. These specialised trades reflected the guild-based organisation for which Hanoi’s Old Quarter became famous.

During the French colonial period, parts of the street acquired French names, while Hang Bong also became home to numerous printing houses, bookshops and journalists. This helped transform it from a traditional craft street into an increasingly diverse commercial thoroughfare.

Today, the old specialisations have largely disappeared, but Hang Bong remains one of central Hanoi’s liveliest shopping streets. Clothing and silk shops, tailors, art galleries, hotels, cafés and restaurants now occupy its narrow buildings. It is particularly busy in the evening, when locals, students and visitors gather at the street’s numerous eateries.

As you walk along Hang Bong, look beyond the modern shopfronts for traces of its past, including narrow traditional buildings and small religious sites tucked between newer businesses. A more unusual example is Silk Path Hotel at 195-199 Hang Bong Street, which incorporates several historic tube houses into a single property. Step into the lobby to appreciate the characteristic long, narrow layout, extending deep into the block from its relatively narrow street frontage.