Hoàn Kiếm, Commercial district in central Hanoi, Vietnam
Hoàn Kiếm is a central district in Hanoi featuring the Old Quarter with narrow winding streets between traditional buildings and the French Quarter with colonial-era structures. The district encompasses both areas within a compact urban space, creating two distinct neighborhoods with different characters.
The district became a center of power in 545 when Emperor Lý Nam Đế established his capital here, marking the foundation of Hanoi itself. It later developed into a provincial capital under Emperor Minh Mạng and gradually became an important administrative hub.
Streets in the Old Quarter still follow traditional naming patterns based on specific trades, with Hàng Bạc street where merchants continue selling silver and jewelry as they have for centuries. This system of trade streets remains woven into daily life and shapes how the neighborhood functions today.
The district today functions as Hanoi's financial center with major banks, hotels, and restaurants alongside government offices. Visitors will find modern services and facilities scattered throughout the area in both old and new neighborhoods.
At the heart of the district sits a lake connected to a nearby temple by a red bridge, where locals practice traditional movement exercises during early morning hours. This location offers a quiet contrast to the busy streets surrounding it.
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