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Spanning over 2000 years of history, Hanoi’s Old Quarter of today was
evolved from workshop villages filled with various trades, or guilds, in
the early 13th century.
The Quarter’s story is steeped with local legends beginning with its
founding. It is said in local stories that when the King began
rebuilding the
 former
Chinese palace, he had difficulty for the walls kept tumbling down. He
then prayed to the local earth god, who in turn, sent a a white horse
emerged from the temple and galloped West. The King decided to build his
citadel walls along the traces of its hoof prints and declared the white
horse the city's guardian. The White Horse (Bach Ma) Pagoda on
Hang Buom Street still pays homage to that guardian.
Today, it is one of the most fascinating stops and attraction of Hanoi
where the combination of modern times meet with the narrow, ancient,
winding streets each named after the dominant trade taking place on that
particular stretch.
Up to present time, a majority of the street names here start with Hang,
which means merchandise or shop. The guild streets were named for their
product or location. For example, skilled silversmiths from Hai Hung
province now occupy Hang Bac Street one of the most ancient streets in
all Vietnam.
 Hoan
Kiem is considered the center of the city. It is also known as the Lake
of the Recovered Sword.
This is another structure in the Quarter whose history is again steeped
in local lore and legend.
History has it, that in the mid-15th century, the gods gave Emperor Le
Thai To a magical sword to defeat Chinese invaders. While the emperor
was boating on the lake one day, a giant tortoise reared up and snatched
the sword, returning it to its rightful owners and ushering peace into
the kingdom.
In the center of the lake is the Tortoise Pagoda; on the northern part
is Ngoc Son pagoda, reachable only by the Bridge of the Rising Sun.
Stroll around the lake in the early morning or evening to savor local
life among the willow trees and see elders playing chess or doing tai
chi.
Each guild had its own patron saint to which many local temples are
dedicated. Hang Bong Street has five such temples. So those interested
in doing a more spiritual tour may check these temples out and include
them on their walking tour itineraries.
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