Asia’s Streets: Beautiful Chaos — Hanoi, Vietnam

Street culture is embedded in the lives of many people living in Asia. The bustling capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is one of the most ancient capital cities in the world and filled with interesting character. The streets of the 1,000-year-old city bursts with life and culture.

The city is filled with rustic buildings from French colonialism and influence remains from the hundreds of years of Chinese rein, with old Buddhist temples and pagodas. A two-week visa run to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, unexpectedly turned into 7 weeks spent mostly photographing the locals.

The historical capital hosts fascinating sights and capturing images of street life Vietnam is a dream for photographers. Every corner showing a glimpse of Asian culture and the lives of the locals between the clusters of tourists.

A large part of the city has stayed the same, maintaining its culture-rich streets. Artists, craftsmen, and traders have been selling in the magnificent trade area in Hanoi for around 1,000 years.

The iconic Old Quarter of Hanoi consists of almost 40 streets, each one sells a specific type of item. Hang Bac, a street filled with shops selling silver, Hang Vai is known for bamboo, Quoc Su for embroidery. Although some of the businesses have adapted to modern society, generally the original street names and unique traders have remained in place throughout time.

On the outskirts of the bustling streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter lies Hoan Kiem Lake, the beautiful tree-lined, freshwater lake in the heart of the city. Also known as Tay Ho lake, it is a must-see peaceful place to visit and walk around to spend some time away from the fast-paced nature of the city centre. A breath of fresh air to bask in the beauty of the Vietnam's capital.

With intriguing charm, Hanoi attracts people from all over the world to visit the prosperous city. The narrow streets of this lively city has street vendors and food traders selling by motorcycle, foot or on the side of the roads.

Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies, according to the World Bank (2020). However, it is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Statista (2018) reported that the average salary for rural workers in Vietnam is around £180 per month, whereas urban employees earn less £250 per month. However, Hanoi has one of the most vibrant, friendliest, community-centric cities.

References:

Statista (2018) Average monthly salary in Vietnam 2018, by area. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1070816/vietnam-average-monthly-salary-by-area/

World Bank (2020) The World Bank In Vietnam. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/vietnam/overview