Hang Bong Street, Hanoi (must see)

Hàng Bông (French: Rue du Coton) is an ancient street running for about 932 meters from the crossroad Hàng Bông - Hàng Gai - Hàng Trong - Hàng Hom to the former city gate Cửa Nam (South Gate). Once populated by cotton dealers and makers of clothes and winter blankets (hence the name), today's Hàng Bông is one of the busiest shopping streets in Hanoi, lined with art galleries, silk and clothing shops.

Formerly this street consisted of various sections, each with its own name, such as Hang Hai (aka Hang Bong Hai), Hang Manh (packed with shops selling comedy shoes, hats, and paper worship items), Hang Bong Dem (inhabited by sellers of cotton balls, cotton- and other blankets), Hang Bong Banyan Tree Cua Quyen (home to a small temple worshiping Co Quyen, with a banyan tree nearby), Hang Bong Lo (where all kinds of fish were sold), Hang Bong Tho Nhuom (back in the early 20th century this was home to the dyers of silk fabrics), and Hang Bong Alley (known during the French colonial era as Rue Lhonde).

Also, during the French period, Old Hang Bong Street was a home to many print houses, bookstores, and journalists. Notorious for many traffic accidents involving trams (prior to 1991), Hang Bong Street, since the turn of the 21st century, has been gradually associated with luxurious fashion, largely surpassing the rival destinations of Hang Dao, Luong Van Can and Tran Nhan Tong streets. Today, this street also accommodates the fancy Silk Path hotel where once used to be the music tea rooms, popular haunt for artists and other creative folk.

At night, Hang Bong Street is a popular gathering spot for youngsters and students, in large part due to the cheap fried and grilled spring rolls sold on the corner of Hang Bong junction and Tam Thuong alley. At the end of the street, on the right-hand (even-numbered) side is a pastry shop very famous with backpackers. On festive occasions, this street is also teeming with sellers of flags and T-shirts.