Hàng Mã Street
VGP – Hàng Mã (Paper Offerings) Street has been one of Hà Nội’s typically frenetic commercial areas since the medieval times. On the occasions of traditional festivities, the street becomes filled with sounds, colors and light, bearing the imprints of the spiritual life of Orientals.
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Starting from the intersection of Hàng Đường Street and ending at Phùng Hưng Street, the 339m-long commercial street separated by Tô Lịch River.
The river has been filled up, thus joining the two villages. Now part of Hàng Mã Ward, near Sword Lake and Đồng Xuân Market, of Hoàn Kiếm District, it is one of Hà Nội’s 36 ancient streets. The street offers various commodities and is one of the favorite destinations of tourists, domestic and foreign as well.
Hàng Mã Street is also known for its tube and gable-roofed houses typical of Hà Nội. Tube houses were built long and thin with a storefront and the worshipping, producing and living space in the rear. Even in these tunnel-like houses, ancient Hanoians still managed to have some space for nature.
The gable-roofed house includes the main floor plus an attic which has either a small door or round windows overlooking the street. The house has inclining tiles and an eave overhanging the street. The gable-roofed house is simply decorated with a three-step staircase, attractive lines and a curved roof.
Inhabitants of Hàng Mã Street were the Tan Khai villagers who nowadays still earn a living by selling such paper decorations as paper flowers and lanterns as well as paper offerings including the Soil Genie hats and votive-paper gold./.
