Scholars street greet new Spring

In the cold of the capital, scholars scraft tight neck, hood, wear gloves sat writing kanji.  Calligraphy street- Van Mieu (near The first University in Vietnam) this year appears more young people.

10 days before Tet, scholars street in Van Mieu is bustling again

Because the cold then scholar can not wear the The clothes that only use turban 

Understand thoroughly with work recently completed

A young girl  as practice writing kanji

Thuoc Bac street: The place sell the Vietnamese traditional medicine

Thuoc Bac street long 328m from Hang Ma street to intersection of Hang Bo - Bat Dan. Almost of this street is the village land of Dong Thanh of Tong Tien Tuc (later renamed the Tong Thuan My) old Tho Xuong district. Terminal street adjacent Hang Bo street of the  Nhan Noi village.

Time of the French, the government has included 5 old street is very short before a long straight street, named Rue des Medicaments (Pharmacy street). In the old Thuoc Bac street really are the stores selling the Vietnamese traditional medicine, while Chinese traditional medicine focuses from intersection Hang Vai - Phuc Kien (Lan Ong) to the junction of Hang Mun (now Hang But.)

Selling drugs back then most of the Da Nguu villages to Hanoi do business, they are here and in the Phuc Kien street. Store is quite simple: the baskets containing herbs meters at present living in the house to the ground from the threshold; drugs to whole stems, not cut their roots, tubers not slice, the paper wrapped package of small seeds, we went through this street is the smell of aromatic herbs coming out the back.

Drug occupation does not require much funds, the same village usually has a good relationship and do the same job should have a high spirit of mutual assistance; store any buyers that do not have enough drugs in the prescription that is usually get to sale.

Street section at the junction between the Hang Mun and Hang Phen that is a surface area of the old Dong Thanh market, formerly named Hang Vai better known as Hang Vai Tham -  distinguish Hang Vai Nau that is Hang Hang street now. Called Hang Vai Tham but here sold fabric panels that is the small size fabric because that is a small fabric traditional weaving looms, so the only long-suffering 2 span produced by Ke Buoi. Besides selling foreign cloth. This street section is the nature of trade in goods internal to the craft shop owner in the street are few large capitalists, in their home is still the family's old house small business, with little difference change. But there are other people in the street more money to buy land here into the new building is high, more modern stores to open big.

Every cross section from Hang Phen to the end of street , that is to cross Hang Bo - Hang Thiec, formerly known as Hang But. Street section that sells old stuff we found pen and paper and office supplies.

Section Thuoc Bac street  from the intersection of Lan Ong to Hang Ma before two section of  the old Hang Ao and Hang Khoa.

That section with name Hang Ao Cu that people trafficking and selling used clothing and blankets and apparel available. Used clothing and apparel that is second in the silk of the garment on the occasion of great joy for guests joined, finished the excess many are sold away. There are also semi-classical opera opera stage clothes, towels adoration for people to dress the people go into trance.

That street with name Hang Khoa because there were many lock shop. Key primarily made from several nearby cities to sell or offer the same course by Phung Khoang village craftsmen casting. Until people are very fond of western key, simultaneously with the period of major construction in Hanoi, the key seller is turned to the wholesale trade of iron. Wholesale craft iron enrichment to meet many occasions quickly.

Today in Thuoc Bac street trafficking remains very busy with all kinds of key items, in-room silver and some building materials of metal. Architecture of the house on the street wearing a modern style, wearing the traditional style. A variety of homes from 65 to 77 bring western-style, only the house number 71 kept the traditional style.

Especially with the house number 87 is where the late painter Bui Xuan Phai lived, now titled "Phai's world" and kept some of his works.

Cassava marinated grapefruit flowers- the interesting Culture Vietnamese food

Tapioca drinks wire is a very common throughout Vietnam then Hanoi people there are very subtle way of processing such as to maintain the natural scent of earth and sky in white tapioca nuts. In other regions, people also marinated the jasmine flowers such as cassava lines to be fragrant. But grapefruit flowers marinated with cassava lines for special fragrance only in Hang Dieu and Hang Than, Hanoi.

As fragrant incense grapefruit started by the wind everywhere it is also at the house or sidewalks in Hang Than, Hang Dieu appeared a pristine white, the white of the fresh cassava. People use large winnowing basket to expose for drying cassava. Arrange thin layers of tapioca may be powder dry evenly. Cassava lines were exposed to sunlight, the crisp new white color and keep the smooth.

People here to buy big cassava tubers grind and filter flour. Cassava lines residues after filtering out the water like salted shredded meat. It also uses the fiber pulp is cooked into drinking water is also very cool.

After drying is complete, each base tapioca looks like thin ice, it will break up into tiny little cassava. The tablet of this cassava after being exposed to sunlight that is firm, only waiting to see the water as it melts to create a great drink to help cool the body in this hot summer day.

When the fresh white powder dry surgery preparation was bound into the package that's time people gather flowers grapefruit. The flowers are fragrant grapefruit mixed with cassava as scent cherished and preserved until the following season. Cassava drying are marinated with flowers bring sunshine grapefruit, close to 0.5 kg each package; 1kg ... easy for the consumer choice.

Grapefruit flowers want to wait after the days of drizzling rain, dry weather. When the flowers are not afraid fail, new fragrance is passionate and keep longer, when brought cassava flour seasoned with bold lines, the new truth.

grapefruit flowers

Through the transparent cellophane bags, we still see those cassava tablet fine white  inside. Tapioca white, a square bar or powder, is contained in the ball bag that works breeze kept the scent of flowers sometimes longer. When people bought and put into use, open the rubber string out, the bag occasionally flashed the thought of the intoxicating fragrance, fragrance makes people have a long memory. Especially when enjoying a glass of water with ice cool cassava lines with white tusks, do not carve very constant, open system which is the dried flower petals yellow grapefruit in the cup.

Sips of water cooling lines cassava bold floral grapefruit feeling cool, fresh, seemed tired all go away, only passionate charm smell of the grapefruit flowers somewhere.

Hang Buom street - a mall in the Hanoi old street area

Hang Buom street old belong Ha Khau award (also known as Giang Khau), Tong Huu Tuc of Tho Xuong district, where the river flows into the To Lich river. On the estuary was filled, but the stree is still.

Hang Buom original is not the focus of the Chinese people., they are in Viet Dong street (now Hang Ngang) and in spread to several surrounding cities such as Hang Bo, Phuc Kien street (now known as Lan Ong street). By the 19th century, from the Chinese people in Hang Ngang street area until this expansion, manipulated and eventually the whole city. Quang Dong club-house at number 32 with a layer of green glaze tiled roof and small ceramic statues are featured, there is now a nursery school.

Former Hang Buom street fair next to the Bach Ma Temple (White Horse temple)  had Bach Ma market after market along with Cau Dong market gather to the Dong Xuan market. French colonial period, French street names as "Rue des Voiles", was translated into Vietnamese to Hang Buom. After 1954, the street was officially named as now.

Hang Buom street from east to west length of about 300m, past a place that sells all kinds of sail. Sails made of fabric or woven rush for the boats. Product of the street was that the type of equipment, bags, blister sailing, sailing ... woven by rattan, rush. Raw materials are transported by boat to get close to the city, and the boat was also carrying products to other places. After the Chinese people dominated the street, the item disappeared. They open more restaurants in this street.

According to documents left behind, the presence of Chinese business people in Hang Buom started very early and probably from the 19th century, this street has become a Chinatown. When the French arrived in Hanoi in 1872 it was very crowded Chinese people in Hang Buom and there are the Association of Management. This period, many Chinese merchants who also defied the law of the court, secretly traded with the French traders and people do spy. Fluctuations in the years from 1873 to 1882, in Hanoi happened many wars, the French were over 2 times invaded, the streets were arson, looting, particularly in the Chinese people in Hang Ngang, Hang Buom still keeping a noisy scene, a crowded mall. At Hang Buom that time there is definitely up in the port of head street, a night watchman. In the first period, the French have not yet built structures should be used Quang Dong hall as the place of meeting, when a grand reception. This stage, Chinese people traders get rich quick and focused more crowded here, the Vietnamese people gradually moving in that city to the other,Hang Buom turned into a "Guest street" with shops of Chinese wealth, prosperity.

Hang Buom the streets to keep the look the most durable commercial challenges of history. Even during the opening night of the first 60 days of resistance against the French this is the area both as a place for combat leave out "non-military." Contact Resistance Committees Area I to allow stores of Chinese people overseas trade opening should be free of this street were the only place in Hanoi with the bustling service activities. One of the two military medical station of inter-region I was located at 26 Hang Buom.

Today the street has many shops selling candy, melon seeds pumpkin seeds, and both dishes like roast meat, noodles, salad .... Along with other beer and soft drinks. The Mid-Autumn festival and, this place is very busy. Chinese community is not here anymore but the focus remained crowded with shops, food shops connected to both the alley from Hang Giay to Ta Hien, Ma May street ...

Hang Buom street but also a few architectural changes over time, although most also had a few houses were rebuilt. On Hang Buom still many religious relics and revolutionary relics: the famous Bach Ma temple is located at number 76, Long Do temple worship, the Eastern townships of the ancient Thang Long, the Bach Ma temple structures is quite large, in-depth planning, starting Hang Buom street to Ngo gach lane, built in the Southeast, close Hang Buom street. Also, on Hang Buom also Tu Duong communal house located at number 8, common people still called because Hang Thit temple because Hang Thit ward original in Kim Nguu, Van Giang district, Hung Yen province to Thang Long practice formed.

Hanoi people come to Hang Buom today not only to find memories of a crowded shopping mall past but also to be immersed in ancient space characteristic of the 36 streets.

Chang Son village - the famous village make traditional fan in Hanoi

Mention the traditional trade make paper fans, people often mention Ke Vac village or called Canh Hoach village, Dan Hoa commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi. But there's a village make fans well-known no less that is the Chang Son village.

 

Chang Son village which is a famous traditional trade villages in Ha Tay province now in Chang Son commune, Thach That district, Hanoi. People of Chang Son is also famous for the "a hundred trades" and trade make fan is one of the many famous trade of the village.

Trade make fan of Chang Son has had hundreds of years. From the 19th century, Chang Son fans are famous at home and abroad. French had brought Chang Son  fans many times cross ocean to Paris exhibition. History also record that fans who do well at the village was ordained Ba Ho (the high rank for village authorities or rich people in feudal).

Chang Son people usually take advantage to make  fans on the farm at leisure after harvest time. Before the Lunar New Year is that everything has been available for convenient spare time they do. Profession fan but not too arduous, difficult, but requires the demand sophisticated, meticulous to the extremely stylish.

 
To get desire fan, artisans who spend a lot of work to choose from each bamboo tube make blade of a  fan, every rattan fiber make edges and quire of paper for propeller. Bamboo must be flexible, old aged from three years, no termites eaten then blade of a fan will be durable, beautiful. Bamboo cut pipes, shaved green cover, use knife separated bamboo splints, add paint between two bamboo. After that, the bamboo was bundled several months until the new paint dry that sharpen to blade of a fan. Rattan fiber have shining, smooth, long after weaving not together multiple stages.

Paper make fans is  Do paper get buy Dong Ho (Bac Ninh). When making paper for blade of a fan to be clever, meticulously, so that the paper being crumpled, flat folds, steady and convenient for painting work.

 

When painting, the artist's most difficult is the standard fold between blade of a fan. Must be carefully calculated so that when completed, folding fans do not affect competition, the folds are in the right space, not cutting people or cutting objects. If cases are required to cut, then the talent of the artist is to create links so that viewers do not know which material cut without use hands touch the fan. When the fan stage to completion, the artist will paint the glossy paint on fan to keep bright, durable.

Not only has high artistic value that each fan in Chang Son also brought her a sense of philosophical history and sustainability. Fans can make a charming object on the hands young woman, gentlemen in the special occasions or the unique art painting on the wall for decoration.

Whether wall mounted or portable, fans are still well up from a beautiful soft, seductive texture from the photo between the fan. The more fans than impressed by the silk material iridescent royal color, the still shimmering blend with the natural textures are engraving above. Each figure represents the fans as the famous landscapes of the country and the story of the ancient history of the area a national hero ... you can say, fans of Chang Son is the essence of convergence of all land of sun and people of Vietnam.

 

Chang Son today is very different too. The fans of Chang Son has transoceanic exported to Japan and Korea both models, types and styles varied. Not only do the paper fans, bamboo tape fans that Chang Son who also produced the The fan, silk fan with more the size, separately picture fans have size many meter. Silk fan sell for art troupes, festivals, tourist firms, the international tourists.

Superior fans paintings used to decorate the wall offers a space characterized ancient, popular. The names of the artists as Mo Duong Van, Lan Nguyen Duc, Tuyet Nguyen Lan, Doan Duong Van  ... no one is not known. Especially  Mo Duong Van artists, who has made a fan record in Vietnam, long 9 meters, high 4.5 m, drawing rural market of Hanoi follow sample Hang Trong paintings form displayed at Tet flower street and festival traditional villages and held in Hue in June 2009.

Trade make fans do not just offer high-income people but also an important part in preserving and promoting traditional craft villages a long and promoting Vietnamese culture with friends in the country.

This country has great change one's look, human life has become increasingly advanced, though not without the modern means of cooling as air conditioners, electric fans, rock fans but tradition fans still have a of great significance important. It is both an affirmation of life of a traditional village, has brought a beautiful rural culture characterized ancient. Images of old people sitting waving a paper fan or Nan fan under shade trees or gable reminds us think to a village of peaceful, quiet, feeling cool the body by familiar fans.

Hang Giay street - a corner of Thang Long - Hanoi

Hang Giay (paper) street from Hang Dau- Hang Than intersection run below Cau Sat to  Hang Khoai- Dong Xuan intersection. Only 208m long ago that the capital belongs to several wards and villages. In Le period when Thang Long only 36 wards, the first street belong Hoe Nhai ward,  end of the street belong Dong Xuan ward.To Nguyen dynasty, from 36 wards Thang Long were divided into 250 wards and villages. The first part of Hang Giay adjoin Hang Cot street on riverside To river and the Dong Thuan village. Middle and end of the Dong Xuan ward.

Today the house number 83 Hang Giay is a communal house of old Dong Xuan ward. In 1925, French was still taking pictures of this house gate. Communal house worship Bach Ma (White Horse). Now the house has been converted into shops. Beginning as just mentioned city, capital of the ward Hoe Nhai. That this ward is the Le dynasty were concentrated tea house, singing restaurant .

Later, when the French occupied Hanoi, street planning, the female singer is still based here, the first focusing on Hang Giay. Then called Hang Giay songstress.

Mixed with the theater as the paper shop. All things paper sold by the village common as Buoi village, Cot village made. Ban paper, Moi paper, Boi paper and Phen paper... internal Quyen paper, white board paper ...

In the 20 years of the twentieth century, drifted out of the theater Kham Thien, Nga Tu So. Iron pen and paper "west" we put the paper back on the rural market.

Hang Giay street gradually became a grocery business. The only house 58 of a family court officials Pham is Director of the city to keep lines: Ich Ky brand and sale paper, has just opened a print book, open to publishers. Ich Ky has contributed to common folk at this script only knows the old tales Pham Cong, Phan Tran, Nu tu tai ... printed in the national language.

A house is a house of interest 42, where the cultural growth of Nguyen Van Vinh (1880-1936) who pioneered the printing press The National Assembly, raising the script of a document literature.

Now, Hang Giay sell more goods, especially in the city have a range of dried beef shop. Youth, teens spent a special dish like this, those located outside the six, seventy years old also likes to wake up for a celebration. Past, any port in the primary school which also has the burden dried beef. Uncle sales scissor hands always hold the spleen. Papaya's mannequin few dry pieces of beef, sprinkling little chili attracted many pupils eat too hard....

Xam singing - the unique traditional music in Vietnam

When the Xam singing stage appear on Hang Dao - Dong Xuan street walk - from the beginning of the April-2006, suddenly we see Xam still very charming.

Xam is street music. But why is it not fitted with a tail, but in combination with other Bo Ho(other name of Hoan Kiem lake) ? Some others call the "Xam station". Actually invoking different basis to call back but no other train station where they also want to run away anywhere from Bo Ho and some where come back also stopped at Bo Ho.

Why Xam singer not choose Hang Co station pier is also more crowded tramcar stations? Simply tramcar only up to a third prescription, but carry fewer guests than continuous trip so guests are always new. But trains do not go on continuously, moreover, is to ship it home or to the right destination. Therefore, electric wharf where money is more convenient than other places, so popular with rail mount gray. In the song gray, not about territory conventions, this is where the group sat himself said the other away. Between them has never contested seat fight song, because they are construed the phrase "At the same time director said."

Legend has it that, in the thirteenth century, Prince of Tran Quoc Dinh was stabbed by brother in forest green blindness, grab valuable gem to occupy the crown. In utter delirium, Dinh dream him was singing with a flock of fairies dance jubilantly ... Wake up, the prince knew the rural villagers wholeheartedly care. Through the tribulation and dream recall, Dinh was close at hand manipulated a musical instrument with long bamboo tube with soft rod to correct volume, rope spin by tree cover and stick to turn on, knock to music. He also compiled all the poems to music, including feelings of his life, bring joy to every family, every home, hand mouth now sing everywhere, from the river, markets, communal house yard  ... reputation of the blind singer until imperial city,  the King invited in the palace, know that Prince missing year ... From there, Dinh strove to teach singing to all men, especially those blind, just for fun is life, is both a living business...

The instrument in art Xam music

So when Xam was born ? Researchers have said that Xam was born before Cheo singing, was one of many sources contributing constitutes cheo singing. Or Xam only a copy of the clumsy of Cheo singing in conditions and circumstances in a very limited class persons with disabilities, or the relationship is inevitable no gut clearance between the two forms denied, by the artist Xam and Cheo same popular song, while Tuong on type of fight song, Tru singing is poem song. The research Xam talk: Xam singing is a form appeared in Hanoi in the late nineteenth century, the twentieth century. Initially only Xam in Hanoi, then "spills" out to get the Xam tones of Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Hung Yen ... Xam are a lot, but there are seven items featured: Xam market, Riem Hue, Ba bac nhip bang, Phon Hue, who singing with anybody and Xam tramcar stations  ... All Xam song about Hanoi often target destination, home to introduce to people in the village about urban and "bootlick" urban people, where their stretch one's back to earn living daily .

The year 30 of the previous century, in a Xam neighborhood in An Duong bank. The reason is so named because the roof about 10 neighbors have all those sing Xam. During the day they go to sing, I sleep here. Neighbors exist until 1954, then each people place. The number of people sing Xam that crowded in the French colonial period and the early years of the war against France. That is the most jubilantly in 1954. After the Republic of Vietnam was born, Xam also was "current affairs." Such movement in response to popular academic, Xam artists wrote the song "Cast out enemy ignorance". After the Geneva agreement, the State mobilize many Xam groups, appoint people to write songs and performed in the northern coastal areas to combat movement moved to South by French colonists entice. Some three dozen artists singing Xam in Hai Duong, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Bac Giang, Hanoi ... participated in this campaign. Thanh Tinh writers assigned a group of 23 people blinds went Bui Chu, Phat Diem to sing on purpose. The peace restore in the North, at Bo Ho train stations still pretty much blind singing Xam, have a couple dwarfs sing very well and they make a living here until the USA led bombing of Hanoi affair another go unidentified. In the years of 1970, this art form and then go gradually fade into obscurity. Since then the people sing Xam didn't practicse, seemingly singing Xam was lost.

When the stage singing Xam appear on Hang Dao street walk - from the beginning of the month 4-2006 Dong Xuan, suddenly we see gray and salty but still very charming. Thao Giang musicians, head of the folk music program "36 streets of Hanoi" and who is the collection, restoration of Xam that the art of singing. He said : how to trade, the shop can change but the soul of the song remains in mind when they hear Xam. In order for this program, the "Hanoi Xam group" has collected about 20 tones. Apart from what is popular poem by Nguyen Khuyen, A Nam Tran Tuan Khai, Nguyen Binh such as: Muc ha vo nhan, Anh khoa, Missed step sideways, bright moon the tea gardens, Xam tramcar...

That's a good signal for the future of xam in the street culture of Thang Long - Hanoi. And sure will not be desert that period ...

Hanoi clock - save mark time of the capital

Less than two months into the Great Hall 1000 year Thang Long - Hanoi ... Electronic clockthe clock on the Post Office roof  side of Bo Ho is still hard to count the time for the capital city. Over thirty years ago, on a clock that idea anniversary of Thang Long thousand years old is still far too many people. countdown at the top of Dinh Tien Hoang Street . Now

Ringtone first heard 12 am 02 Sep 1978, Gold star legal exposure bright pink... tone of the song " Praise of President Ho Chi Minh" soon become an indispensable voice in key found on the people living around Hoan Kiem lake. Now the city to grow, easy to see now everywhere, and people with clock bell from time to time. But those who stick with Hanoi still can not unconsciously looked up at the clock on the roof pillars Post Office building when passing through Bo Ho.

Try sitting in front of the entrance houses a post office. 11 hours 45 minutes, drinking cups of tea awaited to hear the bell. 11 hours 59 minutes, the familiar bell do not see where. older woman  do not understand why old woman sell tea cups in three-step staircase daily to the post office said: "Two year do still ringing again." But Ms Yen - staff offices Hanoi Telecom 1 swear that people in the agency who is most clearly hear the bell: If the bell hit slower clock hours for a little sister is impatient to question the power immediately. The sound of clock hum in the hall, resound through the door slot each room ... Where to go to Hanoi but did not look at clock, despite uncertain times, they still amiss nothing.

The room that controlled large clock on the roof turned out quite simply, out of the way in the post office building. In less than 20m2, the most superficial things is the control panel clock. If the Post Office on the roof of the building has four clock faces, then in the control room had nearly a dozen different clock faces. People in the clock (now the Power of Hanoi Telephone Company 1), which reduced the number of troops over time, so only two people, is hard to climb the roof of the building Post Office visitation three times a day, as well as summer-winter, cold and hot.

Clock Tower on a sunny mild, windy outside overlooking the green Hoan Kiem lake, which closed within six surface trap, standing for a while was wet sweating. The hot day in Hanoi on 40 degrees, then the tower is indeed a "steam room" as he jokingly calls. Beneath the other way, is so noisy, but on this, distant 10 meters, a bee was enough ear ringing. So know  the noise has a strong line sweep away the holy sound of the time ...

Ms Le Thi Yen - the first acquisition, care and operation of a system is more when she is asleep, she thought as still hear every 30 seconds of clock time mother. The only sounds familiar to you in the night duty in the control room. "Back then all the six drivers who are women. All broken, damaged or old we are tinkering repair. By foot diameter clock face both parents in the control room also find my own material, grinding and renewal ... ".

Mr Van Kieu Van, one of the generation who replaced MsYen, more than 10 years of direct operations, said: "There are times when suddenly lose power or some day sprint as in flower festival then we just have to adjust the clock. " Problems with newly loaded battery, clock run fast with joyful atmosphere to celebrate 1000 anniversary of Thang Long is going on underneath make ms Van and his group run hurry on 7 floor repairs. Fortunately, the dark, digital lights are off all, this is certainly not the flower festival takes place with the fastest speed seen in history: an hours equivalent six-hour normal... by him not in the family's Eve, but on duty at the post office to make direct Ringer's Eve, as well as mistakes to avoid it.

If one day we replace this clock with a modern digital watch? He told that only wanted to repair, renovate the controls so that the modern, more secure. But the magnificent picture, the familiar clock face with four needles squares, bold, he would never want to change. And although modern ahead, people may not be on duty, he can not respond even to think of machines, he will remember much because it is the his job !

The music was slow clock, I've heard is through ...the first a documentary disc of Ms Yen. When alive, her husband is often open for her children see, like a pride of the family. An Mr Van, remember the his children show their friends are a father working day in the Ha Noi clock, he smile ...

Clock Tower of Hanoi Post Office 20m2 each face width, 1.35 m long hour hand, minute hand 1.65 m. New speaker system consists of eight units, capacity is limited to 240W. Clock type music in 6 hours - 12 hours - 18 hours and ringer from 6 to 22 hours daily.

The system Hanoi Post clock with 250 is attached small clock, now only clock on the roof of post office operations.

1000 years of Thang Long. Knowing many things sticking Hanoi speak. As Dragon bridge tell story, Hoan Kiem lake is alive with flower festival ... But Hanoi clock still quiet stick second, reminds us every second,every minutes ...

Dam village - Where save traditional soul of Thang Long - Hanoi ancient

Located at the center of Hanoi capital less than 20km, is an ancient village has undergone thousands of years but people here are still many cultural identities of people bearing the ancient Thang Long. That Dam village, Tay Tuu commune, Tu Liem district, Hanoi.

Different pace so busy, bustling town of Cau Dien, Nhon ... Dam village about 2km away from, not lived here very slowly as quiet time to hook the return of thousands of years ago. Right next to the Tay Tuu people'scommittee is "a combination of cultural village" includes banian trees, water wells, ground temple and tile home runs halt stock market is preserved for hundreds of years under the cool green tree .

Hundreds of years the ancient character of the Dam village

Tay Tuu with ancient name is Dam . Dam communal house  (also known as Trung communal house) by Ms. Nguyen Thi Tinh -  a woman of Dam village was the wife of King Le The Tong (1573-1599) engaged good engage in the capital city of Thang Long to construct.

Like the other communal house, Dam communal house is suspected after curtain, Ta Vu, Huu Vu, Dai Dinh, harem. In addition, communal house is the marketplace, the fair took place on days 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 29 lunar months. This special family has Chinh Ngu high 6.8 m, width of each surface 6.9 m is located in the center, just before the middle room of the Dai Dinh.

This is the executive head of the cultural activities of the village. From here the public policy decisions of the council under the former regime and of village elder today are concretize to command the villagers people.

Chinh Ngu only a square space with the 4 roof. The four main pillars of this house are connected together by four Xa Go trees and four Keo trees make the first roof. Lower down are 4 other Xa Go tree out to put on 12 brick pillar creating the second roof.

The space between two roofs are decorated with wooden money box. Pyramidal roof top of the phoenix-shaped four bunched together form a lotus. Remaining octagonal roof and dragon and unicorn. Outer pair of columns 8 pair and 16 parallel sentences for the word "Tho" (meaning:to live to a great age). Four aspects of the royal house has three step staircase and four pair lions flanking two the entrance .

Communal house of Dam village worship Dao Truong, also known as Phuc Than Bach Hac Tan Giang, who has managed to evict invaders Hung Due Vuong. When is the enemy to invade the Van Lang country, King Hung recall Dao Truong meeting the plan fight enemy. He said that: " Welcome waterway that fighting." The king listened and delivered to Dao Truong command naval forces, had just fought a battle crushed invaders. After victory, he was assigned the to keep Bach Hac (meaning White Crane) citadel.

Dao Truong commander Van Lang defeated a second invasion of the enemy and fought off the northern rebellion in Hong Chau. On the way Hong Chau return, he was assigned command of the army for young brother is Thach Khanh then go to the small river to Ton That and incarnation here. In North of Vietnam have 172 villages established the Temple worship Dao Truong. Every year, Dam village open swimming competition from 9 to 11 March of the lunar calendar to commemorate the heroes of the population with country. The Dam swimming again express train and attacked by Dao Truong of general.

Every five years, from 9 to 11 March lunar calendar, people of Tay Tuu village, Tu Liem suburb of Hanoi are witnessing a unique festival of ancient Thang Long thousand generations been handed down from now. That boat racing festival that people often known Dam boat racing. Local people still keep song: Dam boat racing, Gia procession, festival of Thay pagoda to tell me about the level of attraction of the festival Dam boat racing.

Currently, in the village of Tay Tuu preserved many historical relics and cultural traditions as Dam communal house, Dai Dinh, Chinh Ngu, Vu Ca  house, Nghi Mon, Thuy Dinh, Boat House, temple of Thuong village...

In particular, the emphasis of this legacy is the village of Tay Tuu festival is held every 5 years from 9 to 11 March lunar.

One of my foreign friends to visit the village once exclaimed Dam: really can not believe the capital of Hanoi with the works being built in a hurry there is a quiet space like that. Under the soaring curved roof house carved dragon phoenix, last hours of his clatter to 75 years old barber quietly listening to dispel the air of silence. Your customers are familiar in the villages. Spare time, he was known for manic guitar walk the romantic couple romantic dance. The grawing sound of guitar follow smoke clung to the ancient gate where old woman wrapped the kerchief  picked vegetables before sunset.

Dam gated village is far larger eye view of the vast vegetable fields, flower fields of class size and the most famous of Ha Noi now. The Dam village girl loving at first glance hand harvested flowers every afternoon.

A day passed quietly, welcome back yard cult pupils plastic soccer barefoot, beside a middle level exercise with a bit familiar baseball.

Hang Bo street - the traditional bamboo basket street in Hanoi

In connecting Hang Bac to the intersection of Hang Thiec Hang- Thuoc Bac - Bat Dan is Hang Bo street long 270m, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. French colonial period, Hang Bo, called Rue de Paniers, after the revolution called Hang Bo became the official name today.

Hang Bo street east is the street connected Dong Thanh with the old dike top of  Hang Ngang and Hang Dao street of rural Xuan Yen land. Clips west with Hang Dieu - Thuoc Bac is village's lands Interior, the Tong Thuan My, Tho Xuong district of old.

Selection of eastern street formerly known as Hang Dep, houses in streets small and narrow, sandals sell hanging on the wall that lists all types of wood furniture, paint wood ... also received many contributions and sell all kinds of leather shoes, leather furniture used to serve customers. West street section focuses more big shop.

Unlike the street around which many overseas Chinese people lived from the early as Thuoc Bac street, Hang Bo is inhabited by many wealthy Vietnamese generation family. Later, crowded malls, there are more Chinese people descent Thieu Chau, Phuc Kien province to buy houses, malls and open trade in many goods such as rice, sugar, flour, canned goods grocery, Giang Tay pot and dish ...

As the name suggests, Hang Bo before more families living by weaving and selling instruments made of bamboo as many type bamboo basket ... Every year on the occasion of New Year to all, crowded street both buyers and sellers, big basket, small basket is full heap on the street, the people of the provinces of Hanoi store selling goods transported around the region.

Also on that occasion, the old scholar from the gathering  Hang Bo, spreading ink, scarlet paper, writing letters sold to buyers on wall in Tet. Many on the street walls, complete parallel sentences suspended blazing red, flutter flying .

Hang Bo is Hanoi Painting of Tet. New Year paintings on display here varied enough categories, from folk of Dong Ho paintings, Hang Trong woodcut print on Do paper was that twinkle pigment, green pigment to the multi-colored picture printed on glossy paper, large format taken from Hong Kong to Shanghai. Subject always rich in paintings, scenes from daily life such as swirling yang pigs, mouse wedding, Tam Da picture: Phuc-Loc-Tho ... to the Tay Du Ki picture, Chinese girls ...

Hang Bo street is a house has witnessed many historic events, such as house number 51. Here, on 06 Jan 1947, Zone 1 Regiment, later renamed the Capital Regiment launched.

Capital Regiment was uniform from the military forces of the United Nations Protection Zone as a group, the self-defence, Police volunteers ... Besides, it also has the headquarters of the Central Workers' National Salvation is both Bac Ky office of the Party Committee and concurrently as a commissioned work by Viet Minh.

House No. 51 Hang Bo Street is also a Vietnam printing company directly under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in newspapers. Now this place turned into the headquarters of the Golden Heart Fund Report of Labour, is one of the yellow address to receive the contributions of generous hearts empathy, sharing, support for the fate difficulty social.

Over the vicissitudes of history, Hang Bo no longer see what appears to knit bamboo basket and sell bamboo basket like old time. Both streets only some house remains former products, which has since Hang Bo ago, it was votive paper and incense.

Hang Bo incense famous from the past with incense-coil, compression incense, frankincense, white candle, red candles, packing, put out, all sizes and types of floor material layer, layer on layer stores. Hang Bo incense is compressed as the tiny toothpick, there are up to 2m like the flat winnowing basket can do burn few New Year's day.

incense-coil

Incense makers here often hereditary. They have workshops, hiring, directing you not only serve the needs of people in the country but also export to the difficult markets like Japan South Korea ...

Hang Bo has changed a lot, found the business on a wider variety of ancient cities. Do not know ever since, Hang Bo Street is considered a familiar address for every computer in the street and those who love fashion.

There is a unique item is sold, it is the garment accessories. A simple extension from small, pretty button hole, fully made materials (wood, pearl, plastic, copper ...) to a numerous rivets, press buttons, small pretty flowers, the sparkling beads or the graceful ribbon, silk yarn, red green fasteners, zippers and embroidered with thousands of samples can be found on the street.

Goods on display from the home, flooding the streets. Both the Hang Bo street adjacent first row who always crowded out the sale, completely wrapped choices like the items.

People who like dragging at late night to find Hang Bo, because this is a specialize in bake cuttle-fish at night. Along the streets sometimes come across a few shops with plastic chairs, flickering flame in charcoal brazier, the light bulb was pulled from lane to the streets flash winnowing basket only a few gold fish, some dried cuttle-fish.

Guests eat mostly young men drink some beer together, listen to the quiet atmosphere of the night in Hanoi. 

Palm leaf conical hat of Chuong village- The beauty of traditional nation

"Want to eat white with catfish
Want good hats to the Chuong village"

The center of Hanoi about 40 km west of the Chuong village (Thanh Oai district, Hanoi) from hundreds of years was famous for palm leaf conical hat. With 2,400 households in here, this job is not rich but enough to live suitable with the poor rural, less plowing and transplanting.

 Vietnamese girl with white orient robe and palm leaf conical hat

Long-lasting images slender woman in oriental robe and a palm leaf conical hat or loving in the four panel traditional dress with flat palm with fringes  was bold in the mind of Vietnamese people. The palm leaf conical hat follow Vietnamese women in all the ways,  working on the hot field  and today on the brilliant catwalk. Palm leaf conical hat of Chuong village beautiful design, durable back, how was the souvenirs of girls stepped up to carriage decorated with flowers follow husband.

Ancient hat of Chuong village was a gift carried the queen, the princess by own beauty, were made by hand so talented, skillful artisans of the village. Today, hat of the Chuong village are everywhere, both inside and outside the country.

An average day, Chuong village is make 7000  palm leaf conical hats, bring consumption out of the province. In addition, the village bell hats were exported to China, Japan and European countries.

However, compared with other villages, people of Chuong village are still poor. Raw materials must be imported from the leaves extinct Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, because the village was not planted. Price caps cheap travel products, from 3000 to 7000 e / unit, a family should do, only an average household income is only 10,000 to 15,000 VND per day.

A conner of Chuong village

Bring-glare white hat with stitching clever and certainly on hand, few know that, to make it very very meticulous. First is the choice of leaves. Leaves were purchased to crush up of sand then dry two, three times sun until the leaves are green to white. Then, holding the rag, lined leaves, plow blades using rapid strokes that leaves flat, but not brittle, not crushed.

Round of hats are made small bark of bamboo and erasing. When connected, the compulsory round of hats should round not be conjoined ripple marks. Unlike the normal hats are usually  up to 20 round layers, hat of Chuong village has 16 classes  help ensure durable hat but still soft.

Next, workers ranked within each leaf into a hat, a sheath of bamboo and a layer of species of bamboo then stitching. Sewing is a very difficult stage, because the leaves are easily torn, so only the skilled hands, there are new experiences. Hand held metal workers quickly at the first glance, smooth, straight stitches each both from within and outside.

The hat take shape, the artisans dry the hat over sulphur gas make color of hats become white and hats are not mouldy.

Formerly, the Chuong village produce many palm leaf conical hats, used for many classes of people such as flat palm hats with fringes for girls, Nho hats, feather hats, soldier's conical hat, metal stopped conical hat for the boys and the men of luxury. But from 1940 until now, the Chuong village artisans made only a single type of hat.

Mr. Cat Hai, an artist now than 80 years old, who has deserved bring Xuan Kieu hats, also Ba Don hats to  the village production replace ancient hats types.

Currently, the village only two artists made ancient hats. It was Mr Tuy Le Van making metal topped hat and Tran Van Canh make flat palm hat with fringes.

Making flat palm hat with fringes more complex as normal hat, but not commonly used. Therefore, the hosiery was poor, making flat palm hat with fringes get poorer. But with the intention of "Keeping a traditional produce no loss in the present life and to keep the children know it". Tran Van Canh artists have decided to find out and keep doing traditional flat palm hat with fringes of village. Seventy four year-old, who lost a leg in the war, but his hands still nimble, agile. His products are exported to the orders of a member of the ensemble provinces. Fat palm hat with fringes of his have been displayed at exhibitions at home and abroad.

Collect material for making  hat

Market of Chuong village meeting in a month 6 main session, on days 4, 10, 14, 20, 24 and 30. The fair is only sold only hat. Hats are classified into long-husband, glare white. This job suitable for women and they  are also major consumers. Therefore, the fair attracted a large number of village women and girls to come. Go to market of Chuong village in the early days of the year, see all the special identity of a traditional village, said that the new color white hat has become a close friendship with the people. The white hats have everywhere, mixed pink face of rural women, with laughter, voice, thrill invitation. Although still poor, but many families that had adopted only two hats, three children, who pass college courses. "I'm proud of the traditional craft villages, but hope that the village was more concerned for those who make life as our hats down hard." An artist for over 40 years with career, was revealed as such.

 Flat palm hat with fringes in Quan ho fork song

Inside the slope of dyke dry very white leaves, hand bell villagers, from children are 7- 8 years old until old man and woman are 70- 80 year old still maintain the beauty of each day for a traditional craft, keeping a simple beauty of a woman Vietnam, contributed more pride for our international friends.