The Vanity Belt of the Market

Thang Long – Hanoi, popularly known as Ke Cho, has been the country’s largest commercial center for centuries. The soul of the old quarter – “36 streets” – was formed from guilds of craftsmen or merchants originating from the villages surrounding Ke Cho.

In that accumulation, the craft villages along the To Lich, Nhue, Day and Chau Giang rivers are not only the fences of "thousand-year-long lasting armor" as a song praises, but also the pockets of prosperity when making handicrafts, jewelry, silk, hats, and dishes for Ke Cho.

The craft villages closest to the ancient capital were first of all connected to the needs of the dynasties as well as the food and clothing of the citizens. Therefore, along the To Lich River is the land of the oldest craft villages. These villages were also considered the richest in the North in the past.

Recently, with the news that the To Lich River will be renovated, many Hanoians also expect the historic river to return to being a dreamy silk strip in the middle of the thousand-year-old city.

Heritage Magazine