Hàng Mã Street is the center of Hanoi Old Quarter, specializing in votive, paper crafts and home decorations. “Mã” refers to the paper replicas of items that you’ll see people burning to send to those in the afterlife, such as money and household items.
(source: Facebook Yêu Hà Nội)
Hàng Mã would be really busy from August, which is July in the lunar calendar, preparing for lots of ritual days such as Mid-Autumn Festival preceding our traditional Lunar New year. Since 1986 so far, there has been a decrease in the number of families running this business, partly due to the government’s policies against superstitions but also because of competitive Chinese goods. They, instead of making goods on their own, hire premises in the suburb and craftsmen there to produce goods as ordered.
(source: Facebook Yêu Hà Nội)
Hàng Mã is the place to go around festival times as it sells whatever is relevant to that season: at the moment it is the place to go for Halloween masks and polystyrene pumpkins – in limited supply — but before we know it it will be full of Christmas trees, Santa hats and decorations. Especially, each spring festival came about, it is always filled with a red and gold shimmering characteristic of the Lunar New Year. The envelopes (to give lucky money), red couplets, lanterns, decorative paper, paper caps … and all other decorations in the New Year are here. Hàng Mã Street is also one of the ideal places photographed for Festivals of many youngsters.
(source: Facebook Yêu Hà Nội)
To enjoy the atmosphere to its fullest, just visit Hàng Mã on the above occasions when stores are open all day until midnight. If you do not find the overcrowded streets a good idea, however, come by at any time, but before 7 to 8 pm to make sure that the close side of the board has not been switched on.
Suppose you are wondering how to get to this lovely destination, here is the probably easiest and most familiar route for you. Just follow Đinh Tiên Hoàng St. until you meet Hàng Ngang – Hàng Đào St.(which faces the fountain at the end of the walking street curving around Sword lake); be patient and keep walking ahead before taking the forth on the left. Well done, now welcome to one of our busiest ancient streets.
