Discover Hanoi's Soul
Through the eyes of an Old Quarter Girl
Timeless streets. Living culture. Unforgettable experiences.
Xin chào, I am Suzy
I make films and guides about the Old Quarter in English, the quarter my family life runs through every day. No scripts written by a marketing team, no list copied from a guidebook: every street on this site is one I have walked, eaten on and checked with my own eyes.
When you are ready to walk with a guide, a licensed guide from Bao Son Travel leads the way and I design the route. I am training toward my own guiding card, and this site says so openly.
One city. Eight quarters. A thousand stories.
The Old Quarter is not one place but eight small worlds, told apart by what their streets make, sell and pray to. Start with the world that pulls you.
Hoan Kiem Lake and the Turtle Tower, the compass of the Old Quarter. Photo: HÀ NỘI CỦA CHÚNG TA, credited on the photo credits page.
Food & Drink
Come hungry. The quarter cooks from dawn to midnight, and every street keeps a speciality.
Bun cha, the Hanoi lunch
Grilled pork, herbs and a bowl of warm broth. The lunch half the city stops for, and how to order it like a regular.
Street food, safely
Plastic stools and the best seats in town. Which stalls Suzy trusts, what to try first, and the gentle rules that keep it fun.
Coffee, Hanoi style
Egg coffee, slow drips and hidden cafe staircases. The Old Quarter runs on coffee, and every street has its own ritual.
Three ways into the quarter
Slow down first. The Old Quarter rewards walkers, watchers and early risers.
Watch the train pass
Train Street runs through homes, not a theme park. How to see it respectfully, and what the barriers mean.
Walk a signature route
Suzy's own walks between guild streets, with the stories pinned to the corners where they happened.
Stand where history stood
Temples, the old gate and a prison turned museum. Heritage that is still part of daily life, not behind glass.
Walk it with a licensed guide
Routes designed by Suzy, led on the day by a licensed guide. Tours are sold and operated by Bao Son Travel. Prices are being confirmed with the operator, so each tour honestly says Not set yet until they are.
The 4 Tastings of the Old Quarter
Graze the east side with a licensed local guide: bia hoi corner, grill smoke, noodle steam and the dessert carts, at the pace of your appetite. Food stops are chosen for taste and honesty of price, and the route adjusts to your dietary needs.
Price: Not set yet
4 Guild Streets: Silk, Silver and Festival Crafts
Watch the guild streets work: silk measured on Hang Gai, silver weighed on Hang Bac, lantern colour on Hang Ma. A walk for people who love how things are made, with time to buy directly from the makers.
Price: Not set yet
The 4 Working Streets of the Old Quarter
The quarter tourists miss: herb shops of Lan Ong, tin and copper hammering, fabric and rattan. Slow, curious and uncrowded, this is the working Old Quarter of today.
Price: Not set yet
Films from the Old Quarter, every week
Suzy films the quarter she lives in: one long film a week and short street moments in between, all in English, all on the Old Quarter Girl channel.
Stories from the Old Quarter
Local stories. Hidden gems. Timeless charm, written after walking, never scraped.
Old Quarter Girl is live on YouTube and Facebook
Our channel has an address of its own now. Here is where to find Suzy, and what is coming first.
1 November 2026
Before you fly: our arrival guides are live
Visa, airport, emergency, eSIM and insurance: the five pages every first time visitor needs, checked on 1 November 2026.
1 November 2026
23 November is Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day
A good day to be in the Old Quarter: the national day that celebrates the heritage this neighbourhood is made of.
1 November 2026
Planning a trip to Hanoi?
Tell Suzy when you are coming and what you love. She replies herself, usually the same day, and never with a copy-paste sales script.