Visit HaNoi, visit the “Dong Xuan” market.

 Visit Hanoi, people usually speak to Dong xuan market. And every one comes to Hanoi, if they don’t visit Dong Xuan market, they only know a part of Hanoi, not understand about Hanoi.

Dong Xuan street belong to Hoan Kiem district( HaNoi), with the 168m length, in the southern-northern direction, next to Hang Giay street and assigne with  Hang Duong street. In the past, the even-numbered row is the land of Nhiem Trung village, the odd row is the land of Dong Xuan ward, belong to Tho Xuong district. In the middle XIX century, Nhiem Trung village mergr with Hoa Dan village to the Phuong Trung-new village.

Nowaday, Phuong Trung temple is 18 house number belong to Dong Xuan street, worships  Uy Phu Dai Vuong( unknown background). The name of Dong Xuan has knowned after the August revoltion in 1945.

In the past, people called Hang Gao street because of at that time, the grass which built Dong Xuan market, were the place farmers carry rice to retail for street-ward people( bean, corn, sweet potato, cassava were sold in Hang Dau, Hang Khoai. After the Agust revolution in 1945, this street was renamed “ Dong Xuan street”.

Dong Xuan street is quite short but it has the favorable trade position. In the past, it was a part of Dong Xuan market, stores sold the dry food to cook, some houses made and sold incense ( No 14 Tan My), pipe tobacco( No 16 Giang Ky and No 24 Xuan Huong), the number of houses sold roast, an agency for Yen Phu tobacco factory… Especially, in 1937-1939, No 26 was the book store” Dong Xuan Thu Quan” sold public books of Dong Duong communist party.

Dong Xuan street besides Hang Duong( the even numbers) had many stores sell jam sugar, made the national tradition sweet cakes( xu xe, manh cong cake, gac cake, com cake), oan, khao cake, the breeding animals made from powder, some stores cut paper sell for whom specialize in workship, decorated altar.

The even number where bodering with Hang Ma street had many retailers with stores quite big, some houses were built adjacent: Huong Linh( No 80 wholesale fibers), Toan Thinh( No 84 made shoes), Dong My( No 86 producted candy), Pharmacie Tin. Dong Xuan street had some stores of Hoa Hieu, Ha Cu Mon made false teeth, Luong Ly sold food, canned food, foreign wine.

The houses at Dong Xuan street were made anciently, old shape, narrow width. Nowaday, this street specialize in selling clothes, blankets full style for adults and childrens. Stores sold food were replaced by the house did” oan”  to worship and a house sold the most famous incense at No 26- Dong Xuan street.

Dong Xuan market- Thang Long cultural traces.

Dong Xuan’s street appear firstly, had long-history associated with the formation and trade development of Thang Long land. It is not only trade point, the biggest wholesale in Hanoi but also it had the spirit- cultural value reflect daily life of the Hanoi’s people. 

  Dong Xuan market occupied more than half the odd street. It was merged with two old market of Thang Long: Bach Ma and Cau Dong market. The top market beside Bach Ma temple (today it is No 76 Hang Buom’s street). The below market beside Cau Dong pagoda (today it is No 38B Hang Duong street). Both of them lies in side of To’s river

French colonial, after occupying Hanoi, in 1989, filled the To Lich river, opened the new street. They pushed Bach Ma and Cau Dong markets to empty land besided Dong Xuan temple.

Firstly, they fenced land by bamboo, forced people must gather the market in fence. Everyone had goods bring to the market sell must pay tax in front of the gate. Gradually, the market became crowded so they expand the area, built 5 the market bridge by the iron frame, every bridges had some types of goods, with a length of 52m, 19m elevation, the zinc roof. The new market was inaugurated in the 1890; to the 1920, the market was built, wider and more beautiful

In 1988, the market downgraded, rebuilted to 3 floors. In the July-14, 1994, the market was burned, must rebuilted all, to the 1996, the market completed, only keeped 3 doors, the door lied in the south opened the entrance Cau Dong street, the door lied in the north was replaced by reliefs describe the struggle protected Hanoi in the 1947.  

Nowadays, Dong Xuan market still promotes the traditional by developing the trade connect to preserve the culture and exploit tourism, it is a model of the trade civilization.

Dong Xuan market- The fortress stockade against Frech colonialist.

In the first days of national resistance 1946, Dong Xuan street was the fence defensively in the northwest of I interregional and became the point of fierce battle. From the night December 19, 1946 to the first February,1947, The Frech colonialist attacked a lot but they failed.

In February,14, 1947, the enemy concentrated large forces to attack Dong Xuan” Market fortress”, after the bomber, 400 Frech soliders with all of the modern weapon had the tank support started come on the Dong Xuan street.

Our people occupied Dong Xuan market with 19 fighters, weapon not at all in addition to the knives, swords, rifles, only the tieu lien was the modernest. In 1 day, 19 fighters had beated out the enemy’s raiding several wawes.

The battle in the February, 14,197 at Dong Xuan market was considered as the hero traditional of Hanoi captital. 60 night-day fire smoke, Dong Xuan citizen fought heroically, contriubuted to the struggle of our nation againsted the Frech colonialist to successful.

In 2005, HaNoi celebrates 995 Thang Long- Hanoi, the city has contributed to relief” The Hanoi of winter-1946”besides Dong Xuan market to keep in mind the fighters sacrificed in the battle to protect the capital.

Until 2003, the night market” Dong Xuan” has formed, it has diversified operations of market, serve the needs shopping, entertainment of tourists. The night market”Dong Xuan” connects to Hang Dao- Dong Xuan pedestrian street, has formed the night market chain extending from Hoan Kiem lake to Dong Xuan market, attracts people of Hanoi and tourists to visit and shopping.