Hanoi's Old Quarter lies immediately north of Ho Hoan Kiem lake. It's better known locally as Bam Sau Pho Phuong or the 鈥楾hirty Six Streets'. 'Phuong' means a trade guild; and most of the streets begin with the word 'hang' meaning merchandise. This ancient section of the city has long been associated with commerce; and it remains very much so today.

???; Dong fa hu矛 - French Indochina (French: Indochine fran莽aise; Vietnamese: 脨么ng Duong thu?c Ph谩p; frequently abbreviated to 脨么ng Ph谩p) was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions; Tonkin (North); Annam (Central); and Cochinchina (South); as well as Cambodia; was formed in 1887. Laos was added in 1893 and Kouang-Tch茅ou-Wan in 1900.

The capital was moved from Saigon (in Cochinchina) to Hanoi (Tonkin) in 1902. During World War II; the colony was administered by Vichy France and was under Japanese occupation. Beginning in May 1941; the Viet Minh; a communist army led by Ho Chi Minh; began a revolt against French rule known as the First Indochina War. In 1954; after its defeat at Dien Bien Phu; France withdrew permanently from all parts of Indochina. Pictures From History