Top 10 Best Books about Hanoi

One of the must-read books when exploring Hanoi. Hanoi's 36 Streets and Guilds encapsulates the beauty of this land in just 70 pages, yet it perfectly captures the essence and sophistication of Hanoi, a feat few works can achieve. The poetic and luminous prose will evoke the deepest emotions in the reader. Thach Lam has succeeded in leaving a mark on Hanoi's six streets and guilds, and even after half a century, it still holds a special place when discussing books about Hanoi.

Hanoi holds a magnetic charm for those from afar... In the caves of remote villages or the deep corners of the forest, there are still many people waiting for the evening glow, looking towards a direction to catch the light of Hanoi shining through the clouds. For those with grand aspirations and for those in Hanoi, we encourage a deeper love for Hanoi, embracing all its unique aspects, making every change in the thirty-six streets and guilds resonate everywhere.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Hanoi-36-Streets-and-Guilds-(Thach-Lam)-(TB)-i.78562968.4818095602?

People often hear the title and assume that this book is about Hanoi's cuisine, but if that's all, you're mistaken. The book was written in the context of the author being in the 17th parallel when the country was divided into North and South. It reminisces about the most delicious and distinctive dishes of the capital city, reflecting on the author's married life, the dishes made by his wife, the regular occasions they enjoyed these meals, and the unique seasons of Hanoi.

Reading the entire book is an experience both interesting and poignant, as the flavors seem to seep through the walls of the sentences, presenting vivid images of Culinary Delights of Hanoi right before your eyes. Rarely will you have the opportunity to read a book so rich in images and tastes.

Link to buy: https://tiki.vn/mieng-ngon-ha-noi-viet-nam-danh-tac-p77225336.html?

Surely each of us carries memories and affection for the two cities, Hanoi or Saigon, whether it is our ancestral land or not. That land is not only the lifeblood, the cultural foundation of the country, but also the place that welcomes and embraces many layers of people, nurturing countless aspirations, dreams, and embracing all the joys and sorrows of humanity.

Remembering Hanoi, Loving Saigon is a collection of essays consisting of two main parts, writing about the longing for Hanoi, the love for Saigon, aiming to preserve emotional stories with the two cities. It is a Hanoi with a thousand years of civilization, always trying to preserve its historical values but still open to embracing new ways of life and the modern era. It is a modern Saigon, open-minded, always ready to exchange love for love despite going through many silences. In addition, the collection also reflects the spirit, atmosphere, and lifestyle of young people searching for dreams, love, meaning of life, and their true selves in the heart of each city.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/-Mã-LIFEMC17M1-10-đơn-150k-Sách-Nhớ-Hà-Nội-Thương-Sài-Gòn-i.45194730.15439805201?

Surely, the name Chu Lai is no longer unfamiliar to those who love literature. He has a unique way of writing, very much Chu Lai's own. Reading Street - Chu Lai, a novel written in 1992, clearly reveals his writing style - fierce, sophisticated, with many aftertastes. Street depicts the lives of Hanoi people in the early stages of renovation against the backdrop of the military street (Ly Nam De Street). The story revolves around the couple Nam, Thao, and their daughter named Nien Thao. Nam is a military officer with combat skills beyond the front lines, both gentle and diligent. Thao, his wife, is the daughter of a high-ranking general with a gentle and classical beauty. Between them, there was a deeply military love story on the battlefield, seemingly fulfilled with a wedding, a warm family, and a little daughter. However, the worries about daily life, food, and clothing were a constant concern for young families like them at that time. The 'renovation' did not bring 'new' things to the lives of the people in the capital, and Thao chose 'labor export' as a way out for the whole family. However, beyond sight, the major events and the new, modern things in the foreign land pulled Thao away from the sincere but lacking in sophistication love of Nam.

The sad and poignant ending, characteristic of Chu Lai's writing style, portrayed the vivid image with deep psychological depth of the people of Hanoi in the transitional period, the conflicts between love and money, old and new.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Sách-văn-học-Phố-(Chu-Lai)-i.16279140.7434873546?

'People from Hanoi are inherently romantic yet full of courage and charisma. A talented student-soldier with a violin, a 'noble' musical instrument, entering the life-and-death struggle of the nation, with a heart passionately in love and filled with ideals. A renowned musician still retains the 'Hanoian' spirit in the 'painting and poetry contest,' attaching himself to the nation through uplifting, patriotic songs that resonate in the hearts of the people during the struggle to protect the sovereignty, independence, and freedom of the country.'

Tales of Hanoi People are fragments of colorful memories, nostalgic reflections on a glorious and heroic Hanoi during wartime, the unextinguished flame of love from those living far away, and the hope for a bright future from those who remain. All emanate from simple, sincere love for Hanoi, an eternal love...

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Tales-of-Hanoi-People-(*)-i.73650629.9111935582?

This book is a collection of articles about the simple things in Hanoi. It delves into the streets, echoes of the past, and the old corners of Hanoi. Every street, every corner, and every location in Hanoi carries within it historical stories and folk tales. Uong Trieu has diligently researched to bring these stories into the book, aiming to provide young readers with a glimpse of Hanoi after each name. Part 2, after the book Hanoi – Quan Xa, Pho Phuong, was released in 2018.

Uong Trieu is not a 'native son' of Hanoi; he first came to Hanoi at the age of twenty, spent five years in the capital during university, moved away for ten years, and then returned. Nevertheless, this has fueled Uong Trieu's 'love from an outsider's perspective,' as he describes it himself. Hanoi, for him, is somewhat bewildering, unfamiliar, sometimes fascinating, and at other times, frustratingly hot and noisy.

“For these very reasons, please don't expect too much from me. I am not a historian of Hanoi, nor am I an expert in geography or cuisine... I know many others excel in those fields more than I do. I look at Hanoi from both afar and near. Distant because of my observational style, and close because I have lived with Hanoi, breathed, eaten, and played with it. Hanoi still holds a captivating allure for me, even though I immerse myself in its streets every day. My writings evoke a sense of nostalgia, a bit of empathy, a realm of memories, a strip of connection with modern life.”

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Hanoi-Echoes-of-the-Past-Old-Streets-i.44665496.7537658013?

In Hanoi, tea stalls and beer joints serve as an extension of communal spaces. These places embody the spirit of the saying, 'Northerners have their own logic,' as those who enjoy beer and sip tea without getting drunk often win in debates. The suppressed desires, the 'Great Ideas yet to reach the table,' find an outlet here, but not to the extent of heavy liquors like whiskey or brandy. They are gentle, harmonizing with the light snacks.

Nguyen Truong Quy has long established himself as the writer of Hanoi, passionately documenting the remnants of the past in both material life and the spiritual world. These notes weave through narrow alleys that seem lost but ultimately lead to a broad picture of Hanoi, not only in spatial dimensions but also through time. 'Hanoi - The Unusual Ordinary,' along with many other books by Nguyen Truong Quy, contributes to defining Hanoi, preserving its values, ensuring that even as it modernizes, Hanoi remains a city with its unique essence.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Hanoi-The-Unusual-Ordinary-(Soft-Cover)-(Nha-Nam)-i.404602141.7384938478?

The fragments of Hanoi's streets are depicted through short reflective essays with a lively narrative style, sometimes bitter, sometimes humorous, leaving readers with many reflections on the past and present. These stories evoke various periods of a city with demographic changes, diverse lifestyles, and the interweaving of tradition and modernity, providing a comprehensive view of the Hanoi we live in.

Readers will easily sense a bit of nostalgia for a bygone Hanoi with rows of trees, peaceful streets, and charming old houses that are no longer present. In their place is a bustling scene, a life more materialistically abundant but significantly poorer in spirit. The book captures the elegant activities, foods, and utensils of a once refined Hanoi.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Sitting-Under-the-Loquat-Tree-with-Hanoi-(Đỗ-Phấn)-i.81869227.12396832649?

Love Hanoi, Admire Saigon is an emotionally charged title, and the entire book is the nuanced perception of a female journalist with a deep, humane perspective on life, values, culture, society, and the economy in Hanoi and Saigon. Memories and reflections on these two cities are filtered through an objective and open-minded lens, creating a vibrant tapestry of their images. Throughout the book, there is also a portrayal of the country through these two cities. The book is a diary of life, from cultural beauties to graceful interactions, from the aspirations of the people to macro-cultural and economic issues. Above all and within all is a sensitive soul, a sharp intellect, very traditional yet very modern.

This is a book written by a 'migrant,' living in youth in Hanoi and maturing in Saigon. Moving between these contrasting urban spaces is a profound and delicate soul. In other words, this is a book about an urban soul's sensitivity. The author's evaluation is very commendable and resonates with many other 'urban souls,' many people from Saigon, people from Hanoi, those who come to Saigon, and those who come to Hanoi. For those studying or writing about urban areas, this is a must-read book.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Love-Hanoi-Admire-Saigon-(Reprint-2019)-i.44665496.2489705977?

The latest collection of essays by Đỗ Phấn continues the endless theme of Hanoi. Alongside the author, the painter and writer Đỗ Phấn, with titles like Lakeside Strolls, A Bygone Era of Hanoi, Contemplating the Streets, and Sitting and Chatting with Hanoi.

Đỗ Phấn's essays are a personal exploration of his own memories. Precise and meticulous, yet not burdened by rescue. Using a storytelling tone that is both slow and characteristic, the author calmly conveys a hint of nostalgia for days gone by. Memories here are always intertwined with obsessions, daily thoughts saturated with the essence of Hanoi. Like the specks of dust from the street lingering on one's clothes, it's a light and fleeting memory amidst the heaviness of changing times, a refined memory of the present and for the present. Not joyful. Not sad either. Just a gentle longing.

Link to buy: shopee.vn/Book-Hanoi-Dust-on-the-Shoulders-NXB-Tre-i.171969282.13921892294?