Within the framework of the 11th Hanoi Book Fair – 2026, on October 4th, Nha Nam Culture and Communication Joint Stock Company, in collaboration with the Hanoi Urban Sketchers group, launched the book "The Flavors of Hanoi's Old Quarter".
Like the Hanoi Urban Sketching group's previous books, "Old Hanoi Apartment Buildings - Sketches and Memories," "Hanoi Old Quarter - Sketches and Memories," and "Impressions of Hanoi through Sketches of French-era Buildings," the latest book, "The Flavors of Hanoi Old Quarter," comprises sketches and articles by people who deeply love Hanoi.
Regarding the book's theme, architect Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, founding member and director of the Hanoi Urban Sketching group and co-editor, shared that Hanoi is not only represented by moss-covered tiled roofs, winding alleyways, or windows opening to the autumn... Hanoi is also cherished in simple treats, in the quiet street vendors, and in the slow, meandering cries of nighttime hawkers echoing throughout the "thirty-six streets and alleys".
Sharing the same viewpoint, architect Pham Vu Thuong Nhung, co-editor of the book, expressed that the group chose the theme of cuisine because it is the closest gateway to entering living heritage, a special link that can connect space with the streets and life. It represents folk knowledge, livelihoods, and social relationships.
“Behind a dish lies not only the recipe, but also the season, the source of ingredients, the family kitchen, and the image of Hanoi women who have gone through many elaborate ways to preserve the flavor of the dish. And especially, we also see many people who work in the profession, people who create the identity of the city,” architect Pham Vu Thuong Nhung remarked.
The work "Flavors of Hanoi's Old Quarter" comprises 150 sketches vividly recreating the flavors and colors of familiar street food, along with the food stalls in the 36 streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter, and nearly 30 articles recounting people's impressions and emotions about street food, originating from the ancient capital and remaining in the modern city today.
The book is divided into three parts: "The Delicacies of the Capital," "The Streets and the Keepers of Flavors," and "Meetings on the Sidewalk and the Lingering Taste of the City." Through vivid, emotionally rich sketches and pages filled with personal experiences, the book takes readers on a culinary journey to enjoy delicacies such as autumn sticky rice cakes and rice noodle salad; memorable dishes like Old Quarter porridge, Hanoi pate sandwiches, wonton noodles, pho, Old Quarter vermicelli with grilled pork, vermicelli soup, and fish cakes; and tells stories of the vendors and diners who have been connected, creating a distinctive atmosphere of the Old Quarter that leaves a lasting impression wherever one goes.
For the Hanoi Urban Sketching group, the work is a tribute to the unsung heroes who are diligently preserving the charm of the streets, and also a gift of love to Hanoi. “This is how our group of artists joins hands with the ‘street vendors,’ contributing to preserving the familiar and profound things that make up a part of the soul of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. We hope that as you turn each page, you will feel the aroma of the pho stall at the corner, the sound of scissors cutting beef salad in the night, or the lingering taste of Vong village sticky rice… And then suddenly feel a longing to return, to stay in Hanoi a little longer,” architect Tran Thi Thanh Thuy expressed.
“The Flavors of Hanoi's Old Quarter” also marks the 10th anniversary of the Hanoi Urban Sketching Group (2016-2026). Originating from the ideas of core architects, the Hanoi Urban Sketching Group has spread a simple method of heritage preservation: inviting people to sit down, observe, and sketch the streets.
Currently, the group's street sketching activities have attracted a large community – from children as young as 5 or 6 years old to retirees, from those who have never held a pen before to professional artists, from all walks of life. The Hanoi Urban Sketching Group has contributed to building a natural love for the city, helping each citizen to become more connected and proactive in preserving the beauty of their living space.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/luu-giu-huong-vi-ha-noi-qua-ky-hoa-va-tuy-but-1759515.html
