The Vanity Belt of the Market

Nowadays, when seeing the To Lich River, few people know that along this river used to be the land of the richest craft villages. As one of the tributaries of the Red River embracing Thang Long - Ke Cho, this place has become a part of the silk belt and of the cultural and customary life that makes up the soul of the capital.

Thang Long – Hanoi, since ancient times, was popularly known as Ke Cho, and was the largest commercial center of the country for many centuries. The soul of the old quarter – “36 streets” – was established from the guilds of craftsmen or merchants originating from the villages surrounding Ke Cho.

In that accumulation, the craft villages along the To Lich, Nhue, Day and Chau Giang rivers are not only the fences of "thousand-year-long-lasting armor" as a song praises, but also the pockets of prosperity when making handicrafts, jewelry, silk, hats, and dishes for Ke Cho.

The craft villages closest to the ancient capital were first of all connected by the needs of the dynasties as well as the food and clothing of the citizens. Therefore, along the To Lich River is the land of the oldest craft villages. These villages were also considered the richest in the North in the past.

Recently, with the news that To Lich River will be renovated, many Hanoians also expect that the historic river will return to become a dreamy silk strip in the middle of the thousand-year-old city.

Heritage Magazine