Lose yourself in the winding streets of old Hanoi, revel in the colours of traditional fabrics, soak up the scents of Vietnamese cuisine...

The oldest and probably the most famous district of Hanoi, the Old Quarter, is a striking melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures, and is worth a visit at all times of day. It's also a great place to stay, offering the full range of accommodation options from cheap and cheerful backpacker hostels to top-end hotels. With all the markets, cafes, shops, performances and restaurants, you'll find it hard not to be captivated here.This area is the true Old Hanoi – the legendary hub of 36 streets which later expanded and grew to the sprawling modern-day city it has now become. Meandering through this district really takes you to the heart of Hanoi and gives you a sense of what it once was. Many of the streets are named after what has traditionally been sold there. The air is filled with the cries of hawkers as they amble about in cone-shaped hats with their wares balanced on baskets from their shoulders – and it is also filled with the scent of delicious food, which is well worth a try. You might also like to go for a drop of the local home-brewed tipple, Bia Hoi, for which Ta Hien street is known.The Old Quarter is home to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre which provides excellent opportunities to experience traditional Vietnamese performance art and some of the nation’s myths and legends. It is also just next to Lake Hoan Kiem, which has a beautiful temple and is also not without its legends. This is a good area to be looking for souvenirs: there is the Dong Xuan Market which has one or two souvenir stalls, and there are the weekend night markets which tend to have more on offer in terms of traditional crafts and potential gifts.The Old Quarter is located to the north of Lake Hoan Kiem, and can be reached by bus or taxi. Once there, it is small enough to walk around on foot.