Pho co
The old quarter of Hanoi, and whether it is the right base for your group.
Pho co means old quarter. In Hanoi, it names the dense web of narrow lanes near Hoan Kiem Lake, where each street once traded in one kind of goods. Today it is the busiest and most walkable base for first-time visitors.
How will you meet it on the trip?
You will see the phrase on maps, in hotel names and on food walks. Lanes are narrow, scooters share the pavement and cafes spill onto the street. It is full of life, and it is loud.
Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street was built between 1885 and 1890 and holds about 200 people1. Confirm prayer times with the mosque.
What is the tip for choosing a stay?
Ask for a room away from the street if you sleep lightly. Check the stairs, whether there is a lift and the walk from the taxi drop-off. A short stroll to a cho (market) or a quiet chua (pagoda) gives a calmer start to the day.
The route chooser helps you decide whether to begin in Hanoi at all.
Which related terms will you see?
- Chua: a Buddhist pagoda, often tucked in a quiet lane.
- Cho: a market, where locals buy daily food.
- Homestay: a family-run alternative outside the city centre.
Browse Food and daily travel or read about a homestay.
If you are choosing where to stay in Hanoi, tell us who is travelling and what matters most, and we can help you weigh the old quarter against calmer areas.
Common questions
What does pho co mean?
It means old quarter or old street. In Hanoi it names the dense lanes near Hoan Kiem Lake where trades once clustered, one lane per kind of goods. You will see the phrase on maps, in hotel listings and on food tour pages.
Is the old quarter good for older parents?
It is walkable, but pavements are crowded, traffic runs close and some hotels have steep narrow stairs. Ask for a ground-floor room or a lift, and plan quiet breaks. Elders enjoy it more in short, slow walks than in a full day.
Is it a good base for Muslim travellers?
It has an advantage: Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street sits in the old quarter. Meals still need checking, and no stall should be assumed halal. Ask what is in the food and look for a displayed certificate and its issuer.
Sources
- Al-Noor Mosque on Hang Luoc Street, Hanoi, was built between 1885 and 1890 with contributions from the local Indian community and holds about 200 people. Wikipedia. Described as the only mosque in Hanoi; confirm prayer times with the mosque.
Keep planning
If you are choosing where to stay in Hanoi, tell us who is travelling and what matters most, and we can help you weigh the old quarter against calmer areas.