Old Quarter ReviewThuốc Bắc
Original trade: Chinese medicine wholesale. The wholesale medicine street, fragrant with dried herbs stacked to the ceiling.
Like every street in this quarter, Thuốc Bắc began as a guild street of old Thang Long, where one craft or one trade gathered on one street and gave the street its name. Our full street story, filmed on location with Suzy, is in production for the channel.
About 16 minutes on foot from Hoan Kiem Lake (1.3 km by street).
Eat
Our tasted and tested picks for this street are being filmed and written now. No paid placements, ever.
Do
The walks, workshops and small experiences of this street will appear here as the channel covers them.
Shop
What this street still makes and sells, and how to judge quality and fair prices, is coming with the street video.
See
Temples, communal houses and photo corners of this street, mapped in the street story when it publishes.
What the name means
Thuốc Bắc: Northern medicine street. Thuoc Bac means northern, or Chinese, medicine: wholesale herbs stacked to the ceiling.
Meanings are the literal Vietnamese of each street name, checked against the guild trade recorded for that street on this site.
See this street on a private walk
Private tours are sold and operated by Bao Son Travel, a licensed travel company, and led by a licensed guide. This page never takes bookings or payments.