However, famous websites still offer a list of awards regularly as every year so that tourists around the world can gain more travel experiences after the epidemic is over and create motivation for the development of the domestic tourism industry. Travelers’ Choice Awards 2021 is an annual award series announced by the world’s largest travel website TripAdvisor . Awards include categories from hotels, restaurants, resorts, destinations, airlines, leisure activities, swimming pools… based on the evaluation of travel experts and visitors who have been experienced before the Covid-19 epidemic. Vietnam is a destination that has received many positive comments from tourists around the world in prestigious rankings. Travelers’ Choice 2021 Best of the Best list is one of them. Four hotels in Hanoi were honored in the top 25 most beautiful rooftop hotels in the world. Hanoi La Siesta Diamond Hotel & Spa The hotel located on Lo Su street was suddenly ranked first, above many big names. TripAdvisor experts commented: “This hotel is the perfect choice for a city break. One of the most important highlights of this place is the skybar area with beautiful views of the lake and the old town, live music and really good drinks”. (Source: Trip advisor) La Sinfonia del Rey Hotel & Spa In third place is La Sinfonia del Rey Hotel & Spa located on Hang Dau Street – the street next to Sword Lake. With its central location, the rooftop of this hotel offers the perfect view of the old town area. In particular, this place is also chosen by many couples to organize love anniversary parties and romantic marriage proposals. One traveler left a comment on TripAdvisor as follows: “The best hotel I have ever seen with the most special sky bar!”. (Source: Agoda) Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa by AIRA With the 6th place out of 25 names, the hotel on Duong Thanh street is increasingly known by tourists. The most outstanding feature of Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa by AIRA is a rooftop infinity pool with a beautiful old town view. The terrace also has a bar serving beer, dubbed the “chillest beer bar in Hanoi”. This is a place not only for hotel guests but also open to outside guests to enjoy beer, sip some snacks or have a romantic dinner, watching the city from above. (Source: Trip advisor) JM Marvel Hotel & Spa Ranked 8th is the terrace of JM Marvel Hotel & Spa on Hang Da Street. The area is not too big, but thanks to its prime location and unique decoration, this place received many positive compliments such as: “Lovely rooftop bar where you can enjoy a quiet drink, away from the hustle and bustle of the city”, “Have a drink on the rooftop of this Hanoi hotel and take in the amazing views”. (Source: Hotels) (according to the Star)

The alley is only half a meter wide, deep, smoking, people have to turn on the electricity 24/24 to see the path, the entrance can only be one by one.

Alleyways are only available in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Along the streets such as: Hang Buom, Hang Chieu, Hang Duong, Lane Brick, Lo Su … are super-small alleyways, right behind the shops with splendid light; is known as a “specialty” of Hanoi Old Quarter.

Streets located in the old town area are called “diamond streets” of Hanoi, with a value of up to billions of VND / m2, equivalent to land prices in the most expensive cities in the world. like New York, Paris or Tokyo.

In the area of ​​Hang Ngang – Hang Dao, Dinh Tien Hoang, the price of road surface is said to be from 800 million to more than 1 billion VND / m2.

Most of the households living in these alleys are families with 3 generations, sharing a small house, only 10m2.

An alley on Hang Buom Street, deep and dark like a tunnel.

Mr. Le Cong Vinh (70 years old, Hang Buom street) said: “Although I am used to living here, sometimes I find it inconvenient. Every time you want to renovate the house, you have to pay more labor costs to carry the materials bit by bit from outside the entrance to the house ”.

According to Mr. Vinh, the biggest inconvenience here is the lack of common living space for everyone. Every time anyone’s house has a table, they have to borrow the space of the next house to have enough room for guests. When shopping for household appliances, everyone has to consider, calculate and only dare to buy items with the size that can pass through the lane.

Even during the day, even with the lights on, the alley is still dark.

Mr. Le Ngoc Anh (45 years old, Hang Buom street) expressed concern: “I only care for children who do not have a place to play and play. Every afternoon, they come home from school to see them sitting in the house watching TV or playing on the phone.

Alley space is narrow, many families with young children often have to go to the park or walk around the street to save trouble.

The lane’s meager space is used as a place for furniture, goods, and bicycles.

The electrical wiring and meters above are installed running along the small alley, potentially many risks, not ensuring electrical safety and fire prevention.

“The alley, the house is cramped, but it can’t be helped to move.”

Located deep in the alley only about 50cm wide, with dim electric lights on Hang Buom street, the house of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long’s family has two floors, each floor is less than 10m2 but has 6 people, 3 generations. live together.

Mr. Long shared: “Although living conditions are quite tight, many households here do not want to move anywhere. Moreover, if we move, we do not know what kind of profession to make a living ”.

The small room, narrow alley, and Mr. Long’s furniture are only “moderate” in size.

An alley corner is used as a cooking place.

Many households have to share living space to save space.

The alley is very narrow, only one person can pass, so people often wait for each other to take each car out one by one …

Le Thi Gai (75 years old, Lo Su street, Hoan Kiem district) shared that her family has lived here since the 1960s, most of people here are manual labor, small businesses. in the old town. Although there are many inconveniences, the households living in these alleys are very united.

“Previously, 4 households in the alley used the same toilet, now life is better, each house built its own toilet, but we still told you to clean the way together. go, everyone’s living space ”.

A small, deep alley is nestled among flashy street shops.

Since 1998, the People’s Committee of Hanoi has started an old town migration project with the aim of reducing population density in the AQ from 823 people / ha in 2010 to 500 people / ha. Accordingly, the area of ​​Hoan Kiem old town has to move over 6,500 households, with about 27,000 people.

In the middle of 2019, the project of stretching the old town continues to restart after the years that seem to have “fallen asleep”. However, after more than 20 years of implementing this population relaxation project, the old quarters with a large population density, narrow houses crowded in deep streets continue to recur. Damage, peeling walls, steel core inside is common.

The alleys are not noisy, no hustle and bustle, still quietly nestled on the bustling streets of more than 20 years. The people living in it still keep harmony with each other, yield to the little common space, and preserve the civilized lifestyle of Ha Thanh land.