In 1915, Hanoi was the colonial capital of French Indochina. The French had arrived in the late 19th century and reshaped much of the city with wide boulevards, grand government buildings, and tree-lined streets. Yet just beyond that European quarter, traditional Vietnamese life continued largely as it always had.
Narrow streets and packed alleys made up the older parts of the city. Small shops and family homes sat side by side, and the streets buzzed with merchants, craftsmen, and neighbors going about their day. This was where most Hanoians lived and worked.
Markets were central to daily life. Hanoi had several large ones, each focused on different goods — fresh produce, fish, meat, dry goods, clothing, and handmade crafts. They were not just places to shop. People gathered to talk, share news, and stay connected with their community.
Street vendors were everywhere. They carried goods on shoulder poles or in large baskets, moving through set routes each day. They sold food, drinks, and small household items, calling out to announce what they had. Their voices were a constant part of the city’s soundtrack.
Getting around the city in 1915 meant walking, cycling, or hiring a rickshaw. Rickshaws — two-wheeled carts pulled by a person — were a common and affordable option for short trips. Both locals and visitors used them regularly.
Bicycles were becoming more popular, especially among younger residents. The French also introduced electric trams that ran along the city’s main streets, offering a faster way to cross town. These trams were a visible sign of the modernization the colonial administration was pushing.
Many Hanoians were skilled artisans. Silk weaving, ceramics, lacquerware, and metalwork were common trades, often passed down through generations within the same family. These crafts were a major part of the local economy and cultural identity.
Outside the city, farming dominated. Rice, vegetables, and other crops were grown in the surrounding countryside using manual labor and traditional methods. This agricultural work fed the growing urban population.
Some Hanoians worked in government offices as clerks or translators, serving the colonial administration. Others ran or worked in businesses that catered to the French population. These roles often required at least basic French language skills.
The French quarter stood in sharp contrast to the rest of Hanoi. European-style hotels, villas, and administrative buildings lined its streets. French officials and colonists lived here, separated from the Vietnamese neighborhoods by architecture, language, and social standing.
Temples and traditional Vietnamese structures remained standing throughout the city, even as colonial construction changed the skyline. The two worlds — French colonial and Vietnamese traditional — existed side by side, often within the same block.
