Old Quarter celebrates culture

Hanoi's Old Quarter is hosting a tea ceremony and an exhibition of vintage timepieces until Nov. 27, as well as a discussion of traditional culture in the capital city. The tea ceremony will take place at 28 Hang Buom Street, while the collection of clocks will be displayed at Dong Lac Temple, 38 Hang Dao Street.
The Vietnamese often drink tea, chew betel or smoke a cigarette as a prelude to conversation, reflecting the folk saying, "A quid of betel starts the ball rolling".
Tea drinking is an integral part of many Vietnamese cultural rituals, from holidays to wedding, and it brings friends and family together in conversation and celebration.
"Brewing Vietnamese tea is a sophisticated artform which takes a lot of time to master," said researcher Hoang Anh Suong. "But it can also be enjoyed in a very simple manner.
Simply boiled green tea leaves can bring people closer in an informal conversation."
At the tea ceremony, Suong and other researchers will speak about the history of tea culture, the manner of drinking, and the differences among Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese tea drinking.
Meanwhile, at Dong Lac Temple, collector Nguyen Trung Dung will display over 50 historic clocks.
Clock-collecting has been a popular pastime among intellectuals in the capital city since the 19th century, Dung said, with collectors fascinated by the different designs and decorations and the way in which the sound of the ticking clocks reflects the passage of time and the value of every moment of life.
Finally, the old house at 87 Ma May Street will host a talk by researchers Giang Quan and Nguyen Vinh Phuc about Hanoi's culture, helping visitors understand the way Hanoians live and receive guests. The discussion, held to accord greater respect the value of Hanoi's traditions, was organised as part of the celebrations of the Vietnam Heritage Day on Nov. 23.