Packed with charming colonial buildings, Buddhist temples and pagodas, the Old Quarter is located near Hoan Kiem Lake in the Hoan Kiem district and is Hanoi's main commercial district. These commercial streets are named after their original businesses, which date back about 1,000 years. Although most of the specialties (cotton, jewelry, herbs and silk) have changed over time and have been replaced by a variety of modern goods and services, visitors can still admire some of these original goods and get a feel for Vietnam's ancient customs.