Tourists enjoy exploring the "Subsidized Carriage with Kitchen and Cabinets"

By: Nam Nguyen | August 25, 2024

(To Quoc) - The train carriage is located at the intersection of Ngu Xa and Truc Bach streets, next to the Ngu Xa Pearl Island night food street (Truc Bach ward, Ba Dinh district), also known as "Train Line No. 6 - Subsidized Carriage: Kitchen - Cabinet - Tray".

Located right at the intersection of Ngũ Xã and Trúc Bạch streets, a unique space called "Tram Line 6 - Subsidized Carriage: Kitchen - Cabinet - Tray" is a nostalgic destination.

This project, directed by the People's Committee of Truc Bach Ward (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi ), is open to visitors free of charge, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of old Hanoi and introduce Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

The "Tram Line 6" project is named after the idea of ​​a tram line continuing the mission of Hanoi's old five-line surface tram system, which ceased operation in 1991. This is an unforgettable part of the memories of Hanoi residents from the last century. The kitchen area features familiar items found in any Hanoi family during the 1980s and 1990s. A simple kitchen with a trivet, firewood, bamboo pots and pans, mortar and pestle, thermos flask, kerosene stove...

The cupboard used to be a beloved item in every kitchen. It was made from scraps of wood or bought ready-made from general stores. Inside the cupboard were dishes, a few leftovers from lunch or breakfast; rarely was there any food stored for too long because back then, there wasn't even enough to eat, let alone have leftovers.

The area dedicated to the trays of food recreates the classic meals and dishes of a difficult era, such as pickled cabbage, pickled eggplant, roasted peanuts mixed with lard, boiled water spinach, mixed greens, boiled jackfruit seeds, crispy rice, canarium fruit, and shrimp stewed with starfruit...

Once-famous brands are featured in the "Kitchen - Cabinet - Tray" section.

The outdoor space features a mobile cinema with a backdrop featuring a vintage peacock-patterned blanket, a drinks counter, and photo booths.

A beverage stand with a sign that says "iced drinks".

Ms. Dieu Huong (representing the implementing unit) shared: "We wanted to recreate the image of old Hanoi as accurately as possible through images of kitchens, cupboards, meal trays, and tea shops. For example, this tea shop recreates the original traditional Hanoi tea shop, which served tea in small cups. After reunification, refrigerators gradually became more common in Hanoi. Back then, the need for food preservation wasn't great because food was scarce. Therefore, the biggest use of the refrigerator was making ice; when there was excess, the owners would sell it to tea shops. And almost any tea shop that had ice sold more because ice was suitable for the hot summer weather in Hanoi."

A glimpse into old Hanoi, with images of old Phuong Hoang bicycles with two frames, original iron electric poles...

Foreign tourists enjoy exploring and experiencing a space that is distinctly Vietnamese from the subsidy period, sitting at tiny tables and chairs with a cool drink.

Foreign tourists enjoy experiencing the unique features found only in the "Subsidized Economy Kitchen - Cabinet - Tray" carriage.

Kathie Jay (an American tourist) shared: "I don't know much about Vietnam, but after visiting and listening to the explanations, I can sense that you have overcome a very difficult and challenging period, but one that is also very memorable."

This nostalgic space has two floors. The first floor of the tram car is an exhibition space displaying old artifacts, like a "miniature museum." The second floor is an area where visitors can enjoy food and admire the view.

Additionally, there are areas with newsstands, chess games, and other activities for visitors to enjoy.

Besides being a space for displaying old artifacts, the "Subsidy Carriage" also serves food and drinks with the authentic flavors of old Hanoi. The menu is quite diverse, featuring refreshing drinks like iced tea, green tea, and herbal tea, priced from just 5,000 VND. The menu also includes familiar snacks from the older generation such as sticky rice cakes, molasses sticky rice cakes, sweet rice cakes, longan-shaped cakes, peanut candy, banana jam, and fermented pork rolls... priced from 10,000 to 60,000 VND.

The "Kitchen - Pan - Tray" space, a traditional Vietnamese carriage-style area, is open free of charge from 3 PM to 10 PM daily at the intersection of Ngũ Xã and Trúc Bạch streets in Ba Đình District, Hanoi. This "Tram Line 6" promises to be a must-visit destination for those interested in learning about Vietnamese history, culture, and cuisine.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/du-khach-thich-thu-kham-pha-toa-bao-cap-bep-chan-mam-20240825140711766.htm