To Tich

To Tich Street has a length of just 95m from Hang Quat street to Hang Gai Street. In the French colonial period, the street was still called To Tich (Ruelle de To Tich). 

The new street was made larger after 1920. Before that time point, the road end from Hang Gai street was very narrow and hard to move everytime heavy downpours came. 

On the left half of To Tich Street with odd numbers, there are families who were from Nhi Khe village (Thuong Tin, Ha Tay, now part of Hanoi). Along with the migration, they brought the wood turnery and carving craft to Hanoi and started a new profession here. This work required skillful artisans to carve out sophisticated woodblock of letter prints, handicraft goods or round tables. 

The craft was conducted with small-scale production, and less labor.The manufacturing process was simple and not polluting. At first, the hard-working crafters only used machines with foot pedal which took a lot of efforts for operation; and much later, their work become much lighter with the help of electric motor. 

Today, To Tich Street is also known as a favorite place who loves “hoa qua dam” (mixed fruits dessert with condensed milk and coconut milk). By-passers will be much likely to be captivated immediately by the colors and scents of many attractive fruits. At weekends, when the streets for pedestrians on Hang Ngang, Hang Dao operates, the mixed fruit shops on To Tich street is also somewhat more crowded and bustling. After strolling over ancient streets, a cup of mix fruits with cooling ice cubes is too delicious to deny for both locals as well as curious foreign visitors.