frames, generation, silk ,famous ,centuries,combination ,visited ,handicrafts
THE 36 STREETS OF HANOI Anyonewhohas ever(1)........................ Hanoi will probably tell you that it may be the most beautiful city in all of Asia - people have settled here along the Red River for a thousand years. Hanoiisvery(2)........................forthe36streets.Someofthe36streetsthatmakeup the Ancient Quarterstill offer only a single commodity. One of the best is Hang Quat, where shops sell an incredible array of lacquered wood candle sticks, bowls, picture (3) .........................,religiousshrines, and decorative pieces. Practically every single itemis painted in some (4) ......................... of red, white and gold. Many of the things are elaborate to the point of being garish. Since prices are staggeringly low, buywhat you can.Likefolkartinotherdevelopingnations,theseuniquelyNorthernVietnamese(5) ......................... will begin to die out along with the present (6) .......................... of artisanscreatingthem.The shelves ofshopsinHoChiMinh cityare alreadyfilledwith factorymade schlock. Sadly, this will happen in Hanoisoon enough. Vietnamese silk is among the world’s finest. Hang Gai (thread street) has for (7) ......................... been home to some of Hanoi’s best(8) ............................shops.