These days, Ngu Xa, Ba Dinh suddenly becomes more bustling because of many curious young people coming to explore "Train Line No. 6 - subsidized car: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray", where a colorful old Hanoi is recreated. With a wood stove, a smoky cupboard, a simple meal, an old iced tea shop... all create a vivid picture of a Hanoi in the subsidy period.
"Train Line No. 6 - Subsidized Car: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray" located at the intersection of Ngu Xa - Truc Bach has become a check-in point attracting many tourists.
Tourists enjoy experiencing a space imbued with Vietnamese culture during the subsidy period.
"Train Line No. 6 - subsidized car: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray" is located at the intersection of Ngu Xa - Truc Bach, next to the night food street of Ngoc Dao Ngu Xa (Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District). This is a project implemented by the People's Committee of Truc Bach Ward, providing a space to display and experience Hanoi's culinary culture. The train is open for free visits from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
Metro Line 6 is named after the idea of a metro line continuing the mission of the old Hanoi metro system of 5 lines, which stopped operating since 1991. This is an unforgettable part of the memories of the people of the capital living in the 80s and 90s of the last century. Old Hanoi appears with the image of bulletin boards, Phoenix bicycles, original iron electric poles, kerosene stoves, thermoses, cast iron pots and pans...
This place is decorated like a tea shop during the subsidy period, with newspapers stacked behind.
Cuc Nguyen excitedly experienced a space imbued with ancient Vietnamese culture
Known as a hot spot on social networks these days, Cuc Nguyen (26 years old) was very excited when she set foot in this space. "I didn't think that right in the heart of the capital there would be a space that recreates the subsidy period so vividly. Witnessing with my own eyes the household items and utensils of my grandparents' and parents' time makes young people like me feel extremely curious and excited to learn more."
The ancient train is designed with 2 floors. On the first floor, there is a display space for old artifacts and a kitchen. The second floor is an outdoor area for visitors to enjoy food and sightseeing.
Inside the first floor of the train car there are many ancient items, like a "miniature museum" containing many extremely interesting things.
Meal during the subsidy period
The meal at that time often had rice mixed with cassava, corn, a few grains of salt, vegetables or added dried fish and eggs.
The highlight of the train is right on the first floor, which is considered a "miniature museum" containing many ancient items. Each tray of food and dishes is vividly simulated such as cold rice noodles, rice mixed with potatoes, rice mixed with corn, jars of pickled vegetables... Although it is just a model, it is very vivid and realistic, making all visitors impressed by the life of the past in the time of "our grandparents".
The cupboard is a familiar item in every old kitchen. The rustic wooden cupboard is a testament to the ingenuity and love of the housewife in the family. The cupboard usually holds dishes with leftovers from lunch or breakfast. On the cupboard are some items that were once famous.
The tray area recreates the rice trays and dishes that were indispensable in a difficult time such as pickled cabbage, pickled eggplant, roasted peanuts mixed with fat, boiled water spinach, boiled jackfruit seeds, burnt rice, Chinese jujube, braised shrimp with star fruit, mixed vegetables... rice mixed with cassava and cold rice with pho broth were indispensable. At that time, pho was sold at the trade counter, when someone in the family was sick, someone in the family would go buy pho and ask for a lot of pho broth. The sick person would be given priority to eat pho, the remaining pho broth would be used as a soup to eat with cold rice. A reminder of the subsidy period when there was almost no meat, only a few simple vegetables and pickles served on a copper tray, both memorable and nostalgic of a difficult time.
Bulletin board
Around the train car, there are also areas for newspaper stands, chess, iced tea, mobile cinemas with patterned backgrounds... for visitors to freely experience and check-in. The attraction of the train car is the iced tea area with many familiar items such as teapots, thermoses or jars of fried dough sticks, fried candy, sweet soup... These are all quite familiar items of old-time shops, taking diners "traveling" back to the subsidy period in a very special way. An extremely nostalgic space also creates old-style photo angles that many young people often look for.
The subsidized iced tea stall is recreated in an eye-catching way.
With all the unique features of "Train Line 6 - subsidized carriage: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray", this is truly an attractive destination for those who want to learn about Hanoi culture and experience a lively, authentic space. The Metro Line 6 project will be expanded in the near future. Besides the "Subsidized Car", there will be 7 more carriages arranged along Truc Bach Street. Each carriage has a different theme carrying the heritage, culture and cuisine of Hanoi.
The outdoor space is a mobile cinema with a backdrop of an old-fashioned peacock blanket pattern.
Metro Line 6 promises to be an unmissable destination for those who want to learn about Vietnamese culture and cuisine during the subsidy period.
