The life in these tiny lanes in the Hanoi Old Quarter is in contrast to the modernity of local streets which are full of hotels, restaurants, cafes, markets and shops.
Alley 14 on Ngo Gach Street is seen as the narrowest in Hanoi with just less than 50cm in width. However, unbelievably, up to nearly 10 households live inside the alley.
Nguyen Thi Nga who lives in the alley said that her neighbours had to carry out their dead relatives to the nearby funeral home because the alley was not big enough to bring coffin into their houses.
People who live in such small houses have to use parking lot services.
It is also hard for two people going in the opposite direction to avoid one another.
Hoang Thi Dao living in a small lane of Hang Bac Street said that more than 10 households there shared the same toilet and bathroom. So, people often have to queue for their turn. She herself even has ever had to wait until midnight to bathe.
In many urgent cases, local people have to come to public toilets, Dao added.
Alley 14 on Hang Buom Street looks like a tunnel, so people installed lamps
.
Despite being narrow, many lanes are still used for business activities.