Hem () or Ngo () are the terms used to describe narrow streets branching off of main roads in Vietnam.
Hem are characterized by their narrow width and are lined with narrow, multistory buildings known as
tube houses, creating a dense and vertical urban form.
In 2016, 85% of residents in
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025.
The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...
and 88% in
Hanoi
Hanoi ( ; ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Vietnam, second-most populous city of Vietnam. The name "Hanoi" translates to "inside the river" (Hanoi is bordered by the Red River (Asia), Red and Black River (Asia), Black Riv ...
lived in hem alleyways.
Hem are numbered and referred to by the name of the major street it branches off of, similarly to
Soi
In Thailand, a ''soi'' ( ) is a side street that branches off of a major street (''thanon'', ). An alley is called a ''trok'' ().
Overview
Sois are usually numbered, and are referred to by the name of the major street and the number, as in "S ...
s in Thailand. Slashes are used to indicated an address in a hem, so the address "36/23 Hẻm Lê Thị Riêng" indicates the house is number 36 in the 23rd Hem off Lê Thị Riêng street.
See also
*
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, footpath, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, w ...
*
Soi
In Thailand, a ''soi'' ( ) is a side street that branches off of a major street (''thanon'', ). An alley is called a ''trok'' ().
Overview
Sois are usually numbered, and are referred to by the name of the major street and the number, as in "S ...
*
Hutong
References
Vietnamese words and phrases
Types of streets
Types of roads
Buildings and structures in Asia
Urban studies and planning terminology
Alleys
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