Hanoi streets' handprinted signs haven't been replaced with neon like in other Asian metropolises, yet; but when they are, their traditional lettering will not be lost forever.
Vietnam-based type designer, Manh Nguyen, created the typeface L'Hanoienne ("cô gái Hà Nội" in Vietnamese or "Hanoi Lady" in English) to capture the style of hand-painted signs and panels in the nation's capital circa the 20th century. Whether used to draw attention to a stall selling phở or adorning the awning of a tailor shop, the lettering is ubiquitous in the city.
Manh created the geometric, modern sans serif font with the help of photos he took around the city. Designed for displays, they also work well in document bodies. It resembles his previous typeface Classique Saigon which went viral across vintage products and advertisements around the country. L'Hanoienne also bears some resemblances to its sibling font Cotdien, but has a lighter contrast and more delicate vibe that reveal stylistic differences between the country's two major cities.
The typeface can be downloaded from his Behance site and is free for personal use. Check out the font in action below and visit Manh's Dribble account to see some of his other designs, which are "inspired by music, hipsterism and traditional arts":
[Images via Behance user Manh Nguyen]
