Shopping · Hanoi · Vietnam
Shopping in Hanoi
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cyril Doussin from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Hanoi is good for silk, tailoring, lacquerware, ceramics and coffee. The Old Quarter's craft streets and the boutiques around St Joseph's Cathedral are the main areas, with markets for bargain hunting. Best souvenirs: Silk, Lacquerware and Bát Tràng ceramics.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Silk
Where to shop
Hàng Gai and Hàng Bông
Silk scarves, embroidery and tailors in the Old Quarter; allow a few days for tailored clothing.
Nhà Thờ and Hàng Trống
Designer boutiques, homeware and fair-trade crafts in the streets beside St Joseph's Cathedral.
Hàng Bạc and Hàng Mã
Silver jewellery on Hàng Bạc and colourful paper lanterns and decorations on Hàng Mã.
Tràng Tiền Plaza
A department store of international luxury brands between the lake and the Opera House.
Markets
Đồng Xuân Market
The city's largest covered market for fabrics, clothes, household goods and food stalls.
Weekend night market
Stalls of clothes, souvenirs and snacks from Hàng Đào to Đồng Xuân on Friday to Sunday evenings.
What to buy
Silk
Scarves, ties and tailored clothes from shops on Hàng Gai.
Lacquerware
Lacquered bowls, boxes and paintings, a Vietnamese craft with a long history.
Bát Tràng ceramics
Blue-and-white and glazed pottery from the nearby craft village.
Vietnamese coffee and a phin filter
Robusta coffee beans with the small metal drip filter used across Vietnam.
Ethnic minority textiles
Embroidered and indigo-dyed fabrics made by Hmong and other groups from the northern mountains.
Conical hat
The nón lá palm-leaf hat, sold in markets and craft shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Old Quarter
Old Quarter guild streets
Each street in the Old Quarter once specialised in a single trade, and many still do: tin boxes on Hàng Thiếc, paper offerings and lanterns on Hàng Mã, silver on Hàng Bạc.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Photo spot
Market · Old Quarter
Đồng Xuân Market
Hanoi's largest covered market occupies a building first opened in 1889 at the northern edge of the Old Quarter.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Street · Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Weekend walking street and night market
From Friday to Sunday evening the streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and parts of the Old Quarter close to motor traffic.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Hanoi fried spring rolls, Egg coffee, Bia hơi and Tràng Tiền ice cream. Served alongside bún chả at most grill stalls, and as a starter in family restaurants. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Quarter | $$ | Narrow guild streets of tube houses, street stalls, motorbikes and beer corners |
| French Quarter | $$$$ | Wide colonial boulevards, embassies and grand hotels south of the lake |
| Tây Hồ (West Lake) | $$$ | Lakeside expat district of cafés, craft beer, villas and boutique hotels |
| Trúc Bạch | $$ | Small lake island of local restaurants, between the Old Quarter and West Lake |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in VND. Tipping is not traditionally expected, but it is appreciated. Upscale restaurants may add a service charge; tip guides and drivers on tours, and round up for good service elsewhere.
- Give and receive money, business cards and gifts with both hands.
- Bargain good-naturedly in markets, but not in shops with marked prices.
- Use ride-hailing apps to see fares in advance and avoid haggling with drivers.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in June–August; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- January: Tết (Lunar New Year) — flower markets before the holiday, then many shops close for several days (late January or February)
- February: Perfume Pagoda pilgrimage festival (usually from after Tết until about April)
- September: Mid-Autumn Festival — lanterns and mooncakes on Hàng Mã street (September or early October)
- December: Christmas Eve crowds and decorations around St Joseph's Cathedral (24 December)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Hanoi?
Silk, Lacquerware, Bát Tràng ceramics and Vietnamese coffee and a phin filter.
+Where is the best shopping in Hanoi?
Hàng Gai and Hàng Bông: Silk scarves, embroidery and tailors in the Old Quarter; allow a few days for tailored clothing.
+What are the best markets in Hanoi?
Đồng Xuân Market and Weekend night market.