Shopping in Hanoi?

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MojaveDan

The two answers before mine are trying to describe what is called the Old Quarter of Hoan Kiem District. Why this is a great place to shop is the way the Old Quarter and most of Hoan Kiem District had developed into over hundreds of years.

Most of the streets in the Old Quarter and other merchant areas in the rest of Hoan Kiem District sell or provide services for one kind of item. i.e. Shoes are sold on Shoe Street, books on Book Street, pants on Pants street. You will find dozens of shops selling what you're looking for at very reasonable prices if you know which street to find it at. Although this has started to change in recent years, the essence of shopping in Hoan Kiem District still makes for a unique shopping experience. In a way, it's the world's largest Wal-Mart, but you have streets for aisles and use a taxi instead of a shopping cart. The key to shopping Hoan Kiem District or the Old Quarter is to find a good taxi driver that knows where to shop for what you're looking for.

The difference between shopping in Ha Noi and HCMC is HCMC doesn't have an extensive Old Quarter style merchant area. Instead, HCMC has dozens of Western style malls and at least three very large bizarre markets (Ben Thanh, A Dong, Ben Xe/Cho Lon). There are some streets in HCMC similar to Ha Noi's Old Quarter, but nothing to the extent as the Old Quarter or Hoan Kiem District is.

You can easily find Vietnamese handicraft from any part of the country in either Hanoi or HCMC, but the best value will be found closest to the source. Silk from Hoi An will always be cheaper in Hoi An than in Ha Noi or HCMC. Perls from Phu Quoc will always be cheaper in Phu Quoc. This information is to entice you and your wife to travel the country a little instead of just camping out in Ha Noi or HCMC.

Happy Shopping!

Philip G

It's been a few months since I've been to Hanoi so I can't remember much anymore, please bear with me.

As far as I can recall, the best place to shop in Hanoi is in the old French colonial quarter of the city, near the Hoan Kiem lake. I can't remember what it is called exactly but you can find lots of local products and handicrafts there.

There are streets that serve a particular product. For example, there is a "silk street" where you find rows and rows of silk stores. There is a "toys street" where all you see are stores selling toys. I apologize, I cannot remember the exact names anymore.

Additionally, the old French colonial area is filled with interesting architecture, restaurants, and small boutique hotels that don't cost much.

ginchan

was there with my friends this aug. its a terrific place to do shopping... i mean not only in terms of fashion, but u get to buy lots of handmade works, these are things that u can't get them from other parts of the world.

one very good place to shop is the Old Quarters. in this area, there are lots of winding streets and each street is unique on its own... hahaha... meaning taht on 1 street u can buy all the shoes u want. coz its a street selling shoes, then there are streets that sell all clothes, and streets selling juz medicine, streets selling tombstones etc.
and if u ant handicraft, yeah there are lots of shops selling them and if i remembered correctly, the handicraft shops are situated juz nearby the theater that shows the 'Water Puppets'. juz behind the theater, there are lots of handicraft shops.

if u ant to pop down to their markets, u can try Dong Xuan market (this is a huge market and u can find almost everything there but its pretty stiffling).

hope the info i provide are of some help! =D
have a great trip! =D

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