8 Best Local Markets in Hanoi for Shopping and Sightseeing

It is great fun to walk around hundreds of stalls and look at a bunch of strange and amazing traditional products in local markets in Hanoi, even you are shopaholic or not. Not only can you buy best stuffs like shoes, clothes, bags, foods but also do you have a chance to take insight of Vietnamese culture and sight-seeing. If you are planning to visit Hanoi, do not miss to go there to shop and more!

DONG XUAN MARKET

Nestled in the heart of Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market is known as the largest indoor market housed in the French-style building.

Source: Internet - Dong Xuan Gate

This market consists of 3 floors specializing in selling zones, in which plenty of items are classified conveniently to find. Here you can purchase anything from every part of Vietnam, from fresh goods, clothes, bags, vegetables to traditional souvenirs such as: Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics and sand paintings, all at an affordable price.

Source: Hanoi for 91 days- Driedgoods

Visit Dong Xuan Alley, behind the market where you will discover a hub of local street food offering a host of local dishes and snacks like noodle with grilled pork, stuffed pancake, pancake, shrimp cakes, snail noodle, a pork-rib porridge, and several sweet soups.

Tips:

• Bargain is recommended and you should ask prices in some places before buying, avoid bargaining several times as it can lead to an argument.
• Better to wear a pair of shoes or comfortable sandals and bring a bottle of water for the convenience of walking.
• Be careful with your pocket as shoppers are often crowded on the weekend, making the opportunity for thieves and baggies.
• The parking is not wide enough. It is best to use public transportation as well as by walking to save you time and money.

Address: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Opening hours: 6:00 am – 18:00 pm

WEENKEND NIGHT MARKET HANOI

Every Saturday and Sunday night, the market stretches from Hang Dao Street to the edge of Dong Xuan Market swarms with handful of local people and tourists who stroll along stalls with array of souvenirs, clothes, shoes, accessories as well as hipster vintage stuff for a perfect purchase.

Source: Internet

You will get the price which is relatively cheaper than buying in the nearby shops in the daytime. However, haggling and negotiation are essential and also thought as a fun part of shopping game in Hanoi. Once your search is over, get your body recharge and fill up more energy with local favorites like an iced cup of passion fruit or grilled chicken roll. A plethora of street food is spoiled for your choice.

Source: Vietnam Tourism - Pho

Besides of being a great place for shop-goers, it is also a good spot to meet up your friends and unwind after a long day at work or touring sight-seeing in the city. If you finish up your shopping part, don’t forget to walk up to Ta Hien street at few-minutes-distance to grab a cheap beer or watch Vietnamese folk song – Hat chau van- performed by local artists on adjacent streets.

Source: Vietnam News

Tips:

• Remember to bargain to deal a reasonable price before buying it.
• Keep a close watch on your valuables.

Address: Hang Dao Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

Opening Hours: Friday – Sunday 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

CHO HOM MARKET

This market is famous for fabric and is the main fabric market of Hanoi. This is a really interesting place to explore traditional items andlocal lives. There is abundance of fantastic jerseys, stretch wools, chiffons, satins, embroidered and sequined material, tulle, fleece - endless! It is great fun to stroll around the market through a ton of colorful stall offering various goods.

Source: Az Local trip - Ground floor

On the first floor, a number of stalls are well-organized with different kinds of products including local food, flowers, vegetables, household appliances and some traditional breakfast dishes like: noodles, stuffed pancakes, These kinds primarily cater the daily needs of people around so it is suitable place for you to pick up typical Vietnamese ingredients for your meals at home.

The second floor of market boasts an array of colorful and diversified fabric options such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, tweed, brocade, and nylon materials that are sure to entice you. The fabric in Hom market is not only diversified in designs and types but also rich in quality. In addition to, local tailors can be seen hanging fabrics and materials to use in making custom-made clothing.

Tips:

• There have some ATM cash machine nearby so don’t worry if you forget to bring cash.
• The best time to go to this market is around noon in order not to be the first customer of the shop (According to Vietnamese sellers’ belief, the first customer often bring the fortune or infortune to the store). So you can bargain on the price easier, try to bargain the price down to half as the price you are told.
• Pay attention with your valuables.
• The parking is quite cramped so you should go by foot or use public transportation when going there.

Address: No.79 Hue Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

QUANG BA FLOWERS MARKET

If you are looking for truly fragrant, multicolored and beautiful side of Hanoi, Quang Ba Flower market should be a place for you to visit before a new day really begins. This famous wholesale flower market really starts buzzing in very early morning and close until the end of day. However, there is noticeable difference on the market’s time session for specific buyers that is 2am until 4am (for wholesalers) and 4am until midday (for normal buyer).

Source: Almost Landing

Right at dawn, the market is literally crowded and quite noisy with the mix of wholesale buyers, individuals looking to purchase packs of flower; bouquets or some visitors simply have an appreciation for charming things.

Wandering along flower stalls could bring you a chaotic and cramped feeling or get lost among multiple colors and seductive smell of flowers such as daisies, roses, cherry blossoms, sunflowers, orchids. Wholesalers are busy with stocking, loading, displaying and selling their goods while retailer or individual buyers come to buy in bulks.

Source: Internet

During the daytime, this market is not crowded as at the dawn. And, prices bounces back as the same price you buy at any shop throughout the city.It might not a highlighted shopping attraction in Hanoi but for any visitors who are seeking a new experience that exposes vividly daily life of in the city or simply want to capture amazing photos, this place is perfect for you.

Tips:

• You should arrive there early to choose and enjoy the freshest flowers, around 2am is the best time.
• Remember to bargain, but do so respectfully with smiling faces.

Address: 238 Au Co, Nhat Tan Bridge, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 2:00 am – 11:00am

LONG BIEN MARKET

Another attraction for early risers, located at the foot of iconic Long Bien Bridge, Long Bien Market is known as the largest fruit and vegetable distribution market in the city.

Source: Hanoi City Breaks

The market comes alive before the sun rise when delivery trucks arrive from far-away-distance regions across Vietnam and load with abundance of fruits and veggies.The indoor part of the market is quite cramped with busy shoppers and porters. This area mainly houses the rows of well-lit stalls where mainly stock up a huge quantity of agricultural products such as water-melon, carrot, pineapple and many more; however some seafood can still be found at the back.

In the meantime, the open-air section of the market gives you an exotic view when stacks of cauliflower, carrot, tomato,…sprawl onto the streets under the golden street lights while the city is still sleeping deep.

From century-old Long Bien Bridge, you can capture a stunning view over the brightly-lit market while traders and customers are barging loudly in numerous stalls. If you are intrigued by getting some of the fresh feeling, or simply want to come back with great pictures, this is the one you can’t-miss.

However, a bad news is that Long Bien market will be shut down until 2020 by goverment because it has been polluting in the surrounding areas.

Tips:

• It is recommended that you should not attemp to purchase goods there sincethisis a wholesale market.
• Avoid the area where the trucks unload as the traffic can be perilous.

Address: No 189 Hong Ha, Phuc Xa, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 2:00 am – 12:00 pm

TAY HO FLEA MARKET

If you are hoping to purchase heath food and farm products, then visit pop-up Tay Ho weekend market (Naturally Vietnam shop), opened only Saturday bi-weekly from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Market-goers are mixture of local people; foreigner expatriates and tourists.

Source: Facebook - Diverse products

Coming up with from the idea of French man, this market was founded to promote hand-crafted farm products and environment-friendly ones. On display is huge range of high-quality products and beverages, including: organic fruits like pineapples, oranges, apples; fresh vegetables, meat, as well as other natural cosmetics, which are packed with environmentally friendly bags.

This place is not only the market, it is about vibe. At other times, the market is known as an important social and networking spot for foreign and local people to meet up and exchange culture thanks to its friendly and inviting atmosphere.

Address: No.67, To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm Saturday

VAN PHUC FLEA MARKET

As its name, this is a quite large second-hand market in Hanoi, trading a variety of the old and ancient goods. Customers are mainly collectors and antique lovers who visit there not only exchange the antiquated merchandise, but also wish to find somehow ancient atmosphere once again.

Source: Internet

Taking a stroll around a numerous booths there, a bunch of unique and old items can catch your eyes at the first sight. And you are curious about some stuffs that you even haven’t seen before. This is really special spot that give tourists an insight into Vietnamese life in time gone by!

Stalls there filled with plenty of old designer products made in 1950s such as: telephones, watches, antique furniture and accessories. Those obsolete stuffs rage from ancient ceramic or Japanese loudspeakers cost up to tens of millions of VND, to the old tape player or old-fashioned telephones that lure totally into collectors.

Tips:

• It is difficult to control the origin of products there so you should check goods carefully before grabbing it.

Address: Van Phuc, Ha Dong, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 5:50 pm (5^th, 10^th, 15^th, 20^th, 25^th, 30^th according to Lunar Calendar every month)

BUOI MARKET

Built since the beginning of 20^th century, Buoi Market was ever known as a popular place to cater primarily flowering plants and pets for local people in the past, along with traditional products like embroidery, paper and weave easily found.

Source: Nhan Dan online

Along with the city’s growth speed and development, nowadays a main part of the market has been renovated into a shopping mall. However, its antique beauty is still remained when you visit the back of the market on Hoang Hoa Tham Street. Lined up on this street, there are plenty of home-grown and exotic plants and flowers like orchids, Bonsai style trees, soil, succulents… It is beloved by green-fingered locals or visitor with a love of things natural and lush greenery.

Address: Lac Long Quan, Buoi, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Opening Hours: 06:00 am – 5:50 pm (4^th, 9^th, 14^th, 19^th, 24^th, 29^th according to Lunar Calendar every month)

Let us know about your experiences at these local markets in Hanoi the comment section bellow. Happy shopping!!!

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