Shopping in Hanoi
US dollars are widely accepted, and cash is preferred. The idea that foreigners are wealthy and should therefore pay more than locals is well ingrained in local society, and most shops quote pricing for tourists (even Vietnamese people from other provinces) that are significantly higher than those for locals. As a result, even if you know what it is, most sellers will insist that you pay the tourist price as they know you are a tourist and won’t allow you negotiate the price down to the local price. If you have a reliable local acquaintance, you can save quite a bit of money by asking them to make the purchase for you while you are away.
Hanoi is a shopper’s paradise, and the streets are the finest places to window shop. There are many foreign brand-selling Western-style malls that also serve as air-conditioned entertainment hubs with theaters, cafes, and restaurants. However, every wise shopper is aware that the markets are where to find the finest deals and hippest products, whether they be silk, street food, or souvenirs.
There are numerous stores here. These are little stores, markets, and shopping malls in the heart of the city. Additionally, there are entire streets here that are dedicated to shopping. Going shopping in the Old Quarter is advised. You have to go to this area of the city. The majority of the attractions are gathered here. There are numerous shopping streets in this area. They each provide a particular kind of merchandise. If you want to buy silk goods, you must travel to Hàng Gai. Here, you can purchase silk paintings, bed linens, and clothing. On Quan Thanh’s street, you should look for stylish branded clothing. On the street Hàng ào, you may get cheap shoes. On Hàng Bc, there are jewelry stores and stores that sell fascinating and high-quality items made of silver and precious stones. On Hang Thanh, you may purchase mementos created using a classic woodworking technique. There are other wooden home goods available for purchase as well. On Ph Tràng Tin Street, local artists’ creations are on sale. Here are many Hanoi art galleries.
The city also has a lot of shopping malls. One of the most well-known shopping centers is Hanoi Towers. This complex is enormous. There are three identical towers in it. This area is home to two enormous hypermarkets, numerous brand businesses, a music venue, an entertainment complex, restaurants, and a movie theater. This location frequently hosts a variety of exhibitions, movies, and other events.
Parkson Mall is another place you ought to go. In addition to clothes and accessory boutiques, you can discover jewelry and cosmetics shops with both domestic and foreign brands here. On the second floor of the center, you may get dishes, home furnishings, and many little objects for décor. In this shopping mall, there are also a lot of restaurants and a sizable hypermarket. Here is also where one of the biggest retail malls in the nation is. Savico Megamall is this. It’s a good distance from the city’s heart. However, this place has really reasonable costs. Here, you may get clothing from regional brands as well as athletic products, home furnishings, home appliances, and much more.
Visitors to the Tràng Tin Plaza shopping mall can choose from a big assortment of name-brand clothing. A sizable supermarket and a number of electronics stores are situated nearby. After a busy day of shopping, you may unwind and enjoy a snack in one of the centers restaurants on the top level. Vincom Mega Mall Royal City is a must-see shopping destination. The most of it is underground, and there is also a skating rink and a water park here. In shopping mall stores, you can find a variety of European apparel brands. A contemporary multiplex theater is also present here. You ought to go there without a doubt.
The Old Quarter, in the center of the city, is where the majority of the shops and stores are situated. You should undoubtedly go for a stroll through the neighborhood’s streets to look for unique items on your own and simply soak in the ambience of the city. Markets can be found in the Old Quarter as well. The most well-known market is ng Xuân indoor market. It is situated in the quarter’s northern region. Here, you may buy electronics, jewelry, apparel, and exotic fruits and veggies. Additionally, you can sample Vietnamese national foods here and find traditional mementos in the market.
Visit the Hanoi Weekend Night Market, it is advised. Around Dong Xuan, it is planned from Friday through Sunday. For those who enjoy nightlife, this is a great place to unwind with a wide variety of delectable cuisine, the chance to get unique and fascinating gifts, and the chance to catch local musicians performing. In the market, souvenirs are quite beneficial to purchase. You will need to haggle, though. If you don’t want to purchase the full line, you can also get a decent deal in a city gift shop.
It is advised to purchase fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. For tourists, market vendors charge exorbitant charges. Shop in the store for groceries as well. The most practical stores close to the Old Quarter are Vin Smart and Intimex. Here, you’ll discover a good assortment of prepared meals in addition to reasonable costs. A few of them are hot sellers. It is advised to purchase Vietnamese coffee as a present. It is most profitable to purchase it from national grocery chains. However, it is preferable to visit a specialized shop if you want to purchase a premium coffee variety for true connoisseurs. There are higher prices. The selection of coffee is much wider here, though.
Shopping Malls
Aeon Mall - Long Bien
If you visit Hanoi, make sure to visit Aeon Mall, a high-class shopping center that is owned by Japanese and located in Long Bien District. There is no doubt that it occupies a large space with four floors while its internal environment with modern architecture will surely save one from the extreme summer heat.
Some of the stores found here sell items like household appliances, jewelry, electronics, accessories and clothing from different brands which may include Yves Rocher, Dr. Martens, Adidas among others.
Or else the food court on the fourth floor can let your stomach have a rest at very low prices offering Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean as well as Western dishes. You could also keep your children entertained at Tiniworld or CGV cinema where they can enjoy their day doing something different.
The entire arrangement is perfect and there are English-speaking attendants who help avoid any problem of language misunderstanding.
Lotte Shopping Center
Other than boasting an Observation Deck, the Lotte high-rise building is a fashionista’s heaven. The Complex has over 250 stores offering fashion items and accessories to fit any taste.
The hypermarket is on the first floor, bringing with it imported jewelry and cosmetics on second, women’s finest dresses, trendy hand bags and unisex clothing on third and men’s latest fashion on fourth floor.
One may decide to enjoy one of the hotel’s spas or restaurants after shopping, go to a gymnasium or even better climb up to the Observation Deck on 65th floor that provides stunning views of Hanoi. Do not plan anything when you visit this bustling city as exploring the entire shopping complex will be full of surprises.
Vincom Shopping Malls in Hanoi
With seven shopping areas, it is unquestionable that Vincom is easily accessible from any part of Hanoi. The most famous branches of the mall are Vincom Ba Trieu, Vincom Royal City and Vincom Time City. Everything can be found in the malls.
Vincom Royal City in an old Asian capital looks like a small European palace from outside. With a wide area of 230,000 square meters, Vincom Royal city provides not only numerous types of goods with different brands but also services such as ice skating, aquarium and cinema halls at a very low prices. Additionally, what people love about Vincom is its string of cafes and restaurants that offer virtually all popular Vietnamese dishes besides international ones.
Locations:
- Vincom Mega Mall Royal City (72 Nguyen Trai –Thanh Xuan District)
- Vincom Mega Mall Times City (458 Minh Khai street – Hai Ba Trung district)
- Vincom Center Ba Trieu (191 Ba Trieu street – Hai Ba Trung district)
- Vincom Center Nguyen Chi Thanh (54A NguyenChi Thanh – Dong Da District)
- Vincom Center Pham Ngoc Thach (02 Pham Ngoc Thach – Dong Da District)
- Vincom Plaza Tu BacLiem (Green Stars building, 234 Pham Van Dong street, Bac Tu Liem district)
- Vincom Plaza Long Bien (Vinhomes Riverside – Long Bien District)
Trang Tien Plaza
An original structure in the French Quarter of Hanoi beside the famous Sword Lake is the Trang Tien Plaza. Transparent glass walls have been used to display luxury and fashionable products from internationally renowned fashion houses including Burberry, Cartier, Dior, Zegna, BVLGARI, and Louis Vuitton. The inside has a western style with garments and purses on the first story while electronics and house furniture are situated at the top floor.
Syrena Shopping Center
Syrena opened its doors in early 2008 right at the heart of Xuan Dieu Street and has since become an attraction to Hanoi’s expatriate community. This modern 25-story building provides a range of retail, recreational, and lifestyle facilities including a shopping mall and luxury apartments for lease.
The Syrena Shopping Center is on the first and second floors of the tower with a total area of up to 5000m2 where you can purchase all kinds of items from canned food and kitchenware to trendy clothes, expensive jewelry as well as home furniture. You will need some pastries for the party, wine for dinner or diapers for the baby. Just go into Vinmart+ supermarket located on the second floor or Annam Gourmet on the ground floor where you can find high quality grocery products among other basic needs.
Located next to Hanoi’s largest lake, Syrena offers both shopping and recreation facilities. After work people can have coffee with friends at Highlands Coffee or dine together with family members at Zpizza. Elite Fitness & Spa is perfect for those that love exercising or getting beauty treatments done.
Vincom Center Tran Duy Hung
Vincom Tran Duy Hung is the first shopping mall constructed in Cau Giay District, Hanoi’s busiest metropolitan area. Despite only opening recently in 2019, this center has already attracted many people who love shopping, entertainment and dining.
There are five levels of retail malls at Vincom Tran Duy Hung which have each been highlighted with warm lights and yellow tints to create a pleasing experience for customers.
Shopping areas: The first, second and third floors of Vincom Tran Duy Hung contain more than 90 top Vietnamese and international brands. Well-known names such as Karen Millen, Charles & Keith, Aldo among others can be found here to satisfy the desires of fashionistas.
Supermarket: There is a 2.000m2 Vinmart on the third floor of the building. This place was positioned for daily life needs due to its environmentally friendly products from VinEco Farm, fresh foods and household appliances.
A variety of popular restaurants are situated within Vincom Tran Duy Hung; for example Pepper Lunch, Dooki or Dozo Sushi. Mainly on fourth and fifth floors are where the restaurants exist whereas tea and coffee shops such as Starbucks or Phuc Long are available for younger generation on the first floor. For every drinking establishment that faces toward the street there is an aim to give clients comfort zone.
CGV Cinema available at Vincom Tran Duy Hung on its fifth floor should not be missed by film lovers. Additionally cinema employs top rate projectors technology into all their theaters which come with rainforest motifs but seats that were hard have been replaced by lazy chairs with lush plants while starry skies cover all spaces. This “Cinema in Forest” will be an unprecedented experience for any cinephile.
On the fourth floor of this Vincom complex parents may take their children to tiNiWorld which encompasses a 1.500m2 playground where they can participate in physical and artistic talent development programs.
Vincom Plaza Skylake
Vincom Plaza Skylake is an ideal site for a shopping center in Nam Tu Liem, which is between two congested streets. It has three basements and three floors which connect two Vinhome buildings.
Over 50 brands, both national and international, are converged on the first floor and second floor of Vincom Plaza Skylake. In the heart of Vincom Skylake there are clothes retailers such as Anta, Aokang and John Henry; accessories shops including Samsonite, PNJ; home care product sellers like Forever, KyoRyo and Kitchmate; as well as cosmetic stores like Doosun or Guardian.
Another great option for shopping is a modern supermarket called Vinmart. Here families can find all sorts of fresh groceries and household items they may need to purchase.
On the first and third floors of Vincom Plaza Skylake you can taste different types of Vietnamese food or international cuisine . Famous restaurants such as Dozo Sushi (Japanese food), Dooki (Korean rice cakes chains) and Net Hue (Vietnamese traditional foods) always have many people visiting them everyday but their eating out experiences cannot be considered complete without coming to Highlands, Juicy Land or Nam Phong Cafe .
Having four standard rooms with 590 seats Cgv Cinema at third floor in Skylake Plaza will deliver a new movie-watching experience for film addicts.On the second floor of Gold Game has two outstanding play areas. Video game centers are places that youth visit to enjoy various games machines and automatic services. Kid Zone was created for children to play with educational activities and toys that are fun.
Vincom Center Pham Ngoc Thach
Vincom center Pham Ngoc Thach crisscrosses the busiest shopping district in Hanoi. Vingroup’s sixth mall, Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach, offers a range of luxury brands and entertainment options.
The eight-storey building has three basements, and it occupies 27.000m2 area. Despite being smaller compared to other Hanoi shopping centers, Pham Ngoc Thach center is large enough to serve as a new place for people nearby who want to have a refreshing hangout around.
Accessory brands appliance makers and fashion designers from about 100 companies both local and international are found at Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach. Moving on to the second floor is Uniqlo, first store in Hanoi. Mentioned also are Guess, New Look as well as Anta among others.VinDS Shoe and VinDS Beauty will be your choice if you want to try something different since they mainly deal with cosmetics, health & wellness, sports and fashion.
It is not just high end products that can be bought at Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach but also affordable midrange items from famous producers such as Daiso or Top & Top . One huge Vinmart supermarket selling various Vingroup green goods for home use is located in B1 basement.
On the first floor and at fifth and sixth floors of Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach there are eateries or drinking stands where someone can take food or drinks.
All of the world’s best-known gastronomic labels are present here. Every brand can be found at Pham Ngoc Thach Center: Haidilao and Hutong(Chinese style hotpot), King BBQ(Korean Buffet), Shogun(Japanese street food)and Khao Lao(Laos specialties).
Starbucks on Highland Coffee plus drinks after dinner could be finished by dessert at Koi Jollibee Tous Les Jours.
The eight floor of Vincom Pham Ngoc Thach houses a BHD Star Cineplex theater which has silver screens and comfortable chairs in every room. 2D, 3D and 4D theaters are available at BHD Cineplex which guarantees quality as well as high picture and sound effects throughout all movies.
The Elite Fitness occupies the seventh floor of this shopping mall. Elite Fitness is equipped with contemporary and finest training facilities like a swimming pool, steam room among others for your convenience.The personal trainers will be always there to help you through the process of getting fit.
Vincom Center Nguyen Chi Thanh
Vincom Nguyen Chi Thanh is among Hanoi’s newest shopping malls. Located in a busy street, this commercial mall is always crowded by people who come here to do their shopping and eating.
Being among the most famous business houses with over 140 enterprises representing from fashion, cosmetics, food and furniture to entertainment and shopping areas, Vincom Center Nguyen Chi Thanh has its main building consisting of six floors and four basement levels.
On the first floor of this Vincom center such sections as cosmetics, watch and jewelry are easily found. For those who have been walking around all day long looking for something they can relax at different coffee shops beautifully built like T-Coffee, Skyline etc.
The second floor houses famous fashion labels such as DKNY, Mango, Calvin Klein and Valentino Creations.
For girls it’s like heaven since on the third floor there are several clothing bag and shoe labels. Different special retail chains which include Beauty Zone, Sports World, Shoe Center, Fashion Megastore among others are available.
Mostly home appliance retailers and bookshops are located on the fourth floor. On this level there are brands like La Home or Modem Life. The families often come here to buy new furniture or home accents when they move into new homes after being newlyweds.
The fifth floor is for those who love food. These various eatery outlets include well-known chains such as Thai Express; Daruma; Hotpot Story (an Asian buffet hotpot restaurant); King BBQ; (a Japenese style restaurant).
This sixth floor of Vincom Nguyen Chi Thanh offers endless possibilities for entertainment adhered to all generations. One can find CGV theatre on this floor which is number one in terms of its position among other CGV theatres but looks more like business class cabin on plane than movie house thereby providing true cinephiles with unique experience. Besides rock climbing club swimming pool exists only for young people who enjoy sports, while Elite Fitness also only for the young generation. Moreover, as a children playground TiNiWorld is an excellent option for families with young kids.
The Vincom Center Nguyen Chi Thanh provides parking for cars and motorcycles in its three lowermost basements. In the last underground floor there is Vinmart and VinPro electronic superstore which takes up quite a big area.
Melinh Plaza
Me Linh Plaza is a huge, contemporary commercial complex with one underground parking and five storey shopping malls situated in the administrative center of Ha Dong district.
- Ground floor: Supermarket
- 1st floor: Accessories brands and electronic stores
- 2nd floor: Fashion brands and sportswears
- 3rd floor: Home appliances and decorations
- 4th floor: Cinema, food court, and amusement area.
The massive MM Mega Market is on the ground level of Me Linh Ha Dong. This supermarket provides various products that have guaranteed quality. While other Hanoi retail places are concerned, MM Mega Market guarantees to offer consumers the most competitive pricing.
There are many furniture stores such as Melinh furniture and Top Care electronics in Me Linh Ha Dong . This also includes several local fashion labels like M2 and The Blues.
On the 4th floor of Melinh Plaza Ha Dong there are some fast-food restaurants namely; KFC, Pizza Hut, BBQ Chicken, Lotteria etc.
The fourth among these is Melinh mall’s Lotte Cinema which meets international standards. An example of this is the seven theaters that constitute this movie theater including two that show 3D films alone.
Vincom Mega Mall – Ocean Park
In December 2020, the first megamall of Hanoi called Vincom Ocean Park was just opened. In addition to dining and entertainment, the mall also provides a large commercial area. The whole concept for this shopping centre’s floor space of 56 000m2 came from the sea itself. The mall is going to make sure that its customers will have breathtaking shopping experiences in future.
The different brands are brought together not less than 136 at Vincom Ocean Park. This range from high-end cosmetics such as Innisfree, The Face Shop, Paula’s Choice and Body Shop to casual wear brand items for young people such as Fila, Vans, H&M. Family members can buy home appliances like Lock&Lock, Go Joy or Cheer Sofa from this complex. Other firms at the site include accessory stores such as Owndays and Sunnies Studio; local clothes manufacturers Boo and Lép; men’s clothing labels: Giordano and HLA.
Mall visitors can find fast food chains and other restaurants like Popeyes, Texas Chicken, Gogi House (Korean Steak), Manwha (Taiwanese Hotpot), Haidilao (Chinese Hot Pot).
One can relax with their family members or friends by sipping milk tea at any of these shops Yihetang , TocoToco , or simply chat over coffee in The Coffee House a cute cafe in BreadTalk.
Within an eight-kilometer radius around Vincom Ocean Park there is only one cinema which is CGV Cinema. On the fourth level of this mall lies CGV Theater that has a total seating capacity of 659 and boasts retro design.
Besides thousands of essentials offered by VinMart at Ocean Park it contains lots of attractive services including children’s play area flowers & bonsai zone food preparation service.
The Garden Shopping Center
In Hanoi’s newest administrative district, The Garden is located. The shopping mall of the Garden which is within the Manor urban complex consists of seven storeys of luxury French-style architecture with dining spaces, entertainment venues, offices, and service apartments. This mall also hosts special events for Hanoi such as Halloween Cosplay Competition and Vietnam Got Talent auditions among others.
The Garden has three parking basements and six floors of retail and dining areas.
- B1: Big C supermarket, Korea food chains, Tous Les Jours
- G: International fashion brands & restaurants
- 1st floor: Women clothes
- 2nd floor: Men and kids clothes, sportswear
- 3rd floor: Home appliance, book stores, kid amusement park, 5d theater
- 4th floor: Cinema, Food & Joy corner, fitness center
The Garden also houses many multinational clothing shops such as Mango; Charles & Keith; Nine West; Gap; Levi’s; time keepers like Rolex; Longines; Swatch among others on its upper levels.
On the first level are women’s products mainly from Unique and Sendora labels. Boss Giovanni shops for men along with kids’ clothiers like Nike Puma can be conveniently found on the second stage. There are a lot of electronics and home furnishing shops that dominate other parts of this area.
Quick food restaurants located at floors B1 and G were basically made for transients.
There is a convergence of eating places on the fourth story. Several reputable eateries offering international dishes alongside Vietnamese cuisine are available here. These include Seoul Garden Al Frescos King BBQ to mention but a few.
The remaining part of the fourth floor forms the Platinum Cinema which comprises six cinemas that includes one having modern high-end technology for 3D viewing experience only.
Star Fitness has unwinding amenities such as pool-spa-cutting-edge exercise equipment while sauna rooms-massage rooms are there too apart from Star Fitness. BigC store has variety of products and fresh food for family needs.
Children, on their side, may have fun and learn something while their parents are shopping at a facility called Funny Land.
Savico Megamall
Ever since 2011 the establishment of Savico Megamall, many tourists go to the place for both entertainment and shopping. The geographic advantage of this mall is located on the Hong River across Long Bien district that allows clients’ convenience in their shopping experience.
It features two basement floors for a hypermarket, three ground levels meant for retailing, and considerable space to park cars. It is situated on a total land area of 60.000 m2.
- 1st floor: Fashion and accessories, jewelry and cosmetics
- 2nd floor: Electronics and furniture stores, children’s fashion
- 3rd floor: Food court and restaurant and entertainment center
This first floor is designated by Savico as an area where fashionable guys and girls can find suitable clothes or make up products. Adidas Converse Etude House are among those known brands offering their merchandise here while May10 Elise are among the local brand names available here. For top-notch high-tech shops move to the second floor or enter Vietnam electronic shopping zone.
Supermarket: Big C supermarket based in basement opens at 8a.m every day as families buy foodstuff and things they use routinely.
Savico Megamall has been dubbed fast-food lovers’ heaven. This contains some places like KFC, Lotteria, Pizza Hut etc. Additionally there exists seafood restaurant plus buffet outlets such as Gogi Sumo BBQ Kichi Kichi Dooki that you may try in one location at the third floor while others are simple cafes/tea shops such as Chago Ding Tea Highlands or other coffee/tea venues.
Also third floor has gaming areas with various entertainment uses. In this case we have Lotte Cinema Mega Fun gaming area which involves activities such as playing video games along with kids’ zone playing facilities where family members can spend time together.
In front of the shopping center there is an open area decorated with flowers and fountain used for holding events. During special times like when live concerts are happening at night outside space is used for this purpose. Fashion shows, exhibitions or demonstrations are other things that can happen on the outside part during some occasional fire drill.
Vincom Mega Mall – Times City
Vincom Mega Mall Times City, the second largest underground mall in Vietnam, was nominated for the 2015 Asia Pacific Property Awards (APPA) “best commercial center” category. Due to its large size and extensive range of different shopping, leisure and dining options available, it is a regular feature amongst the major entertainment outlets in Hanoi.
Times City shopping mall and dozens of small and major retailers are located next to each other starting from an archway on the central square. It could be quite wasting time if you like going shopping for hours at these trendy stalls displaying watches, furniture, jewellery and beauty products from many famous brands around the world.
Another one is Vinmart that has over 40 000 items which come from diverse fields such as foodstuffs, household goods, cosmetics as well as toys and its total area is over 11 500 m2. The inhabitants of those twenty-three apartment buildings here as well as many other homes nearby will always prefer strict quality products found at Vinmart Times City.
In October 2018 Vingroup introduced a real estate transaction center for business within Vincom Mega Mall near T10 building entrance. For more information about Vingroup real estate projects visit Times City real estate transaction center so that you may interact with experts regarding house buying and selling processes.
The food court at Times City Commercial Center consists of almost 100 restaurants with various international cultures including Korean, Japanese, Thai or Italian cuisines. For the purposes of eating KFC,Lotteria,and Alfresco Pizza are your top pickings of fried chicken,hamburgers, pizza respectively .But if you want to be with your family members around a warm barbeque burner ,the buffet stores at King BBQ,KING DELI ,Thai Express,and Kichi Kichi will surely leave you satisfied .
Times city aquarium situated in the heart of Hanoi looks like a small sea. However it has always been “hot” for both local inhabitants and tourists since the day it was opened. At present, more than 30,000 different species of marine life live in the Times City Aquarium which is made up of 3 million blocks filled with seawater called a “sea tunnel”.
It can be said that this is a useful playground where children can learn what profession they want to have in future. Children will visit this place to act as employees in fire departments, hospitals, restaurants, and businesses where they will learn about the career choices they have made. That’s when children are supposed to discover many kinds of jobs and then choose their own purposes and directions suitably.
Vincom Center – Royal City
Vincom Mega Mall Times City, the second largest underground shopping center in Vietnam, was nominated for “best commercial center” at the 2015 Asia Pacific Property Awards (APPA). Due to its huge size and a variety of different shops, entertainment options and restaurants it is always among the leading recreational hotspots in Hanoi’s capital.
From the Time city complex central square archway leads to the Times city Shopping Center where nearly major and small retailers are situated next to each other. It may not be worth spending hours at these stylish booths with watches, furniture, jewelry or cosmetics from many famous international brands if you like shopping.
Vinmart: Having a total coverage area of over 11,500 m2, Vinmart Times City supermarket presently carries about 40,000 items across multiple sectors including foodstuff business line home appliances franchise toiletries and toys. Of all residents living in this area composed of twenty-three apartment buildings as well as numerous other houses around it choose only high quality goods sold by Vinmart Times City.
Real estate transaction center: In October 2018 Vingroup established a real estate transaction centre within Vincom Mega Mall for business (near entrance from T10 building). If you’re interested in Vingroup real estate projects come visit them at Times City Real Estate Transaction Centre to get insights on how house buying and selling processes are done by professionals.
Times City Commercial Center has nearly one hundred restaurants featuring cuisine from different countries such as Korea, Japan, Thailand and Italy. When it comes to eating out KFC, Lotteria and Alfresco Pizza offer fried chicken burgers pizzas respectively however if you want to sit together with your relatives beside a warm barbecue burner then there’s no better place than King BBQ buffet stores at King Deli Thai Express Kichi Kichi that will surely make you satisfied through both stomachs
Times City Aquarium which is located in central Hanoi looks like miniature ocean. Since first opening, this place has been “hot” with both tourists and residents of the capital. There are now around 30,000 different marine creatures in the Times City Aquarium living in a “sea tunnel” created from three million blocks filled with seawater.
VinKE educational entertainment area: This is a useful playground for young people to be introduced to various careers. The selection of their future professions will be learned here by children acting as employees of fire stations, medical institutions, restaurants or companies. Then they can interact with all kinds of jobs and choose the best objectives and directions for themselves.
Markets
Distinct streets selling only specialized crafts are upgraded to the mazelike Vietnamese market. This is a vast wholesale market in the heart of the Old Quarter, which includes everything from toys, trinkets and confectionery to clothes, shoes and fabrics. The market encompasses the area around Dong Xuan where you can get anything from bedding to glassware.
The next stop is Long Bien Market, one of Hanoi’s major markets. Long Bien is home to wholesale produce market for the whole city. Households, restaurants and other small-scale vendors get their fresh fruits, vegetables and meat from here. Night after night other parts of the country send their produce so that it gets offloaded well into midnight but still fresh enough for the morning rush.
Long Bien Market traders are unloading truckloads of tomatoes while at Quang Ba Market others are unloading heaps of colourful flowers. These streets become like a natural perfume factory between 12 midnight up until 3am in morning as all those cut flowers come unpacked straight from wet fields filling air with that sweet fragrance.
For any matters regarding food or food-related issues go straight to Nghia Tan Market. It is one of Hanoi’s most famous food markets and a genuine street-food heaven including snacks too. If something is consumed in Hanoi, there are high chances that it can be found freshly cooked at Nghia Tan market; as well as being ridiculously cheap.
After eating you may move on Phung Khoan Market which is also known as having everything cheaply supplied . Because they charge similar prices as Nghia Tan Phung Khoan Market has been popular among young people too. This place sells clothing and household items such as kitchen utensils and bed sheets which makes it a good choice for university students expatriates or long-time travelers who need some bulk buying before stocking up their new apartments with clothes furniture etc..
Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market, the oldest and biggest wholesale market in Hanoi, keeps all cultural features of this old city and is a vivid reflection of the daily life of Hanoians. Unlike most of the streets in the Old Quarter that sell only one kind of goods each, Dong Xuan Market sells everything from electronics to household appliances, machinery and agricultural products for local people as well as souvenirs for tourists; mostly on the second floor.
Whenever you visit Hanoi in Vietnam, do not miss going to Dong Xuan market which has everything you want at dirt-cheap prices (from $1 to $3 per item). All you have to do is cram through narrow paths and pick out your favorite things.
It appears that Dong Xuan Market was constructed with French architectural designs in mind having dome design that looks beautiful and modern with three triangular-shaped sections (formerly five) at its front characterized by honeycomb-like perforations resulting into an impressive appearance when first sighted.
The interior parts of the market consist of three expansive aesthetically appealing floors with many entrances where elevators are meant for customers’ movements or haulage operations. There might be an individual who feels so tiny while being at the heart of such a vast ‘hall’ like this.
Dong Xuan Market holds over 71 kiosks and 2100 stalls which are stocked with virtually every type of merchandise. The place attracts hundreds every day who come here for different reasons including taking photos, purchasing items or eating.
Quang Ba Flower Market
To go to Hanoi’s night markets is a rare occurrence, but the Quang Ba Flower night market is definitely one of its most interesting. Quang Ba market has several hundred flower vendors on its streets. All these stores have different types of flowers which range from common ones to those that are not.
Even if you do not want any flower bouquet, it is very attractive for the eyes. You need to get up early but it is worthwhile! You will find yourself in the middle of beautiful and live scented flowers. A right place for a photo shoot or just a walk in landscape mode.
Quang Ba Flower Market located at Nghi Tam dyke, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam, is the largest night flower market in Hanoi city with many vendors selling flowers at this location during the day as well as at night. These flowers are brought from various parts of Hanoi like Dong Anh district, Gia Lam district and Tay Tuu village among others therefore all visitors to this market will be fascinated by colorful flower stands of every kind.
The busiest time for this place is usually late in the evening when everybody else have gone to bed after some tiresome hours. Despite being held at an unusual hour –many people still come here to buy flowers; and take pictures.
Besides having various kinds of plants offered there; this market is also famous for cheap prices they sell their products at! By coming here, you can easily purchase your favourite blooms cheaper than anywhere else including street- side florists’ kiosks or other businesses in town.
Long Bien Market
Hanoi’s radiance after sunset is also enhanced by the urban nighttime rhythm which is quite attracting, awesome shining colors of lights from streets, intersections and skyscrapers. The best place where visitors can explore Hanoi at night may be the Long Bien wholesale market.
Long Bien market, also known as Long Bien wholesale has been located under the Long Bien bridge in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district since 1992. Since it has been open for over two decades, many traders prefer to do business here.
Whence comes the name “Long bien market”, a wholesale located at historical long bien bridge, which has seen many ups and downs in Vietnam’s capital city?
At around ten p.m., wagons full of farm produce approach or leave markets’ entrances from all angles.
They bring goods from many parts of Vietnam including Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Phu Tho and even Mekong delta. The carrier are very quick and skillful when they are taking boxes of fruit and vegetables down into stall .Small businesses like street food sellers as well as family owned restaurants and other small markets operating late into the night would mostly have their day’s sales transacted there. Many of them who happen to be little in size display such an incredible courage that despite their struggles use their own sources for survival.
It is worth mentioning that this is also known as Hanoi’s cheapest seasonal fruit late evening trade fair. In summer, customers could easily find fruits such as mangoes ,watermelons ,plums ,guavas ,jackfruit ,avocadoes, lychee s and longans while during winter there are plenty of orange s,pomegranate s,b ananas among others. Besides that foreigners would have a chance to bargain in Vietnamese way as well as quote price freely according to personal preferences.
Also one should be cautious not to come across groups moving with merchandise through crowded market places. One suggestion when you are on a tour is to stand somewhere quietly, maybe at the old Long Bien bridge, and watch the soul of night markets in time. You are going to like this trip as well as get better understanding about Hanoi people and their way of life.
Shopping Areas In Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter area
Whenever visitors in Hanoi like to know which area they can go for large collection of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, mostly to buy them as souvenirs, their inquiries are often directed towards the areas around Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter. This is mainly because; it is a popular tourist destination within Hanoi that receives high number of tourists on daily basis from all parts of the world hence having many types of gifts and souvenir shops.
At any given time of the day or night, foreign tourists can be found walking throughout this district exploring the charm of Hoan Kiem Lake and historic buildings in ancient streets or just purchasing some small things with which to keep a memory about this amazing city.
Such much more including Hang Ngang and Hang Dao streets have made this place be seen by many foreigners who come crowded its busy streets especially at night when these famous shopping alleys turn into pedestrian only roads where line-up residents mix up with local people so as to feel how much thrilling such places are.
Popular spots for souvenir hunting other than Hang Ngang and Hang Dao Streets comprise Bao Khanh, Hang Gai, Luong Van Can, and Hang Can. The most appropriate way to depict what these little keepsakes and gift items stand for may be said to be countless different kinds of traditional Vietnamese merchandise that comprise hundreds upon hundreds among which majority seem creative since they were crafted by experienced artisans from famous vocational villages located around Hanoi.
However, foreigner customers should not expect that whatever price sellers ask for will be equal to those paid by natives here. This is because there are high charges for rent where these stores are situated at the heart of the city in addition to indigenous suppliers’ perception about always having money while travelling abroad. Nevertheless remember you can always bargain!
Ba Trieu Street
Long Ba Tieu Street runs from the Hoan Kiem Lake neighborhood to Dai Co Viet Street. If this road had a name, it should simply be called “Street of Shopping,” especially upscale shopping. Although there are numerous stores, eateries, and other service locations along this route that cater to clients of all income levels and social classes, premium goods appear to be more prevalent and varied here.
Along its 2.5 kilometer length, this avenue is lined with a variety of high-end stores offering a wide range of goods and services, including motorbikes, clothing and accessories, restaurants, phones, and entertainment equipment. Along with a variety of high-end stores that are rather pricey, Ba Trieu Street also offers a broad selection of middle-class stores that are reasonably priced and of good quality. The largest and most notable midrange establishment on this street is Vinatex Fashion Center, which showcases and offers middle class consumers clothing and accessories created in the country at affordable prices.
At the other end of the street, where Vincom Tower is located, is the paradise of high-end shopping. This business complex consists of upscale shopping malls and opulent services that primarily cater to wealthy customers with larger wallets than the average person. This location brings together nearly all renowned and well-known domestic and foreign businesses in Vietnam, across all sectors—from apparel and footwear to electronics. Customers who visit this commercial center will encounter stores and services of the highest caliber that may only be found at Vincom Tower.
West Lake
The biggest lake in Hanoi is West Lake, or Ho Tay in Vietnamese. Additionally, it is second in rating for the most interesting lakes of this beautiful city. This district has also become the most favored living place for expatriates and foreigners as it has the greatest population of non-Vietnamese people in Vietnam. With the surge in the number of foreign born citizens residing in West Lake which has led to a new green market attracting attention from many locals increasing demand for peculiar things like foodstuffs, drinks and clothes that are convenient since they are within their reach.
Consequently, many home based businesses have been created to cater for international tourists who need such commodities. These shops offer a wide range of foreign products that are hard to get anywhere else in Hanoi. You can find turkey for Thanksgiving here, Kraft Dinner, Kitkat Bar and Twinning’s Earl Grey Tea. Here too you can get healthy foods like brown rice and whole grain bread.
These shops are located along roads surrounding West Lake such as Xuan Dieu, Au Co, Yen Phu or To Ngoc Van. However due to taxes charged prices there are slightly higher than those found at other stores or when bought from abroad but they still remain reasonable and affordable by local expats who live around that area.
Local Souvenirs & Handcrafts
Art work and print
Walking around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, one will see an abundance of art businesses offering paintings and pastels. If you wish to commemorate or document your trip to Hanoi, don’t hesitate to stroll in and purchase a Vietnamese propaganda poster or an original work of art for surprisingly inexpensive prices ranging from $2 to $30. If you are an art-lover who is never satisfied by inexpensive pieces of art, the upmarket galleries in Hanoi are always open to your spending hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Dried fruits
It would be a big tragedy for travelers to miss the Hang Giay Street dried, spiced meat and the Hang Duong sweetened dried fruits and vegetables (“Mai” and “Mt”). Besides Hanoi is the only city in Vietnam where you can get these delicious ”Mai”. With a wide range of species which are not counted these type of snacks would require one million weeks to taste them all.
T-shirt and Silk products
Hanoi and its cuisines are guaranteed to make you fall so deeply in love with this country that all you will feel is saying, “I’m crazy about Vietnam!” There is no need to compete with the cacophony of a wide range of means of transport on the streets since souvenir shops along Dinh Liet or Hang Gai Street can offer you a wide range of T-shirts bearing such words as “I Love Hanoi”,” I Love Vietnam…” and even “I Love Pho”, which has an image of a hot steamy bowl of pho. In addition, they come in different sizes as well as colors. Also worth trying from these same streets are silk products including scarfs, ties and clothes and also brocade products like bags, hats and other hand materials.
Hanoia
Hanoia started to honor the traditional Vietnamese craft of lacquerware by bringing it to international market. Lacquerware is a time-honored art which has a history of several millennia as it was originally made for functional objects being used to harden their surfaces. Hanoia at present seeks to raise the bar on this artistic form. It makes contemporary reinterpretations of classical art through its team of artisans who have been making lacquer arts since the 14th century and are based in a historical town in Binh Duong Province, selling them in various forms such as home décor and jewelry.
Collective Memories
This strange store sells little trinkets and curiosities. It was started by a travel writer and a photographer, who fell in love with their home country while on assignment, so they decided to open up shop as a way of expressing their passion for it. The owners emphasize cultural distinctiveness and hyper-local identity and mean to use this shop as a counterpoint against the uniformity of global homogenization. Collective Memories offers some unusual items which include hand-stitched or painted clothes, wood-fired mugs, board games, art prints, chili sauce and magnets… It is a veritable treasure trove; one of those spots where an inquisitive or nostalgic traveler might fritter away an entire afternoon. In the manner of museums or galleries the stock is curated and changes from time to time thus enabling diverse groups of artists to be seen by people all over the world.
Tired City
The tired city sells original prints, shirts, tote bags and stationery made by young Vietnamese artists and illustrators. If Hanoia is the traditional craft counterpart in the modern art scene, everything at Tired City is 100% original art with all proceeds going directly to benefit a Vietnamese artist who lives locally. On top of financial assistance to artists, tired city has also founded Vietnam Local Artists Group which is an online hub for creative co-operation and community.
