Hanoi, Vietnam

Best places to shop in Hanoi

5 markets, malls and shopping districts in Hanoi — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Old Quarter 36 Streets

The medieval guild quarter, where each street still trades one thing — silk on Hang Gai, tin on Hang Thiec, votive paper on Hang Ma, herbs on Lan Ong.

Where: Street Shopping
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 09:00–21:00
Cost: Budget–Mid
Tip: Hang Gai is the silk and tailoring street. A made-to-measure shirt takes about a day; ask to see the fabric bolt it will be cut from.

Watch outSynthetic and blended cloth is routinely sold as pure silk. The burn test settles it — real silk smells of burnt hair and turns to ash, polyester melts into a hard bead. Reputable shops will do it for you.

2. Dong Xuan Market

The city's largest covered market, at the top of the Old Quarter — wholesale clothing, fabric, household goods and a food alley behind.

Where: Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 06:00–18:00
Cost: Budget
Tip: The ground floor is wholesale and does not want single-item buyers; the upper floors do.

3. Hang Da and Trang Tien Plaza

Trang Tien is the colonial-era luxury address near the opera house; Hang Da is the practical local alternative with fabric and leather in the basement.

Where: Luxury
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 09:30–22:00
Cost: Mid–Luxury

4. Hanoi Weekend Night Market

Hang Dao to Dong Xuan closes to traffic on weekend evenings for a long ribbon of stalls — clothing, souvenirs, toys and street food.

Where: Night Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Friday to Sunday, 19:00–23:00
Cost: Budget

5. Bat Trang Ceramic Village

The 700-year-old pottery village across the river — workshops and a market hall selling tableware, tea sets and tiles direct from the kilns.

Where: Market
Map: Open in Maps
Best time: Daily 08:00–17:00
Cost: Budget–Mid
Tip: Bus 47 runs from Long Bien. Shops will pack fragile pieces properly for flying if you ask.