Hanoi shop guide - A-Z of shopping
Local water puppets
Though sightseeing, eating and drinking are likely to occupy most of your time in town, it’s well worth spending some time hunting for bargains as Hanoi is a shopper’s paradise. You’ll find everything here from shimmering silks to cute woodcarvings, classy jewellery and original art, all at very tempting prices.
Fortunately most shopping outlets stay open through the evening, so it’s easy to plan a day of sightseeing, enjoy a delicious meal and then go browsing the shops. There’s a wide variety of products to choose from, so to help you narrow down your choices and find what you’re after, here’s a glossary of what’s on offer and where to find it.
A-Z of Hanoi shopping
Accessories: To get an idea just how hip Hanoi is these days, take a saunter down Nha Tho near St Joseph’s Cathedral and gaze at the fashion accessories on sale in the trendy boutiques. Bags and bracelets, earrings and phone covers are just a few of the options you’ll find on sale here.
Antiques: There are very strict rules about the export of antiques from Vietnam, so if you are tempted to part with a lot of money for a little piece of history, make sure that the dealer provides you with a certificate of origin. nobody wants a fight with customs upon leaving the country when you have a flight to catch!
Such purchases are rare, though, and most antique shops display modern reproductions of traditional designs. The majority of them can be found along Hang Gai and Hang Bong in the Old Quarter, but remember to bargain hard for a fair price.
Art: Hanoi seems to have more than its fair share of talented artists if the work on display in the city’s many art galleries is any indication. To get an idea, take a stroll along Trang Tien between Hoan Kiem Lake and the Opera House. Prices range between a few bucks for a good reproduction of an old master to thousands for a new work by an established painter with a solid reputation.
Books: It’s difficult to find a good variety of English-language books on sale in bookstores, partly because the market is cornered by vendors who wander round tourist areas lugging stacks of photocopied guide books and best sellers. One of the best places to head for is Bookworm, at 4b Yen The, which has a reasonable stock of both new and second-hand titles. Be prepared to pay a bit more than prices back home to allow for shipping.
Duty free: Prices at duty free shops in Noi Bai Airport are comparable with other international airports. However, there are fewer shops than you might expect to find and consequently the choice of items for sale and brands available are rather limited. For this reason, it’s better to buy gifts for friends back home before heading out to the airport.
Electronics: While you might not be thinking of buying electronic equipment as a souvenir, Hanoi is well stocked with a good variety of new products, so if you need some extra memory for your camera or a flash drive for your laptop, you won’t have difficulty finding it. All the shopping malls sell plenty of electronic goods, and there are several specialist shops along Hai Ba Trung.
Gems and jewellery: There are several shops in Hanoi that sell jewellery in attractive designs, but you need to be careful if you are shopping for precious stones or metals, as gullible shoppers have been sold fake goods in the past. Trust your instincts and walk away if not completely happy.
Hang Bac in the Old Quarter has several jewellery shops, and there are several places selling gold, silver and jade products around the junction of Trang Tien and Dinh Tien Hoang. A lot of Chinese-owned business will sell gold by weight, but the workmanship may vary greatly.
Handicrafts: The handicrafts on sale in Hanoi are mostly made by the ethnic minorities that inhabit the hills of the north. These include embroidered panels and purses, household implements, lacquerware bowls and musical instruments. There are several outlets in the Old Quarter, including Craft Link at 43 Van Mieu, which is a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of ethnic minorities.
Home décor: Even if you’re not planning to settle down in Hanoi, you might well spot a neat set of cushion covers, a table lamp or a set of cutlery that you just have to take home with you. The Old Quarter has lots of shops selling such items, especially along Hang Bac and Hang Bong.
Silk: Vietnamese silks come in an astounding range of colours and are popular buys for tailor-made suits and shirts. Many female visitors consider getting a tailor-made silk ao dai, the traditional Vietnamese figure-hugging outfit, which can cost as little as $20. Other popular items are purses, handbags, scarves and shoes. For top-quality work, check out Khai Silk at 96 Hang Gai and Kenly Silk at 108 Hang Gai.
