Hanoi Shopping Guide: Your Ultimate List of Markets, Malls & Must-Buys

💰 Click here to see Vietnam Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: August, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = ₫26,296.00

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: ₫394,440 – ₫1,314,800 ($15.00 – $50.00)

Mid-range: ₫1,051,840 – ₫3,944,400 ($40.00 – $150.00)

Comfortable: ₫2,629,600 – ₫13,148,000 ($100.00 – $500.00)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: ₫78,888 – ₫394,440 ($3.00 – $15.00)

Mid-range hotel: ₫315,552 – ₫2,366,640 ($12.00 – $90.00)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: ₫40,000.00 ($1.52)

Mid-range meal: ₫200,000.00 ($7.61)

Upscale meal: ₫750,000.00 ($28.52)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: ₫7,000.00 ($0.27)

Monthly transport pass: ₫258,333.00 ($9.82)

Hanoi‘s shopping scene in 2026 has one major frustration: too many travel articles still describe it as a single chaotic bazaar, when the reality is far more layered. The Old Quarter is real, but so are air-conditioned malls with fixed prices, government-certified craft shops, and a night market that runs like clockwork every weekend. Knowing where to go — and for what — saves you hours of wandering and hundreds of thousands of dong in overpriced tourist traps.

Old Quarter Streets: Where Hanoi’s Street-Level Shopping Actually Happens

The Old Quarter is built on a logic that dates back centuries: each street specialised in one trade, and many still do. Walk down Hang Gai and you will find silk shops, lacquerware, and hand-embroidered table linen. Step onto Hang Bac and silver jewellery dominates. Hang Ma is wall-to-wall paper goods, decorations, and lanterns — especially vivid in the weeks before Tet, when the entire street glows with red and gold.

This is not a single shopping strip. It is a 36-street grid, and learning which street sells what saves serious time. A few worth memorising:

• Hang Gai (Silk Street): Silk scarves, ao dai fabric, embroidery, and quality lacquerware. Higher prices but more consistent quality than surrounding streets.
• Hang Bong: Tailors. If you want something custom-made, this is where to start fittings.
• Hang Thiec: Tin and metalwork. Unique souvenirs that are actually useful — tin signs, lamps, and kitchen items made on the spot.
• Hang Chieu: Bamboo, rattan, and wickerwork. Lightweight and easy to pack flat.
• Lo Su / Dinh Liet: Stationery, greeting cards, and wrapping paper. Surprisingly cheap and excellent for gifts.

Most shops open around 8:30–9:00 and run until 21:00 or later. Almost none accept cards at small independent stalls, so carry cash — VND in small denominations.

Best Markets in Hanoi: Dong Xuan, Hom, and the Weekend Night Market

Hanoi’s markets are not all the same experience. Each has a different crowd, a different inventory, and a different energy.

Dong Xuan Market

This is Hanoi’s largest covered market, running across three warehouse-style floors near the north end of the Old Quarter. The ground floor handles fresh produce and street food — the smell of dried shrimp, fresh herbs, and grilled skewers hits you before you even reach the entrance. Upper floors carry wholesale clothing, household goods, and cheap electronics. It is a local market first, and tourists second. Prices are lower here than on Hang Gai, but quality varies sharply. Good for bulk snacks, cheap fabric, and watching the city move at its own pace.

Hom Market (Cho Hom)

Located near Hue Street in the Ba Dinh / Hai Ba Trung border area, Cho Hom is the go-to market for fabric by the metre. Tailors, costume designers, and Hanoians sourcing material for ao dai all come here. If you plan to have anything custom-made, buy fabric here and take it to a Hang Bong tailor. Prices per metre run roughly 80,000–300,000 VND (USD 3–12) depending on the material.

Hanoi Night Market

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, a section of the Old Quarter closes to traffic and becomes a pedestrian-only night market running from around 18:00 to 23:00. Clothing, accessories, street food, and handicrafts crowd the stalls. It is lively, well-lit, and a good place to practice bargaining in a low-pressure environment. Expect the tourist-facing prices to start high — standard opening ask is often double what a fair price would be.

Malls and Modern Shopping Centres for AC and Reliability

Not every purchase needs to be a negotiation. When you want fixed prices, receipts, and an easy return policy, Hanoi’s malls deliver — and several have expanded significantly since 2024.

• Vincom Center Ba Trieu: The flagship Vincom in Hanoi. Supermarket on the basement level, international fashion brands mid-floors, cinema and food court at the top. Located on Ba Trieu Street, easily accessible from the city centre. Good for electronics, cosmetics, and mid-range Vietnamese fashion brands like Canifa or Routine.
• Lotte Center Hanoi (Ba Dinh): Heavy on South Korean brands and a strong food court. The basement supermarket stocks imported groceries and Korean snacks that make excellent and unusual gifts. In 2025, Lotte added a dedicated Vietnamese artisan goods section on the fourth floor — worth a look for packaged tea, coffee, and premium lacquerware with proper receipts.
• Aeon Mall Long Bien: Across the Chuong Duong Bridge in Long Bien District, this Japanese-operated mall is massive and family-oriented. Lower prices than central malls. The AEON supermarket here has one of the best selections of Vietnamese packaged food in the city — dried mango, ca phe trung (egg coffee mix), premium pho kits, and regional snacks from across the country.
• Trang Tien Plaza: Right on Hoan Kiem Lake, this is Hanoi’s luxury address — Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta. Small by international standards but centrally located and recently renovated.

What to Buy in Hanoi: The Must-Buy List by Category

Hanoi produces and sells things you genuinely cannot find elsewhere, or not at this quality and price. Here is a practical breakdown by category:

Textiles and Clothing

Silk scarves from Hang Gai, hand-embroidered linen, and ao dai fabric. A made-to-measure ao dai from a reputable Hang Bong tailor runs 800,000–2,500,000 VND (USD 32–100) depending on fabric. Allow at least 48 hours for fitting and completion.

Coffee and Tea

Vietnam is one of the world’s top robusta producers, and Hanoi’s cafés and shops carry excellent single-origin and blended ground coffee. Look for brands like Trung Nguyen Legend or smaller roasters in the Tay Ho area. For tea, Moc Chau green tea and Thai Nguyen loose-leaf are both sold throughout the Old Quarter and at Aeon.

Lacquerware and Ceramics

Hanoi is close to Bat Trang Ceramic Village (about 12 km from the centre), where you can buy directly from kilns. In the city itself, Hang Khai and the shops on Hang Gai carry polished lacquer boxes, bowls, and chopstick sets. Prices start at 150,000 VND (USD 6) for small pieces.

Propaganda Art Prints

Vintage-style propaganda posters are a Hanoi signature. Reproductions are sold throughout the Old Quarter from around 80,000–200,000 VND (USD 3–8) for standard sizes. Original vintage prints, when authentic, cost significantly more and require an export permit for items over a certain age.

Handmade Jewellery

Silver work on Hang Bac ranges from simple rings to detailed ethnic minority-inspired pieces. Prices are negotiable. Verify silver content if it matters to you — ask for 925 stamping.

Hanoi Shopping: 2026 Budget Reality

Prices in Hanoi have risen modestly since 2024, primarily in the tourist-facing Old Quarter. Here is an honest look at what things cost across different spending levels:

• Budget tier: Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi Night Market, and street stalls. A silk scarf: 100,000–200,000 VND (USD 4–8). Cotton T-shirt: 80,000–150,000 VND (USD 3–6). Local coffee pack (250g): 60,000–100,000 VND (USD 2.50–4).
• Mid-range tier: Old Quarter independent shops, Hang Gai boutiques. A quality embroidered linen tablecloth: 400,000–900,000 VND (USD 16–36). Lacquer jewellery box: 250,000–600,000 VND (USD 10–24). Custom-printed silk scarf: 350,000–700,000 VND (USD 14–28).
• Comfortable tier: Lotte artisan section, Trang Tien Plaza, certified craft galleries. Premium ao dai: 2,000,000–5,000,000 VND (USD 80–200). High-end lacquerware art piece: 1,500,000–8,000,000 VND (USD 60–320). Authenticated ethnic minority textile: 800,000–3,000,000 VND (USD 32–120).

Bargaining is expected in markets and most Old Quarter street shops. In malls and certified craft stores, prices are fixed. Tipping for negotiation is not a thing — just agree on a price and pay it.

Avoiding Scams and Bargaining That Actually Works

Hanoi’s shopping scene is not uniquely dangerous, but there are patterns worth knowing before you hand over cash.

The switch scam: You agree on an item, the vendor wraps it — and the box contains a lower-quality version. Check what you are handed before you pay, not after. Open the bag or box at the stall.

Fake silk: Real silk burns cleanly and smells faintly of hair. Synthetic fabric melts and smells of plastic. Most vendors on Hang Gai who charge fair prices are selling real silk, but off-street stalls asking very low prices usually are not.

On bargaining: A working rule in 2026 — counter at 50–60% of the opening price for tourist-facing stalls, then settle somewhere in the 60–70% range. If the vendor immediately accepts your first counter, you went too high. Do not feel bad about this; it is the expected dance. Stay friendly, keep it light, and walk away calmly if you cannot reach a number that feels right. Walking away closes deals more often than it ends them.

Card readers: Some Old Quarter shops now have card machines but charge a 3–5% surcharge. Always confirm before swiping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best area in Hanoi for shopping?

The Old Quarter — specifically Hang Gai, Hang Bac, and the streets around Dong Xuan Market — is the most concentrated shopping area. For fixed prices and air conditioning, head to Vincom Center Ba Trieu or Aeon Mall Long Bien. Each serves a different purpose and they are not interchangeable.

Can I bargain at Hanoi’s markets and shops?

Yes, at markets and Old Quarter street shops, bargaining is standard. Fixed prices apply at malls, certified craft stores, and any shop displaying a clear price tag without hesitation. If a seller is reluctant to quote a written price, that is a signal to negotiate hard or leave.

What should I absolutely buy in Hanoi that I cannot get elsewhere?

Custom-made ao dai, hand-embroidered linens from Hang Gai, Bat Trang ceramics, and high-quality Vietnamese single-origin coffee. Propaganda art prints are also distinctly Hanoian. These are either made locally or significantly cheaper and more authentic here than anywhere else in Vietnam or abroad.

Is Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Night Market open every night?

No. The Old Quarter pedestrian night market operates on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings only, from approximately 18:00 to 23:00. Streets are closed to motorbike traffic during this time. On other nights, the Old Quarter is still active but stalls are fewer and the atmosphere is different.

How has Hanoi shopping changed in 2026 compared to previous years?

Several Hanoi malls have added dedicated Vietnamese craft and artisan sections with English price labelling, making it easier for visitors to buy authentically without bargaining. QR payment is now widely accepted at mid-range shops. Dong Xuan Market underwent partial renovation in late 2025, improving lighting and vendor organisation on the upper floors.

Explore more
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📷 Featured image by Rizki Oceano on Unsplash.