Hanoi: Shoppers’ Paradise or Worst Nightmare

If there’s one word that I can best associate with Hanoi, it’s shopping. The Old Quarter is full of small shops that will surely wake up your shopaholic genes.

Here’s a list of some of the streets and the products that you’ll usually find in there.

Apart from the above mentioned street shops, you might as well visit Dong Xuan which seems to be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) market in Hanoi.

A popular choice for tourist is the Weekend Night Market which you can easily find if you stay within the Old Quarters.

One thing that every traveller might find interesting is the silk lining for sleeping bags which comes in different colors and sizes. I bought one for a dollar two years ago and last time I inquired it’s around $3.5. I’m sure the price will still go lower if you bargain hard enough.

You can also find a lot of counterfeited books (even Lonely Planet guidebooks) and backpacks and other bags (Crumpler, Northface and other brands) near the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. I don’t recommend though buying counterfeited backpacks especially 30 L (and up) because the stitching and materials used might not withstand the weight of your stuff. But who knows right, it’s up to you to decided.

Other than buying stuffs, the market is also a nice place to catch a glimpse about local life. A lot of people converge at the sidewalks at night munching on what seems to be sunflower and pumpkin seeds while sipping ice cold lemonade or tea or Bia Hoi. This seemed to be a popular past time for young Vietnamese in Hanoi. You’ll also find a lot of these along St. Joseph Church.

Here’re Seven Tips to Enjoy Your Shopping Experience in Hanoi

Shopping in Hanoi could either be your best experience here in the city or your worst nightmare. Here’re five tips to help you keep the experience pleasant.

1. Don’t Bargain if You Don’t Intend to Buy: It may be offensive and frustrating to the vendor especially if you bargain hard and does not buy at the end. Place yourselves on their shoes and you’ll understand why.

2. Keep your Belongings Safe: There’s so many people shopping around the Old Quarters and if you go to a very crowded place, you might get pickpocketed. I haven’t heard any incident of pickpocketing in my eleven days of stay here in Hanoi but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. Split Your Money in Different Locations: Do not put your eggs in one basket especially in walking around very crowded market place.

(Night Market Crowd)

4. Bring a Bottled Water: It’s May and usually it should be a bit cooler by now in Manila but in Hanoi it seems to be getting hotter and hotter as days go by. Bring a bottled water and keep yourself hydrated.

5. Bargain Hard but Polite: Bargaining is a skill that every traveller should have and sad to say that it’s not one of my best traits. Start bargaining at 50% and usually the price would go up until you come to an agreeable price. Always wear your best and sincere smile as you bargain, who knows you might just get a very good deal.

6. Check the Item Before You Leave the Shop: Check if there’s any damage or what so you could immediately ask for a replacement. It sucks to find out a big stain on your shirt once you’ve left Hanoi.

7. Ask around for the price: Check the prices of other stores concerning a particular item and start bargaining with the one who offered the least price. Also check if the quality of the item is the same as with the other stores.

(Local Performance at Dong Xuan)

Hopefully these tips will ensure that you enjoy your shopping experience in Hanoi.

Do you have any other shopping tips to add on the list?

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