5 Markets To Visit In Hanoi

Vietnam’s capital has dozens of markets: some big, some small and some that take over entire city streets. Some open before sunrise and some are at their busiest just before midnight. Each has a unique charm worth exploring and offers an insight into local life. Here, we rounds up the best spots to shop for food, fashion and fabric in Hanoi.

Arriving in a new city can be a difficult, isolating experience, and Hanoi is no different. Its streets are crowded with the smells of strange food, the sounds of a language you likely don’t speak and the blare of horns. All around you, 8 million people are living out their lives. It can be a challenge to feel like you’ve got even the slightest grip on what makes the city tick.

* Dong Xuan Market

Established by the French colonial authorities in 1889, Dong Xuan Market stands as Hanoi's largest indoor market, offering an extensive array of goods at wholesale prices. Though the market's exterior has undergone renovations due to historical events like fires, floods, and wars, the current facade still reflects the sloping roofs reminiscent of its 1800s design. Despite its somewhat austere interior, Dong Xuan Market is a vibrant hub of activity. Inside the colossal concrete structure, bursts of color emanate from bolts of lively silk and cotton, eye-catching T-shirts, and aromatic bags of spices, filling the myriad of stalls.

Venturing downstairs, visitors encounter a bustling wet market where fresh fish, seafood, and sacks of freshwater snails are sold in abundance. Dong Xuan Market opens its doors at 6 am and continues its hustle and bustle until 7 pm. To truly appreciate the authentic Dong Xuan experience and secure the best deals, it's advisable to arrive before 9 am, especially if you wish to escape the influx of tourists that inundates the market later in the morning. After all, arriving early might just be your ticket to snagging the most favorable prices on a mixed sack of frogs and catfish.

* Hang Be Market

Markets have a huge social function in Vietnamese culture. Dong Xuan has spent over a hundred years serving a commercial purpose – originally for a colonial power. For a look at a truly Vietnamese market, the century-old Hang Be Market is required viewing. Covered by a layer of striped canvas, each vendor at Hang Be has a spot that’s decided by the market collective. Infringing on another vendor’s space is a huge taboo, but that doesn’t mean that people don’t push their luck. As such, Hang Be feels about as jam-packed as any space I’ve ever been. For the sake of your blood pressure, leave your bulky rucksacks at the hotel. From grilled pork and vermicelli noodles to crispy spring rolls, Hang Be is a street foodie’s dream come true. There’s even a local legend that food bought from the market tastes better than anywhere else in the city. There’s only one way to find out.

* Banana Market

Floating markets are a bigger part of the culture in the south of the country – the Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang is probably the most famous – but tucked away in the heart of Hanoi, there’s a charming example of Vietnam’s relationship to its rivers. The Banana Market sells mostly, well, the clue is in the name. Every day, hundreds of boats arrive in the city bearing the staple Vietnamese crop. If you’ve ever wanted to see a Vietnamese woman carry their weight in fruit on their head, while rowing a boat, this is the place; the market offers an unmissable glimpse into daily life in Hanoi. Directions: when you arrive at Hàm Tử Quan street, pass by a restaurant’s parking area to reach the market.

* Hang Da Market

Spread over three floors in the heart of Hanoi, Hang Da is one of the best places in the city to explore for used clothing, fabric and imported wine. If Vietnamese sizes don’t fit you, you can come here to find high-quality pre-loved garments from the US, UK, Japan and Europe. Also, if you rock up early, the bun cha (chargrilled pork with vermicelli noodles) stall downstairs is an unbeatable spot for breakfast.

* Hanoi Weekend Night Market

If the jet lag’s worn off and your body isn’t forcing you to wake up at the crack of dawn anymore, then a night market may be more your speed. From 6pm every Friday, the roads between Hàng Đào Street and the Dong Xuan Market fill up with vendors. It’s an energetic affair, with street musicians on every corner, brightly decorated stalls, and vendors hawking the sort of knick-knacks and gewgaws that the locals don’t give a second glance. What makes the Night Market worth a visit is its food. The streets are crammed with food carts selling every street snack imaginable. It’s definitely worth booking a street food tour if you want to spend a couple of hours being told which delicious goodies to stuff your face with. Hanoi Street Food Tours offer loads of local insight and their private tour includes all the food (and beer) you can handle.