Mentioned to Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention the Dong Xuan market next to the tourist attractions such as Ho Guom, Old Town, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ... Dong Xuan Market with an area of 14000m² is the largest market in the North and also a point Busy shopping attracts many visitors every opportunity to Hanoi. If you are a shopaholic, you cannot miss Dong Xuan market – A paradise for shopping.
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Established in 1889, Dong Xuan Market is housed within a four-storey Soviet-style building on the northern edge of Hanoi Old Quarter. It’s also known as Hanoi’s largest indoor market, offering a wide range of goods such as fresh produce, souvenirs, accessories and clothing, as well as electronic and household appliances.
Photo by ntt |
Similar to most markets in Southeast Asia, Dong Xuan Market has a bustling wet market section on the ground floor, where locals shop for seafood, meat, and vegetables while the back section sells an array of pets (cats, dogs, and fish) and fresh flowers from all across Vietnam. If you’re looking to shop for souvenirs, head to the upper levels, where you can find numerous stalls selling tee shirts, fabrics, school uniforms, handbags, handicrafts, all of which are sold at wholesale prices.
Surrounding Dong Xuan Market are many more shops where you can purchase traditional Dong Ho drawings, Bat Trang ceramics, Binh Da embroideries and laces, and sand paintings. Within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, Dong Xuan Market is a must-visit if you’re looking to experience the local lifestyle.
Behind the market is the shop selling pet birds. Foods are mainly sold in Bac Qua market. And north of the market is the restaurant which serves traditional dishes of the Hanoi as vermicelli, noodle soup
Because the market is wide (about ten thousand square meters), so it would be very interesting for you to discover each part of the market. However, Don’t go during lunch or in the early afternoon, when it’s siesta time. Unless you want to have to nudge the stallholders from their slumber or interrupt their lunch, which is not likely to get you a good price, come earlier in the day or late in the afternoon. Do be careful of your belongings, too. There have been reports of theft and it’s easy to see why: the aisles are narrow and there’s a lot of squeezing through gaps, when it’s easy for someone to reach into an open bag or slit it open.
Located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, with its history associated with the formation and development of the ancient Thang Long, Dong Xuan Market is not merely a commercial point, but also a cultural, spiritual place of Hanoians.