Shopping in Hanoi

Shopping in Hanoi

When you are in Hanoi I think you might ask yourself, what can you buy in Hanoi or what should you buy in Hanoi? These are often the questions many my customers ask me when they are here.

Here are my small suggestions to visitors with some interesting ideas for shopping and who would like to buy something special for themselves and their friends, or family.

1. Lacquer, Pottery and Ceramics in Hanoi

Lacquer in Ha Thai Village

Hanoi has a traditional village for lacquer production - “Ha Thai village” - where they  produce high-quality lacquer painted products for export. This is a great place for you to buy lacquer here.

You can also buy lacquer products in Hanoi Old Quarter - there are many lacquer shops in there around Hang Manh, Hang Hom and Hang Trong streets.

But if you are after high quality and are shopping for lacquer-wares, I think you should go to Ha Thai village. Maybe all you need to do is rent a car to go the village and browse around the village yourself, or maybe you might like a guide to go with you to visit the village and talk to people there.

Bat Trang village is very good place to buy pottery and ceramic products. You can either join a group and  go on a  city tour . You can do a half day in Bat Trang village if you go on Monday and Friday. Or there are some pottery shops in the Old Quarter you can find in Hang Hom street.

2. Silk and Embroidery

Van Phuc Silk village and Hanoi have been renowned for making the best silk in the country. You can buy painted silk, printed silk or patterned silk with traditional and modern designs and decorations as unique Vietnamese presents for your family and friends.  There are some silk shops in Hanoi that should be easy for you to buy:

Khai Silk 121 Nguyen Thai Hoc-Tel: 04 3747 0583 96 Hang Gai -Tel:  04 3825 4237       Duc Loi (Queen) Silk 76 & 93 Hang Gai, Hanoi Tel: 04 3826 8758 Ha Dong Silk 102 Hang Gai, Hanoi Tel: 04 3928 5056

Ipa Nima Shop 34 Han Thuyen, Hanoi Tel: 04 3933 4000 14 Nha Tho street, Hanoi Tel: 04 3 928 7616 http://www.ipa-nima.com/ Jade Collection 17A Au Trieu, Hanoi Tel: 04 3928 6567

Hanoi Embroidery Painting

To see various stages of the silk production, you can visit Van Phuc village. It is not far from central Hanoi (around 12km) so you can easily spend half day in Van Phuc village. Maybe you might rent a car only and then go shopping around the Van Phuc village if you are an experienced shopper.

Hanoi also famous for embroidery – Khoai Noi village, Thang Loi commune,Thuong Tin district,Hanoi. It is also easy for you to buy embroidery in the Old Quarter … such as in Ly Quoc Su street, Hang Gai street. I also know one place that is very good with high quality and they sell the products from Khoai Noi village. That is Quoc Su Gallery with Gallery 1: 2C Ly Quoc Su Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., HaNoi, VietNam - Tel: (84-4) .3928.9281

They also have Gallery 2: at 107B Nguyen Thai Hoc Str., Ba Dinh Dist., HaNoi, VietNam - Tel: (84-4) 3.747.5519

Website: http://quocsu.com/service.html

3. ‘Do’ paper and Dong Ho Painting village.

Dong Ho Paintings and 'Do' Paper

‘Do’ is made from the bark of the ‘Do’ tree, a wild plant can found around local riverbanks but nowadays it is difficult to find around Hanoi. It was used popular for many years before  modern paper production was invented. It is more difficult to buy ‘Do’  paper now, Even in ‘Dong Ho’ painting village where they use ‘Do’ paper for their painting also they have to buy from other provinces.

Now, ‘Do’ paper is mostly used to make cards, paintings in ‘Dong Ho’ village, water colours and bamboo-bound note books.

In Dong Ho’ painting village , products made with ‘Do’ paper cost little: 1 US$ for greeting card, and 2 US$ for small painting. You can also buy ‘Do’ paper and similar products in Hang Gai street.. and the most famous Dong Ho paintings you can buy in Nguyen Khac Can street.

4. Suits and ‘Ao Dai’

Martin my friend tailor-made his suit

Ao Dai is the traditional women’s dress in Vietnam. Although it is traditionally Vietnamese, you can also get Ao Dai in many modern and exciting styles. It will be truly special, especially when you have done it with authentic silk. Good places to get an Ao Dai made are in Hang Gai street at Khai Silk village. Average costs are around $30 – 50 USD.

Men’s suits are really good to get tailor made in Hanoi. Especially when you know where you can find finely crafted custom-tailored suits. I know one place where I often take my friends to made suits while they are visiting Hanoi. Ms Oanh -  ‘Phan Nghia and Dao Oanh’ fashion garment address: 68 Hang Trong street. She has made our friends some wonderful hand-made suits , and the costs are from $100 USD –depending on your choice of fabrics..

5. Ethnic Minority products

Danielle's bag - one of my customer bought her bag

Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, with the Kinh people being the majority of the population. Most of the ethnic groups live in the Northern mountainous regions of Vietnam. Each group has its own traditional costumes with distinctive designs and product.  Both handicrafts and clothes are unique decorations and also special weaving from various ethnic groups which are sold in many souvenir shop in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. You can easily to find something special for you and maybe some of your friends – they will be delighted that it is so unique and has fine work. One of my friends bought a handbag here and when she came back home some of her friends were very envious. It is a really nice feeling when you have been a clever shopper

6. Other products

This is our gift to Marcel

You might want to buy some T-shirt with: TinTin, A label such as” I Y Phở” or “I Y Vietnam” or maybe a hat with the Vietnam star or Hanoi… Etc. There are no lack things to buy in the Hanoi Old Quarter and just strolling around and find things you love is a great way to spend some time. Of course you can also buy all sorts of ‘non-original’ items like sunglasses, bags and clothing.

Useful Tips when you are shopping in Hanoi and whole of Vietnam:

-       Some shops have ‘fixed price’ – usually the more expensive shops. But in most places, you can bargain and negotiate a discount of 20 – 30% from the original quoted price. Remember to have fun and bargain with a smile on your face

-       It is better to shop around to check and compare the prices and then select the items you are most interested in.

-       Please note: Try to avoid to shopping in the early morning because following Vietnamese culture for their business,  the first customers that comes into the shop will be very important -  it will reflect the mood for the whole day. Some shop keepers may be unhappy and sad if you come into the shop and do not say anything (like negotiate prices, or ask about their products) . So please note that experienced bargain hunters are always polite and friendly with a ready smile and a laugh - especially in the morning.

Public by: Dragonfly Travel Vietnam - http://www.myvietnamtravel.net