Current Time
Currency
shopping
Hanoi shopping
It didn't take Hanoi long to jettison the drab, no-choice shopping options of state-owned stores for full-on retail therapy. High-end European designer labels are available in five-star hotel boutiques, but the real fun is to be had in Hoan Kiem District, particularly the Church Street boutiques, and the small shops in the Old Quarter's warren of alleys.
Hanoi is an excellent place to purchase lacquerware and other home-decor items, such as handmade lanterns, pillows, and place mats. Bespoke clothing is also a bargain, as are fashion accessories like one-of-a-kind hats and handbags made by local artisans.
Most of Vietnam's leading painters attended Hanoi University of Fine Arts, and the city is aswarm with art galleries, especially along Hang Bong Street. The best shops will also arrange for packing and international shipping.
The top-end stores hold to sticker price, but you may get a discount for buying in bulk. And haggling for a bargain is considered an art form at smaller shops.
The elongated colonial-era house that houses this respected gallery is a work of art in itself, especially the central atrium originally built for light and...more
Retail with a cause, this not-for-profit shop overlooking the Temple of Literature helps Vietnamese artisans to market their crafts. The inventory includes...more
A five-minute walk west from Apricot Gallery, this narrow, three-story showroom is the exclusive agent for up-and-coming young Vietnamese artists such as Nguyen...more
Several Old Quarter stores have cashed in on the newfound appreciation of Vietnam War–era propaganda posters and their interplay of light graphics and...more
RSS Feeds