Must see shopping in Hanoi

Top Choice

A not-for-profit organisation near the Temple of Literature that sells quality tribal handicrafts, textiles and weavings at fair-trade prices. The bags…

Bookworm stocks over 20,000 new and used English-language books over two floors. There’s plenty of fiction and it’s good on South Asian history and…

Pheva sells decidedly moreish artisanal dark and white chocolate produced from organic and free-trade cacao and stylishly wrapped. There's a tantalising…

A top spot for quirky ethnic-style gifts and excellent fair-trade coffee. There’s a great little cafe too, so you can choose your favourite Vietnamese…

This charmingly small vintage shop stuffed away beneath Loading T Cafe sells delightful vintage long dresses and classic togs. There's another, larger…

Stylish clothing, jewellery and accessories, with the bonus of a cool cafe when you need a break from shopping. The homewares and bed linen are definitely…

The truly delightful handmade ceramics on show here are a joy. Wonky, weird, winsome and wonderful; if ceramics are right up your street, this place will…

This large, non-touristy market is located in the Old Quarter, 900m north of Hoan Kiem Lake. There are hundreds of stalls here and lots of the goods are…

This market runs north–south through the Old Quarter along P Hang Ngang (P Hang Dao near Hoan Kiem Lake). Content-wise there is spillover from the area's…

One of the biggest bookshops in town, with some English and French titles, international newspapers and magazines, and a good selection of titles on the…

With some very attractive, elegant and thought-provoking art hanging from its walls, this gallery, run by resident artist Mai, is a good place to learn…

Located near the southwest edge of West Lake at the intersection of P Duong Buoi and Lac Long Quan, this market sells live animals like chickens, ducks…

An oasis of classier Vietnamese souvenirs, including lacquerware and jewellery, amid the T-shirt overkill of nearby stores. Bamboo, stone and porcelain…

Stunning, very unusual designer jewellery, including many delicate necklaces and beautiful brooches of insects and animals wrought from silver and opals:…

Come here to browse for hip vintage clothes – it's mostly American but there are some Vietnamese items too, including local designers who have refashioned…

On the northeast corner of P Hue and P Tran Xuan Soan, this is a good general-purpose market that's also excellent for local fabric if you plan to have…

Modern and chic updates of traditional lacquerware and silk. The ideal spot to pick up stylish cushion covers, linen and accessories.

Tailored fashions and some off-the-rack items at moderate prices. The staff are professional and speak decent English.

Beautiful quilts handcrafted by rural women working in a not-for-profit community-development program.