Key Takeaways
|
One of the best ways to learn about the country’s culture is to visit places locals often go. Hanoi’s night markets are among the top places to experience local culture while shopping and enjoying authentic street food.
Plus, you don’t have to limit yourself to just souvenir shopping in Vietnam. This blog lists Hanoi’s seven best shopping markets, along with nearby attractions such as Vietnamese temples, lakes, the cathedral, parks, the opera house, and the aquarium.
Whether you are a food lover, a fashion enthusiast, or a photographer, these places offer what you are looking for.
Hanoi Night Markets Overview
| Night Market | Known For | Don’t Miss |
| Old Quarter Weekend Night Market | Souvenirs & street food | Weekend walking street and local performances |
| Dong Xuan Market | Wholesale shopping | Vietnamese snacks, spices, and Ao Dai fabric |
| Quang Ba Flower Market | Fresh flowers | Late-night flower trading and photography |
| Long Bien Market | Wholesale produce | Watching traders unload fresh fruits and vegetables before dawn |
| Hang Da Market | Quiet shopping | Vintage clothes and rice wine |
| Linh Nam Night Market | Local shopping | Handmade woven baskets and craft products |
| Cho Phung Khoang | Vintage fashion | Budget-friendly clothes, accessories, and local food stalls |
7 Best Night Markets in Hanoi
Each market mentioned here serves a different purpose. Some are best for tourists, others for daily shopping, while a few are best visited before sunrise. You don’t necessarily have to visit all the night markets in Hanoi; pick the ones that actually interest you.
1. Old Quarter Weekend Night Market
- Opening Hours: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Open only on Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
This is what most people mean when they say “Hanoi night market.” It stretches from Hang Dao Street to Dong Xuan Market for 600 m.
If you are staying in the Old Quarter, you don’t have to book a ride to reach this market. You can just take a few-minute walk from your hotel.
During the market hours, the whole street is closed to vehicles. If you are looking for handmade products like carved wood, keychains, paintings, bamboo dolls, bracelets, silk scarves, embroidered goods, clothes and leather bags, this market is the best to visit.
Moreover, you have many stalls serving authentic Hanoi food, such as Pho Bo, Bun Cha, Banh Mi, Che, Nem Ran, and Banh Xeo.
Attractions near Hanoi Old Quarter Night Market
- Hoan Kiem Lake – 1 km
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre – 600 m
- Ngoc Son Temple – 950 m
- Ta Hien Beer Street – 300 m
2. Dong Xuan Market
- Bulk shopping and morning stores: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Night souvenir stall and food: 6:00 PM – 11 PM
Dong Xuan Market has been in Hanoi since 1889. During the day, it operates as a trading hub for local buyers. Around 6 PM, the main building closes to bulk trading and then opens for locals and tourists.
It’s a three-storey building, and each floor sells a different category of goods. In the evening, the ground floor and the lanes around the building are filled with food stalls where you can get the best Vietnamese street food.
Must-buy items in this market include electronics and mobile accessories, bulk Vietnamese snacks, traditional Ao Dai fabric, and local spices and dried fruits.
Attractions near Dong Xuan Market
- Long Biên Bridge – 1.5 km
- Bach Ma Temple – 400 m
- Hanoi Train Street – 1.4 km
3. Quang Ba Flower Market
- Opening Hours: 12 AM – 6 AM & 10 PM – 12 AM (Best time to Visit 1:00 AM – 05:00 AM).
Unlike other night markets in Hanoi, this place is not famous for souvenirs or food stalls. Quang Ba Flower Market gives you a unique experience surrounded by colourful flowers.
Visit this markets to break the typical Vietnamese nightlife, which usually consists of bars, crowded streets for food, and shopping streets.
Here, buy fresh orchids, roses, lotuses, and flowers you’ve never seen before. You can also ask the vendors and learn more about the flowers. Then, do street photography in lanes filled with flower shops on both sides of the road.
Places to visit near the Quang Ba Flower Market
- West Lake (Hồ Tây) – 1.0 km
- Tran Quoc Pagoda – 3 km
- Phu Tay Ho Temple – 2.7 km
4. Long Bien Market
- Opening Hours: 24 hours open, but trading activity is from 3 – 6 AM; general public market hours from 6 AM – 11 PM.
Long Bien Market is a lively wholesale market in Hanoi, the city’s oldest and largest. Local vendors come here from 3 AM to buy fruit and vegetables, and the street stays busy with trucks and bikes until 6 AM.
If you want to capture the original market activity from when the trucks arrive to vendors setting up their stalls, visit around 3 AM. The place gets noisy, filled with bikes and trucks unloading stock. However, buying fresh produce here is much cheaper than at any other supermarket or small grocery store.
Other attractions nearby
- Long Biên Bridge – 500 m
- Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – 2.6 km
- Đồng Xuân Market – 700 m
- Hoe Nhai Pagoda – 550 m
Note: Wear closed shoes, as the market is busy, wet, and uneven, but incredibly authentic. It’s ideal for travellers curious about the supply chain behind Hanoi’s local products.
5. Hang Da Market
- Opening Hours: 5 AM – 8 PM.
Hang Da Market is not famous among tourists. If you are looking for a quiet, clean, and organised shopping space, it’s one of the best places to go.
The market is known for offering a great selection of secondhand clothes, ceramics, and wines. Moreover, to buy Vietnamese specials like rice wine, this is one of the recommended places.
- Basement: Fresh vegetables, herbs, and a small food court known for Bun Thang and crab noodle soup.
- First floor: Budget clothing, handmade goods, and souvenirs.
- Second floor: Higher-end clothing, bags, and accessories.
Attractions near Hang Da Market
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral – 550 m
- Hanoi French Quarter – 1.6 km
- Ly Quoc Su Pagoda – 450 m
- Hanoi Opera House – 1.7 km
6. Linh Nam Night Market
- Opening Hours: 7 PM – 11:30 PM.
The Linh Nam Night Market is 8 km away from all the major Hanoi attractions, including the Old Quarter. So, the crowd will be smaller than in those areas.
Many locals and students shop here, so the prices are much lower. The market is special for its handmade woven baskets, lanterns and many craft items.
There are only a few tourist attractions nearby, but several small parks nearby with no tourist presence. This makes this market ideal if you want to experience everyday local life.
Attractions near the Linh Nam Night Market
- Den Lu Lake Park – 2.2 km
- VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium – 2.7 km
7. Cho Phung Khoang
- Opening Hours: 3 AM – 11:30 PM.
From the Old Quarter, you have to travel 10 km to get here. As it is situated near universities, the crowd is usually students. Cho Phung Khoang Market is a popular destination for vintage clothes and accessories. It also offers a wide variety of goods.
It is also a go-to market for university students. So products such as shoes, dresses, shirts, jeans, mobile phone cases and unique merchandise can be bought for reasonable prices compared to the Old Quarter area.
Attractions near Cho Phung Khoang
- Temple Of Literature – 7 km
- Astronomy Park – 5 km
Do’s and Don’ts at Hanoi Night Markets
- Carry cash: Almost every stall is cash-only. Withdraw Vietnamese Dong before you head out, and carry cash in smaller denominations since vendors rarely have change.
- Bargain: Negotiating is a must as sellers set tourist prices.
- Comfortable footwear: The Old Quarter market stretch is around 3 km to walk, and the Long Bien is wet and uneven.
- Carry water: The crowds and heat add up fast between April and September.
- Safety: Take a cross bag to keep your valuables, as there will be pickpockets.
- Vegetarian food: Vietnamese dishes are meat-heavy. Always ask what ingredients are used before ordering. If you want pure vegetarian food, Hanoi has Indian restaurants where you can dine in.
- Download the offline Google Translate app: English is less spoken in local markets, so the app can help you communicate with vendors.
- Best months: Vietnam’s weather varies by region. Hanoi is best visited between October and March, when evenings are cooler and walking around is more comfortable.
Conclusion
If you are wondering what to buy at the Hanoi night market or looking for authentic local street food, these places meet your expectations and offer a memorable cultural experience. The secret to enjoying market visits is going hungry. With a variety of food and snacks, you have plenty of options.
When planning a trip to Hanoi, contact Dimaak Tours. We will help you plan a customised itinerary, including the right shopping markets to visit in Hanoi, based on your needs. From flights, visas, hotels and activities, our team helps you through the entire trip.
FAQs on Hanoi Night Markets
1. Is the Hanoi night market safe for solo female travellers?
Yes. The markets are always crowded, so you are rarely alone. However, it’s good to follow standard precautions, like keeping your bag close and avoiding poorly lit streets.
2. Can you bargain in Hanoi night markets?
Absolutely! Bargaining is usual and expected, especially at local stalls. Vendors will quote a higher price, and if you hesitate to bargain, you will end up paying more.
3. What to buy in the Hanoi night market?
Some of the most popular items, such as silk, Ao Dai, paper fans, lacquerware, Vietnamese coffee beans or powder, chopsticks and carved wood items, are the best buys in the Hanoi markets.
4. What is the popular night market in Hanoi for tourists?
The Hanoi Old Quarter night market is the most popular one among tourists. It’s in the central part of Hanoi, the Old Quarter, where most budget and solo travellers choose to stay.
5. Is Hanoi Night Market free to enter?
All seven night markets listed have no entry fee. Based on individual shopping, the budget varies, and you can expect to spend 2,000 – 3,000 INR. This cost includes souvenirs and food, and increases with how much you buy.
