Shopping in Hanoi, from new boutiques to Old Quarter markets

Hanoi’s Old Quarter has been a hotbed of trade for centuries. Its streets and alleyways have long been where traditional medicine doctors, metal workers, bamboo artisans and silversmiths are found. Nowadays, alongside traditional wares, it’s home to chic lacquerware, vintage clothing and cutting-edge design collectives. 

Meanwhile, north of the Old Quarter and close to the twin lakes of Ho Truc Bach and Ho Tay, contemporary art shops and avant-garde fashion houses abound. More than any other Vietnamese city, Hanoi welcomes fresh trends while honouring the past, and nowhere is this more evident than in the city’s vivacious shopping culture. 

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1. Hang Gai, Hang Trong and Nha Tho 

The chock-a-block streets of Hang Gai, Hang Trong and Nha Tho form a convenient S-shaped shopping trail that culminates at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. On the east end of Hang Gai Street, shops like Thang Long Gallery showcase works from some of Vietnam’s more established contemporary artists. Hang Trong Street has several women’s fashion boutiques, including Lam Boutique and Tracy Studio . On Nha Tho Street, you’ll find all manner of mementos, from affordable souvenirs to pricier antiques.

2. Hanoia House 

With a stylish boutique on Hang Dao Street, Hanoia House entices design enthusiasts with vibrant homewares, jewellery and other decorative delights – all made using lacquer, a keystone of Vietnamese craft. Even if the pieces aren’t to your liking, stop by to explore this 17th-century building, which consists of three rooms divided by spacious open-air courtyards. There’s even a tiny shrine on one of the upper floors. 

3. Tired City 

Just a few steps from Hoan Kiem Lake, Tired City was formed by a collective of young artists and designers who are challenging Vietnam’s traditional aesthetics. You’ll find plenty of T-shirts and hoodies, but also playing cards, wall posters, tote bags, badges and stationery featuring irreverent designs that push social boundaries. Look out for daring prints of a police officer cruising on a skateboard and traditionally dressed women making rude gestures. 

4. Hien Van Ceramics 

Hien Van Ceramics is buried in one of Hanoi’s grandest French colonial mansions. Climb the imperial staircase, wander down the hallway that passes Loading T, a café, and find Hien Van Ceramics on your left. Bui Hoai Nam Son, the shop’s lead ceramicist and founder, comes from a family of artisans famed for their vases, cups and teapots. A tell-tale sign of his work is men tro, a glazing technique using burnt rice husks. If he’s in his shop – and he often is – he can tell you all about it.

5. Chan Con Cong 

For retro and vintage clothing with a Vietnamese twist, look no further than Chan Con Cong . This is also a shop for bargain hunters, with items starting at just a few US dollars, though larger sizes may be few and far between. The range is eclectic, but the funky and friendly staff won’t mind you taking the time to find what works for you.

6. Manzi Art Space and Café 

Apart from live music nights, experimental film screenings and contemporary exhibitions, Manzi Art Space and Café has an art boutique on its upper floor. Enter through the leafy front garden, pass through the café and climb the creaky wooden staircase. You’ll find a trove of prints, paintings and sculptures from both established and up-and-coming Vietnamese artists. Pop into Manzi Exhibition Space, a sister venue around the corner, for stirring temporary exhibitions. 

7. Kilomet109 

Designer Thao Vu pioneered slow fashion in Hanoi with Kilomet109 , a shop on the shore of West Lake. Her designs, which include clothing and accessories for both men and women, draw inspiration from Vietnam’s rich textile and design traditions. Expect interlacing jewellery that echoes Hanoi’s iconic tangled power cables and coats dyed with the charcoal blues of the Hmong, an ethnic group living in Vietnam’s northern mountains. 

8. Chula 

Laura Fontan and her late husband Diego Cortizas launched Chula after moving to Hanoi in 2004. Weaving Vietnamese textiles with the couple’s native Iberian flair, Chula’s collections for women include ao dai (Vietnam’s national dress) with prints inspired by ethnic minority attire, as well as kaleidoscopic skirts and elegant evening wear. The more limited men’s collections include patterned linen shirts that are ideal for Vietnam’s hot and humid summers.