Handicrafts & Art: Lacquerware boxes, paintings on silk, water puppets, ceramic pieces from Bat Trang, embroidered textiles, bamboo products, hand-woven baskets
Fashion: Custom-tailored clothing (24-48 hour turnaround), silk scarves and garments, traditional ao dai dresses, linen clothing, ethnic minority textiles, conical hats (non la)
Food & Beverages: Vietnamese coffee (robusta and arabica beans), tea varieties (lotus, artichoke, green), dried fruits, rice wine, fish sauce, spices, instant pho packets
Jewelry & Accessories: Silver jewelry (ethnic designs), pearl items, leather goods, bags, wallets
Hang Gai Street (Silk Street): High-quality silk clothing, embroidered items, tailors, galleries. Fixed prices generally higher but better quality than markets.
Dong Xuan Market: Hanoi's largest market with wholesale prices. Four floors of clothing, fabrics, electronics, housewares, souvenirs. Heavy bargaining expected (start at 40-50% of asking price).
Weekend Night Market (Friday-Sunday): Hang Dao Street closes for pedestrian market 6 PM-midnight. Clothing, accessories, street food, souvenirs at negotiable prices.
Hang Ma Street: Traditional decorative paper items, lanterns, festival decorations, votive offerings. Especially vibrant before Tet (Lunar New Year).
Old Quarter Specialty Streets: Each street historically sold specific goods Hang Bac (silver), Hang Thiec (tin), Hang Tre (bamboo). Many maintain traditional focuses.
Trang Tien Plaza & Vincom Centers: Modern malls with fixed-price international and Vietnamese brands, air conditioning, food courts. No bargaining.
Scam Alert: Be cautious of gem/jade dealers approaching tourists. Quality varies dramatically; only buy from reputable stores.
Most shops arrange international shipping for larger items (ceramics, furniture). Request proper invoicing for customs. Vietnam allows duty-free export of handicrafts; restrictions on antiques over 30 years old.