Shopping
Hanoi is a shopper’s paradise highlighting the style the Vietnamese possess. The Old Quarter has numerous streets crammed with shops but those of particular interest are on Hang Gai and Hang Bong where there are a number of tailors and silk shops. The area close to Hoan Kiem Lake has some excellent shops including Hai Ba Trung Street. Dong Xuan Market on Dong Xuan Street is Hanoi’s largest wholesale and retail centre and anything and everything can be found there. Off-the-peg clothing is always a good buy, but even better is to have clothes made up by one of the many tailors. There is always a good range of coloured silk to choose from. Hand-embroidered tablecloths and napkins are very popular. Items such as boxes and vases made from lacquerware are extremely good value. The hill tribes of the Central Highlands and the north of the country now sell colourful woven bags and clothing in the city. Good souvenirs are marble figurines and vases, ceramics from Bat Trang village, silk paintings and hand-painted greetings cards. Shops are generally open seven days a week from early morning until late evening.
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