SHOPPING IN HANOI

 

Free trade transactions start very early at most open markets. Vietnam is a nation of sellers looking for buyers. If you can not find an item, ask someone and they can find it for you. In a large city it is not uncommon to see a street lined with electronics and the next street full of plastic goods. Inexpensive electronic items are on sale at much markets. A compact disc costs only US$ 1. Plenty of bargain needs to be done and one can always find something interesting to bargain over at vendors' and open markets. Dong Khoi street in Saigon is a good place for Vietnamese silk, handicrafts while Hanoi old quarter of 36 streets is full of queer local souvenirs and fine arts.

Vietnamese love wearing tailor-made clothes. In all cities and countryside, tailor shops are rather popular. In cities, a hand-made pair of suits costs only US$ 70 to US$ 200 including materials and labor in Hang Bong street. Tailors' are located along all main streets downtown.

You can buy cheap CDs and DVDs with high quality in Hang Bac street, about VND 8000 per CD, and VND 18000 per DVD. For clothes you can visit Tran Nhan Tong street, Hang Bong street, Hang Gai street. For jeans you can go to Hai Ba Trung street, with shoes please go to Cau Go or Dinh Tien Hoang street and there are many nice hats in Le Duan street. Especially  you can buy everything in Dong Xuan market!