Local Crafts, Hanoi

This is the best quality of lacquerware I've seen in Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok and northern Thailand. The prices are high compared to other shops, but the difference in quality is remarkable.

What to buy: Dishes, bowls, coasters, boxes, lamps and similar

What to pay: Don't expect much more than 10-15% discount from list prices - it took us half an hour to get something like 13% when buing for 200+ USD

Silk is a big thing in Hanoi and you will find shops that sell these wonderful hand embroided silk scarves at a very reasonable price. SOmething every lady would want

What to buy: the beautiful silk scarves

What to pay: reasonable price.between $10 and $30 US

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you will find these colourful Lanterns everywhere in the Old Quarter...they are made of a light material. I thought they were paper ..I was wrong :)

What to buy: these would make a nice ornament in any room at home....they woudl look good in a childs room I think

What to pay: They are cheap

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you will find these colourful Lanterns everywhere in the Old Quarter...they are made of a light material. I thought they were paper ..I was wrong :)

What to buy: these would make a nice ornament in any room at home....they woudl look good in a childs room I think

What to pay: They are cheap

You will see alot of shops selling silk within Old Quarter, apart from silk, the shops sell other things too, like handicraft, lacquer ware etc. Those shops are targetted at the pockets of tourists.

In contrast, N Silk sells one and only item - clothings. The quality of silk is good. And the price I was quoted is much lesser than other shops, in fact, it was what I paid in the end. Save your effort of trying to bargain for 50% of the quoted price like in other shops.

A humble shopfront with a friendly and honest shopowner, Hoa (she calls herself Flower too) who speaks good English. She is only in the shop from 830am-7pm, from 7pm -9pm it will her dad manning the shop.

When I was at the shop, I met a lady from UK who said she visited this shop 3 years ago and is here again. I saw her paying Hoa hundred of Euros to tailor make 2 tops and 2 bottoms.

This is definitely a shop I will visit again.

What to buy: Silk Clothing, ethnic flavoured clothings.

What to pay: I bought two tops for 100,000VND each and 200,000VND for a silk jacket.

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Yes, luxury for the skin; it is not a special cream, some lotion, massage or warm bath, no, only natural silk! Silk on the skin is really pleasant. How to do this? Mainly dressing gowns, shirts, scarves or even sleeping bags, you may find in many streets of the old city, but the best is to go to the tailor’s, and let it make custom tailored: you choose the colour, the style, and the tailors takes the measures (or bring along a shirt you want to leave as a model); 24 hours later your shirt is ready! I ordered 2 silk shirts for myself and ready made dressing gowns for my daughters. 15US$ a shirt and 25US$ a gown, for natural silk it is good business for the buyer and the seller!
Many exotic small souvenirs are on sale in the streets of Hanoi; lacquer is quite beautiful and small plates do not take a lot of space in the bag; Chinese lamps, masks, and many small items. . . . . , drums are a bit voluminous. . . . I only brought back silk and lots of pictures. . . .

What to buy: Silk at this shop: Tu Van Tiet Ky, Hang Mahn street

What to pay: 15 US $ a silk shirt, but I did not try to bargain a lot.

If you are looking for trendy, modern and artistic souvenirs in Hanoi, you can find them along Ly Quoc Su Street where the famous St Joseph's Cathedral is located, as well as nearby areas such as Nha Chung Street. There are several shops selling rather beautiful arts and crafts, but they are more expensive than those you find in the Old Quarter area (but are nicer and of better quality).

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The famous Old Quarter area north of Hoan Kiem Lake is very good for shopping, especially for ladies. While walking along the maze of chaotic and small streets, you will be many shops selling all kinds of stuff. For ladies, you can buy shirts, dresses, skarfs, handbags, shoes, silk sleeping bags etc. There are also many shops selling local crafts (e.g. beautiful lanterns) and souvenirs (some of which are very good for decorating your house), as well as nice paintings. You need to bargain hard to bring down the prices, which they normally will reduce about 20-30% maximum (this is unlike China where they will reduce the price as much as 70% sometimes!).

Like a Vietnamese craft museum, with 1,000 sqm showroom. All the products from famous trade village are here: ceramics, lacquerware, bamboo & wood products, silk, embroidered paintings, bronze and stone statues large & small.
They also have showroom at Noi Bai airport

Traditional Vietnamese handicrafts.
Handmade Products by ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Is a non profit organization, have based on Sapa - if you visit Ta Phin village, you will see the house of this org.

What to buy: Colourful Brocades bags, clothes..etc..