Hanoi's market culture ranges from Dong Xuan's huge indoor wholesale hall to flower trading before sunrise and smaller Old Quarter food markets.
Choose by atmosphere and timing rather than trying to visit every market.
Hanoi's best-known traditional market sits in the Old Quarter and spills into the surrounding lanes.
Pair it with a walk through the nearby Old Quarter streets rather than treating it as a standalone shopping stop.
A working flower market that is liveliest well before most sightseeing in Hanoi begins.
Go early and keep clear of traders moving flowers through narrow spaces.
A lively pedestrian-market experience that works naturally with an evening in the Old Quarter.
Treat it as atmosphere first and shopping second; quality varies from stall to stall.
A smaller, food-focused market area useful for seeing how central Hanoi shops for everyday meals.
Go with an appetite and look for busy stalls serving local customers.
Produce, flower and floating markets are usually most interesting before the day gets hot.
Markets are workplaces first, even when they are popular with travelers.
For souvenirs and visitor-oriented goods, browse more than one stall before deciding.
Small purchases are easier when you are not relying on large-denomination cash.
