Good to know
Good to Know
- Malls are best used as an air-conditioned break from Hanoi's heat/humidity and for finding Western clothing sizes, which are hard to come by in Old Quarter street shops.
- Bargaining is expected and normal at Dong Xuan Market, Hang Da Market, and Old Quarter street stalls, but not in malls or fixed-price boutiques.
- The biggest, newest 'mega-mall' experiences (Lotte Mall West Lake, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, AEON malls) are a genuine Grab/taxi ride from the Old Quarter — factor in 20–45 minutes and the fare when planning a trip.
- The Old Quarter's Weekend Night Market (Fri–Sun evenings) turns several streets pedestrian-only and is one of the most walkable, atmospheric shopping experiences in the city.
- AEON Mall Long Bien offers free shuttle buses from central Hanoi, which is a budget-friendly way to reach it without a taxi.
- If you're after authentic tailoring or silk, Hang Gai Street is the traditional go-to; for silver jewelry, Hang Bac is the specialist street.
- Vietnam has no official company-run Apple Store — buy from a verified Apple Authorized Reseller (like F.Studio, ShopDunk, or Digibox) rather than an unverified phone-market stall to guarantee a genuine device and valid warranty.
- If you buy an official VN/A Apple device in Hanoi, warranty repairs no longer require the original purchase receipt for iPhones (as of an April 2023 policy change), but Macs, iPads, and accessories still do.
- Foreign residents/tourists can claim a 10% VAT refund on Apple purchases at Noi Bai Airport if bought from a participating Tax Refund store.
- Shopee and TikTok Shop are the most reliable big platforms for everyday online shopping in Hanoi; Tiki, once known for fast delivery, has shrunk dramatically and is less commonly used now.
- Cash-on-delivery (COD) is still the safest default payment method for first-time online shoppers in Hanoi, since it lets you inspect the item before paying.
Online Shopping
- Delivery Reliability
- Delivery within Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is generally fast and dependable — these two cities account for the large majority of Vietnam's e-commerce revenue — with same-day or next-day options common on Shopee and Tiki for in-city orders. Cash-on-delivery (COD) remains widely used and is a safe default for new buyers, alongside growing e-wallet/digital payment adoption.
Major Platforms
Shopee
- Reliability
- Dominant platform in Vietnam and generally the most reliable for buyer protection, cash-on-delivery, and return/refund handling; wide seller base means quality varies, so checking seller ratings matters.
- Market Position
- Largest e-commerce platform in Vietnam, holding roughly 56% of major-platform GMV in 2025.
TikTok Shop
- Reliability
- Fast-growing and increasingly used for everyday goods via livestream sales; delivery and buyer protection are solid in major cities but quality control on livestream-sold goods can be inconsistent.
- Market Position
- Second-largest and fastest-growing platform, with about 41% market share in 2025, up sharply from prior years.
Lazada
- Reliability
- Smaller but positions itself on genuine products and higher-quality customer experience; a dependable option for electronics and branded goods.
- Market Position
- Holds a stable but small ~3% market share among the top platforms.
Tiki
- Reliability
- Historically known for fast 'TikiNOW' delivery (2-4 hours in major cities) and a reputation for authentic goods, but has lost most of its market share amid financial difficulties.
- Market Position
- Down to roughly 1% market share after a steep sales decline and an ownership/management shakeup in 2025.
Practical Notes
- Cross-border/imported goods purchased on Shopee or Lazada from overseas sellers can take 1-3 weeks and occasionally attract customs handling, unlike domestic-seller orders which typically arrive in 1-3 days in Hanoi.
- Always check seller ratings and read recent reviews — flash-sale listings occasionally involve counterfeit electronics or inflated 'before discount' pricing.
- COD lets you inspect and refuse a package before paying, which is the most common safety net used by locals and expats alike.
Central And Nomad Area Malls
Trang Tien Plaza
- Neighborhood
- Hoan Kiem, on the corner of Hoan Kiem Lake / edge of French Quarter
- Distance From Center
- Adjacent to Hoan Kiem Lake, walkable from Old Quarter
- Notes
- Aimed squarely at luxury shoppers rather than souvenir hunters; a good stop for AC and window-shopping while touring the Old Quarter.
- Description
- Trang Tien Plaza is a favorite shopping spot among Hanoi's rich and famous and is a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and the French Quarter, housed in a restored 1901 French colonial building. The 5-storey mall houses luxury fashion brands such as Cartier, Burberry, Dior, Zegna, BVLGARI, and Louis Vuitton on the first floor, while electronics and home décor outlets can be found on the upper levels.
Vincom Center Ba Trieu
- Neighborhood
- Hai Ba Trung District, 191 Ba Trieu Street
- Distance From Center
- Roughly a 10-minute walk/short ride from Hoan Kiem Lake
- Description
- Vincom Center on Ba Trieu street is a good default for an in-and-out shopping operation, with all the standard international brands on offer, and the mall is easy to navigate. It is spread across several interconnected towers combining retail, dining and entertainment, including kids' play zones.
Lotte Center Hanoi
- Neighborhood
- Ba Dinh District, 54 Lieu Giai Street
- Distance From Center
- A short taxi/Grab ride from the Old Quarter, heavily used by long-term expats
- Description
- It is an ultra-convenient, 65-story tower in the Ba Dinh district heavily used by long-term expats, rising with five underground levels and offering a mix of shopping, dining, offices and apartments. The mall has over 200 stores including international brands such as Zara, H&M and Nike, plus a food court, supermarket and cinema, and its 65th-floor observation deck offers panoramic city views.
Vincom Center Metropolis
- Neighborhood
- Ba Dinh District, 29 Lieu Giai Street (near Lotte Center Hanoi)
- Distance From Center
- Same general area as Lotte Center, short ride from center
- Description
- One of five Vincom Center locations in Hanoi, positioned in the Ba Dinh embassy-district area near Lotte Center Hanoi, offering a curated mix of domestic and international fashion, dining and entertainment brands.
Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi
- Neighborhood
- Tay Ho (West Lake) District — a major expat/digital-nomad neighborhood
- Distance From Center
- In the West Lake area, a nomad-relevant neighborhood rather than the old center
- Description
- Opened in 2023, this is the biggest shopping mall in Hanoi, spanning a very large complex overlooking West Lake and featuring a shopping center, a 5-star hotel, serviced apartments and office space. The mall brings together roughly 200-plus brands including Uniqlo, Massimo Dutti, Zara and high-end makeup counters, plus the large indoor Lotte World Aquarium.
Indochina Plaza Hanoi (IPH)
- Neighborhood
- Cau Giay District, 241 Xuan Thuy Street — popular expat/university area
- Distance From Center
- Cau Giay is a well-established expat and student neighborhood, roughly 15–20 minutes from the Old Quarter
- Description
- Indochina Plaza Hanoi, known as IPH, is a versatile complex housing offices, residential areas and a shopping mall with roughly 200 stores selling various goods, and is conveniently located near several popular attractions.
Dong Xuan Market
- Neighborhood
- Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem
- Distance From Center
- In the heart of the Old Quarter
- Description
- Dong Xuan Market is the largest and most iconic traditional market in Hanoi, built during the French colonial period in 1889, and it has been the go-to commercial hub for generations of Hanoians. It features a large multi-story building housing thousands of stalls selling clothes, shoes, accessories, electronics, and household goods, with a second floor stocking brand-name and imported fashion items.
Hang Da Market (Hang Da Galleria)
- Neighborhood
- Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem
- Distance From Center
- Central Old Quarter
- Description
- Hang Da Market is a traditional shopping mall in the Old Quarter offering a mixed shopping experience across floors — the basement has food stalls, secondhand clothing and votive items, while upper floors host events, drinks, and stalls selling inexpensive clothes, shoes, bags and accessories.
Shopping Districts And Streets
French Quarter
- Name
- French Quarter (around Trang Tien / Hoan Kiem Lake)
- Description
- The area bordering the Old Quarter around Trang Tien street offers more upscale boutiques and colonial-era architecture, serving as a bridge between the traditional Old Quarter and formal luxury retail like Trang Tien Plaza.
Weekend Night Market
- Name
- Hanoi Weekend Night Market
- Location
- Stretches along Hang Dao, Hang Ngang and Hang Giay/Hang Duong streets in the Old Quarter
- Schedule
- It operates every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from 7 PM, with the surrounding streets closed to traffic.
- Description
- This bustling market stretches from Hang Ngang to Hang Duong Street, offering an incredible shopping experience with over 4,000 stalls selling clothing, accessories, footwear, handicrafts, souvenirs, and street food.
Old Quarter 36 Streets
- Overview
- The Old Quarter of Hanoi is known as the "36 Streets", most of which are named after craft guilds and industries, dating back hundreds of years as the center point around which the capital city expanded. Far from outdated, the streets remain a whirlwind of trade and activity, crosshatched by tiny alleys.
Notable Streets
Hang Gai (Silk Street)
- Specialty
- Silk, tailored clothing, textiles
- Description
- Hang Gai, now known as Silk Street, was named for the pinkish dye it once famously sold, and shops here now trade in fabrics and custom-made suits and dresses. Many shops offer made-to-measure clothing designed and tailored on-site.
Hang Bac (Silver Street)
- Specialty
- Silver jewelry
- Description
- Located in the heart of the Old Quarter, Hang Bac is renowned for the exquisite art of silver jewelry, where artisans have melted and hammered silver into rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces for hundreds of years.
Hang Ma
- Specialty
- Festive decorations, votive/paper goods
- Description
- Hang Ma is particularly spectacular during festival seasons like Mid-Autumn Festival and Tet, when the street transforms into a riot of colorful decorations and festive items.
Hang Duong
- Specialty
- Preserved and dried fruit
- Description
- Hang Duong Street is renowned for its wide variety of dried apricots, plums, and preserved kumquats and pineapples.
Lan Ong
- Specialty
- Traditional Vietnamese medicine
- Description
- Lan Ong is a fragrant street filled with traditional medicines and herbs, lined with herbal medicine shops and traditional pharmacies.
To Tich
- Specialty
- Carved wood products
- Description
- To Tich Street is famous for intricately carved wood products including wooden sculptures, furniture, and decorative items.
Hang Dau
- Specialty
- Shoes
- Description
- Known as "Shoe Street", Hang Dau is where you'll find knockoff brand names and handcrafted leather sandals, dress shoes and flip flops, sized for Vietnamese feet.
Ta Hien / Luong Ngoc Quyen (Beer Corner)
- Specialty
- Casual clothing, souvenirs, nightlife
- Description
- Ta Hien Street is best known as Hanoi's "Beer Street" by night, but during the day it offers a colorful shopping experience lined with shops selling casual clothing, souvenirs and youthful fashion pieces, popular with backpackers.
Notable Malls Further From Center
- Honest Note
- Several of Hanoi's largest and most modern malls are genuinely located well outside the historic core (20–45 minutes by taxi/Grab), in newer urban development zones. They're included here for completeness since they're major retail destinations, but plan for real travel time and cost to reach them.
Malls
Vincom Mega Mall Royal City
- Neighborhood
- Thanh Xuan District, 72A Nguyen Trai Street
- Distance From Center
- About a 45-minute drive from the city center
- Description
- Vincom Megamall Royal City is considered the largest underground shopping mall in Vietnam, spanning a vast area with over 600 flagship stores, an indoor ice-skating rink, and the large Vinpearl Land indoor water park.
Vincom Mega Mall Times City
- Neighborhood
- Hai Ba Trung District, 458 Minh Khai Street
- Distance From Center
- South of the center, outside easy walking distance
- Description
- Vincom Mega Mall Times City is a popular underground shopping mall featuring a hypermarket spanning over 11,500 square meters, hundreds of brands, and a dining section with nearly 90 restaurants.
Vincom Mega Mall Smart City
- Neighborhood
- Nam Tu Liem District, Vinhomes Smart City urban area
- Distance From Center
- Outer western urban development, well beyond the core
- Description
- Vincom Mega Mall Smart City sits opposite Vietnam's largest Japanese garden and offers a diverse range of supermarkets from premium Annam Gourmet to budget-friendly Winmart, plus Vietnam's largest indoor mini F1 racing track.
Vincom Mega Mall Ocean Park
- Neighborhood
- Gia Lam District, Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area
- Distance From Center
- Eastern outskirts, across the Red River
AEON Mall Long Bien
- Neighborhood
- Long Bien District, across the Red River
- Distance From Center
- A short drive across the river, detached from inner-city traffic
- Description
- AEON Mall Long Bien is the first Japanese commercial center in Hanoi, occupying about 10 hectares of land and featuring a comprehensive supermarket, department store, and nearly 150 specialty shops. It also provides free shuttle buses from central Hanoi.
AEON Mall Ha Dong
- Neighborhood
- Ha Dong District
- Distance From Center
- Roughly a 30-minute-plus drive southwest of the center
- Description
- AEON Mall Ha Dong, the second Japanese commercial center in Hanoi, brings together around 220 stalls of local and international brands with a strong dining selection.
Savico Megamall
- Neighborhood
- Long Bien District, Nguyen Van Linh Street
- Distance From Center
- Approximately 7 km east of Hanoi city center
- Description
- Savico Megamall is one of Vietnam's largest shopping malls, combining a mix of local and international brands including Levi's, Lacoste, Adidas, Nike, Prada and Burberry with ample dining and entertainment.
Vincom Plaza (Long Bien / Bac Tu Liem / Skylake)
- Neighborhood
- Outer districts (Long Bien, Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem)
- Distance From Center
- All located in newer urban areas beyond the historic core
- Description
- Vincom Plaza locations are dedicated to introducing modern consumer culture to emerging urban areas beyond Hanoi's city center, serving as neighborhood shopping hubs rather than tourist destinations.
Vincom Center Nguyen Chi Thanh / Pham Ngoc Thach
- Neighborhood
- Dong Da District
- Distance From Center
- A moderate taxi ride from the Old Quarter, not walkable
There is no company-run Apple Store anywhere in Vietnam, including Hanoi. Apple has reportedly scouted sites near Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi but has not opened one. Apple products are sold and serviced through a network of Apple Authorized Resellers (AAR), Apple Premium Resellers (APR), and Apple-exclusive 'Mono Stores' run by local retail partners, plus Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) for repairs and warranty work.
Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- Always verify a shop against Apple's own online partner locator before buying or dropping off a device — many small phone-market stalls falsely claim 'authorized' status.
- Foreign tourists/nomads buying a new Mac, iPhone, or iPad in Hanoi can claim a VAT (10%) refund at Noi Bai Airport if purchased from a store participating in the Tax Refund program and departing within the required window.
- Grey-market ('xach tay') Apple devices are common and cheaper but are not covered by Vietnam's official AASP warranty unless you hold the original overseas Apple Store receipt.
Official Apple Store
No
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.