Dong Xuan Night Market Hanoi Review: Haggle Please

Dong Xuan Night Market is a row of stalls in Hanoi that opens from 8pm to 11pm from Fridays to Sundays. It is actually held in conjunction with the Night Walking Street in Hanoi that allows pedestrians to roam the streets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter from 6:30pm to 12am from Fridays to Sundays each week…

Getting to Dong Xuan Night Market aka Hanoi Night Market

Dong Xuan Night Market is synonymous with Hanoi Night Market as it leads from Hanoi’s iconic roundabout at Old Quarter all the way to Dong Xuan Market itself. It is essentially the same road all the way down, cutting through Hang Dao street, Hang Ngang Street, Hang Duong Street and eventually to Dong Xuan street where Dong Xuan Market is located…

Dong Xuan Night Market that leads from Hanoi Old Quarter to Dong Xuan Market (Cho Dong Xuan)

To get to Dong Xuan Night Market, it is pretty simple. Be sure to be at the iconic roundabout at Hanoi Old Quarter (the building with a curvature and Highlands Coffee is also located there) on the evenings of Fridays to Sundays. Follow the street with alot of lights and stalls in the middle (aka Hang Dao Street) and you’re there. The walk to the end takes about 30 minutes. More if you stop, browse and haggle…a little more on haggling in a bit.

What is there at Dong Xuan Night Market aka Hanoi Night Market

Dong Xuan Night Market - Bags and Accessories at Hanoi Street Market — Dong Xuan Night Market – Bags and Accessories at Hanoi Street Market

Dong Xuan Night Market - Street Food Hanoi — Dong Xuan Night Market – Street Food Hanoi

Dong Xuan Night Market (Hanoi Night Market) Review

You can find many different things at Dong Xuan Night Market. The stalls set up usually sells shoes, shirts, bags and accessories. There are also many food stalls along the way during this walk. Lining the streets are stalls as well. For those who are interested in buying shoes and bags, we think that the stalls would probably give you better sizes and options but of course, prices may be a tad more expensive. Along the way, we also saw street performances – singing. We were told that Vietnamese (just like Singaporeans and much of Southeast Asia) love singing Karaoke. Hence, the singing performances does draw in the crowds.

What We Learnt about Haggling at Dong Xuan Night Market aka Hanoi Night Market

Haggling at Dong Xuan Night Market is necessary.

During our visit to Dong Xuan Night Market, we bought 2 items. A Hawaiian-themed holiday shirt as well as 5 pairs of socks that came in a bundle.

For the Hawaiian-themed holiday shirt, it had a Tommy Bahama vibe labelled all over it. While we were in USA, we saw many of these shirts but were unwilling to splurge over $100 USD for one of these shirts. Afterall, we wouldn’t have many chances to wear them. The one that we liked at Dong Xuan Night Market was 100k VND (or $6 SGD). Since it was rather affordable and the quality was quite decent, we didn’t haggle and moved on to our next purchase. We didn’t see the same shirt further down the street. Hence, it can be considered a good purchase in our books.

We used the “same strategy” for our next purchase, the 5 pairs of socks that came in a bundle. This time, we bought the 5 pairs of socks from Dong Xuan Market for 70k VND (or $4 SGD). That works out to less than a dollar a pair. Sounds like a great deal right? Also, we have to qualify that the quality was pretty good as well. Thick and stretchy, perfect for sweat absorption 😷

However, as we walked further down, we saw signs that says 50k VND and eventually just 30k VND right at the end of the street. We also verified that the same bundle of 5 socks was sold at that price as well. It was. Sadly.

At this point, we have to talk briefly about the two schools of thoughts with regard to haggling in Vietnam and Dong Xuan Night Market in Hanoi, in particular. If you noticed, the difference of 40k VND was about $2.5 SGD. Not that much to us but probably alot more to the stall owners at Dong Xuan Night Market. We might have haggled for a dollar less but it would also mean a dollar less for the owner who probably had much larger utility for it.

On the other hand, with the same 70k VND, we could have bought 10 pairs of socks (with a little bit more haggling at the last stall). So from the customer’s point of view, haggling is definitely a must in Hanoi’s night markets, especially at Dong Xuan Night Market.

If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!

Nonetheless, we must say that the quality of items at Dong Xuan Night Market is actually quite good. It could be due to the fact that Vietnam is a goods producing country and because of that, goods can be produced in scale at a much cheaper price. As for haggling, we’ll leave that up to you. But do bear in mind the discussion we’ve had above with regard to haggling at Dong Xuan Night Market before you do so! Enjoy!

Related Posts

Things to do, Restaurants, Pubs and Attractions in Hanoi Vietnam!

18 Hanoi Travel Experiences NOT TO BE MISSED!

T.U.N.G Dining Hanoi Review: Why They’re One of Two Vietnamese Restaurants in Asia Top 100 Restaurants!

Railway Cafe Hanoi Review: For the best and ORIGINAL Railway Train Crossing Experience!

The Unicorn Pub Hanoi Review: Delicious 1-for-1 Artisanal Cocktails during Happy Hours!

Night Walking Street Hanoi: 6:30pm to 12 Midnight from Fridays to Sundays

Egg Coffee Hanoi Review: Cafe Dinh vs Cafe Giang – Which is the Best?

Hanoi Cider House Review: Good Craft Ciders and Even Better Grills!

7 Bridges Brewing Company Review: One of the Top Craft Beer Tap Rooms in Hanoi!

Turtle Lake Brewing Company Hanoi Review: Great food and Table ShuffleBoard next to Ho Tay Lake

The Box Bar (Formerly known as Furbrew) Review: One of the Most Affordable Craft Beers in Hanoi!