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Hanoi Shopping
Hanoi city itself- especially the ancient narrow streets of the Old Quarter and wide boulevards of the French Quarter - is the perfect setting for atmospheric-charged boutiques. As if you needed any more encouragement, shop owners have tapped into Hanoi's traditional artistic heritage, as well as Buddhist influences. Hence many shops are as beautiful as the products they sell. Many create a sensuous atmosphere, with silken lanterns, swirling incense, artworks adorning the walls and huge vases filled with exotic blooms, such as birds of paradise and lotus flowers.
There are three main tourist locations for shopping in Hanoi, all in the touristy Old Quarter. One is Hang Gai, known appropriately as "Silk Street," for obvious reasons. Its wall-to-wall shops aimed at mass tourism sell silk goods (along with tailoring services) and souvenirs, the choice practically blowing your mind. There is the European-influenced Nha Tho, translating as "Cathedral Street," with St. Joseph's Cathedral and its square dominating this tree-lined street and surrounding area. Inside the tiny, traditional houses are the perhaps the most stunning shops in Hanoi, aimed at the rich and well heeled. They are a delight to just window shop, let alone for their gorgeous items on sale. Certain streets in the Old Quarter aim more for backpacker trade, such as Hang Bac and Hang Be, with dozens of shops selling lacquerware, ethnic and natural product goods.
Probably the best known shopping item in Vietnam and particularly Hanoi, is silk. Hanoi is overloaded with silk shops, particularly on Hang Bong and Hang Gai Streets; some have better reputations than others, such as Kenly Silk (108 Hang Gai).
Bamboo - a traditional Vietnamese medium - with the development of the tourist traditional handicraft market, bamboo now come as attractive interiors and craft products: tables, chairs, chopsticks, wind chimes, picture frames, bamboo bases, bird cages and fans. Bamboo products are mostly made by hand; the bamboo soaked in water for a couple of years and dried naturally.
Ceramics are another traditional craft product. If you want the best choice, you will head out for Bat Trang Village, (about 10km south), which has specialized for centuries in the production of ceramics. The village has now become quite a tourist trap with wall-to-wall shops selling ancient and modern lines in ceramics: vases, tea sets, mugs, plates, etc; many at wholesale prices. The most popular wares are the glazed light green, blue and white, or delicate black pottery. If you can't get out to Bat Trang, many craft and souvenir shops in central Hanoi sell ceramics.
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