Overview of Dong Xuan Market
Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is famous not only for a dynamic and bustling environment but also for the precious cultural values, which can be easily found in every street of Hanoi Old Quarter, every typical dish of Hanoi cuisine, and every traditional market you come across. When it comes to shopping in Hanoi, the first and foremost location that should be mentioned is Dong Xuan Market, the largest wholesale market in Hanoi.
Dong Xuan Market has long been a tourist attraction in Hanoi, thanks to its prime location in the heart of this city as well as the impressive architecture and history. Coming to Dong Xuan Market, you can find a wide range of commodities from fabric, clothing, local handicrafts, souvenirs and street foods. Read on to explore all the specific things about Dong Xuan Market.
Where is Dong Xuan Market in Vietnam?
Dong Xuan Market is a market located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Ward, Hoan Kiem District. The main market area is in the east, while in the west is Dong Xuan Street, in the south is Cau Dong Street, and in the north is Hang Khoai Street. The market is located about 800 meters away from Hoan Kiem Lake and only a short distance away from Long Bien Railway Station and Hang Ma Street.
History of Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market is one of the largest markets in Hanoi which has existed for hundreds of years and seen many ups and downs of history. According to historical documents:
- In 1804, the Nguyen Dynasty built a market to the south of To Lich River to trade with foreigners.
- In 1889, after To Lich River was landfilled, the French colonial government relocated the market into a vacant area in today’s Dong Xuan Ward.
- Here in 1890, the French started to build Dong Xuan Market with a total area of about 6,500 square meters.
- In 1990, the market was rebuilt.
- In 1994, there was a big fire that burned almost all of the stalls in the market.
- In 1995, the market was rebuilt again. With a total area of nearly 14,000 square meters and about 2,000 stalls, the market became the largest market in Hanoi today.
- In 2005, the relief “Hanoi in Winter 1946” was solemnly put right next to Dong Xuan Market to commemorate the soldiers and compatriots that laid down their lives to protect the capital city in 1946.
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Structures of Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market is a wholesale market mainly for traders from the northern provinces. Still, there are also retail stalls. The market is divided into 3 floors, selling all kinds of items, including:
- The 1st floor sells clothes, shoes, accessories, and electronics that are mainly from China.
- The 2nd floor sells clothes and fabrics.
- The 3rd floor sells babies’ clothes and other essentials.
- Food and drinks are sold in the northern section until night.
What to buy in Dong Xuan Market?
Dong Xuan Market, like most markets in Southeast Asia, has a bustling section on the 1st floor that sells seafood, meat, and vegetables. The back section sells a variety of pets (cats, dogs, and fish) and fresh flowers from all over Vietnam. If you want to buy souvenirs or clothes, go to the second floor, where there are numerous stalls selling T-shirts, hats, handbags, dresses, and accessories.
The third floor is ideal for parents, particularly mothers, to buy colorful and attractive clothes for them and their children. Toys, stuffed animals, legos, and puzzle games are all available here. It is not an exaggeration to say that everything you require can be found at the market for an affordable price, especially if you have good bargaining skills.
Dong Xuan Market also has a large food court selling exotic local dishes for as little as VND 15,000. Tiet canh (blood pudding), fried frog, bun cha, and banh cuon are all highly recommended dishes here.
To the south of the market, Dong Xuan Alley also offers some delicious Hanoi specialties, such as chao suon sun, goi xoai kho bo, bun cha que tre, and banh cuon.
Many local shops in the vicinity of the market sell traditional Dong Ho paintings, Bat Trang ceramics, sand paintings, Binh Da embroideries, and so on.
What to Eat in Dong Xuan Market?
Visiting Dong Xuan Market, you would be definitely overwhelmed by the diversity of street foods there. If you are finding a place to discover the typical cuisine of Hanoi, Dong Xuan Market for sure is the best choice for you. In this market, you can choose plenty of delicious dishes, from Vietnamese style to famous street foods of other countries in the world. The reasonable prices and the diversity of food there make Dong Xuan market a food paradise in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, which is a familiar place for chit chatting of people from all ages.
Listing all the must-to-eat dishes in Dong Xuan Market is such a difficult task for you, so why don’t you try these following suggestions?
Noodle with grilled bamboo-stuck meat
Noodles with grilled bamboo-stuck meat is the first dish in Dong Xuan Market that is worth a try. Pork is cut into slices, added onion, lemongrass, black pepper and some other spices, stuck in a bamboo stick and grilled on charcoal fire. Grilled meat is served with rice noodles, pickled vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber and coriander then dipped into sweet and sour fish sauce. Having a plate of noodles with grilled bamboo-stuck meat will cost you about 25,000 VND, absolutely cheap for a delicious meal.
Rib and cartilage gruel
Rib and cartilage gruel satisfies the most fastidious diners by the combination of rib and rice in the porridge, which is both crunchy and well-stewed. In other places, rib and cartilage gruel is made from whole rice grain, but in Dong Xuan Market, it is made from grinded rice, which helps the texture to be smoother and more flavorful. Rib porridge is often served with finger-shaped dried bread. This dish will immediately leave a long-lasting impression on you from the first try. Only with 30,000 VND, you can enjoy a full bowl of rib and cartilage gruel in Dong Xuan Market.
Beef jerky and green papaya salad
Beef jerky and green papaya salad is a kind of snack popular in Dong Xuan Market. This dish is made of dried and spicy beef, mixed with fine-cut green papaya, roast gizzard, peanuts, coriander and mint leaves. The most important ingredient of this dish is the unique sauce, which is made from fish sauce, sugar, lemon juice and chilli according to a certain recipe, adding an unforgettable taste in every visitor. A plate of beef jerky and green papaya salad is around 35,000 VND, which is quite suitable for an evening wandering around the Old Quarter.
Map of Dong Xuan Market
How to get to Dong Xuan Market?
There are many ways to get to Dong Xuan Market. You can take a bus, or ride a motorbike for more convenience.
If traveling by bus for transportation, you can catch buses number 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 18, 23, 34, 22, 31, 40, all of which pass by the market.
If traveling by motorbike, follow Dinh Tien Hoang Street to Hang Dao Street. Go straight through Hang Ngang, Hang Duong, and Dong Xuan Streets, then turn right at the intersection of Cau Dong Street. Go another 55 meters to the eastern entrance of Dong Xuan Market. Right next to the market is a motorbike parking area which costs about 10,000 VND/motorbike.
For travelers who want to visit the Dong Xuan Market with private services, you can book a private tour from Vietnam Shore Excursions. Professional and knowledgeable tour guides will share profoundly many interesting stories about this place and Hanoi, as well as the local life of local people during the tour. Here are some Hanoi Tours which customers can find out and book for you and your group.
The useful shopping tips that you should not ignore
Before you go to Dong Xuan Market, take note of some tips below:
- The market is very large; therefore, you should wear sandals or sneakers to easily move around the market.
- Choose a convenient means of transportation as the market is nestled deep inside the Old Quarter.
- The market is always very crowded, so pay attention to your belongings.
- At Dong Xuan Market Hanoi, you should always try to bargain so that you can buy goods at a reasonable price.
After your visit to Dong Xuan Market, it is highly recommended that you spend your time discovering the beauty of the capital city at many other tourist attractions. Notably, there is Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hanoi Opera House, Temple of Literature, etc.
It can be said that Dong Xuan Market is the oldest market in Hanoi, a witness to the long-standing culture and history of the capital city. The market has become an icon of this land and an indispensable destination for tourists when they travel to Hanoi.
