BACK TO HANOI!

Lots of activities going on here!

We returned to Hanoi again using a sleeper bus from the same bus company, HK. We departed around midnight at approximately 11:30 PM and arrived in Hanoi in the morning of April 5th 2025 around 6:00 AM. We dropped off our suitcases at the hotel first and then around 8:00 AM, we walked to a market to buy souvenirs while waiting for check-in time. The name of the market is Đồng Xuân Market. 

This market is one of the most famous and busiest in Hanoi. It has everything from clothing, souvenirs, and local delicacies to unique items you probably won’t find anywhere else.

The atmosphere is so lively, especially if you enjoy exploring places that feel local and authentic. You can even try traditional Vietnamese street food right inside the market area. It’s the perfect place to shop for souvenirs at bargain prices just don’t forget to haggle!

Đồng Xuân Market is definitely a great spot for anyone who loves the vibe of traditional markets but still wants to experience something uniquely Hanoi.

When you enter and turn to the right, there’s a section with souvenirs like dried fruits, nuts, coffee, and more. You can actually sit down and try everything before buying. They kept offering us samples — we were full before we knew it! The prices are pretty reasonable too, starting from around $2.50. I don’t remember the exact prices because I didn’t buy anything, only my friend did!

As you go further inside, you’ll find many small shops selling all kinds of trinkets and accessories. The prices vary even though they’re all within the same market area, so it’s worth walking around to find the best deals.

Eventually, we found a shop with cheaper prices where bargaining was allowed, and the seller could speak decent English. Communication wasn’t a problem at all. We called him "Uncle." Although I forgot to take a picture of the shop, I did manage to get a small photo of Uncle himself just a little one, unfortunately! He looked to be around 60 years old.

I ended up buying quite a few things here, including fridge magnets, dancer statues, bags, and more. The magnets started at around $0.65, the large statue was about $5, and the bags were priced from $6.50 and up. I spent a total of around $65 here, mostly for souvenirs for my family.

We continued walking and came across a clothing shop. And yes, I bought this shirt! I’m not sure if it’s for Friday prayers (for muslim) or just casual wear, but I really liked the design. It cost around $7.75.

Around 11:00 AM, we were done exploring the traditional market. Since we still had time until our 2:00 PM check-in, we decided to go shopping at Aeon Mall using GrabCar. At Aeon, we had lunch and I also bought some fruits along with a fruit cutter for daily use. It’s much cheaper that way.

Around 2:30 PM, we were back in the Old Quarter area where we were staying. As I mentioned earlier, we stayed at different hotels, but they were still close to each other. And this is the name of my accommodation! Quite Room in Old Quarter The price per night was around $36.75 without any deposit. It had everything you could need, just take a look!

Downstairs, there was also a kitchen with cooking utensils, a refrigerator, plates, a sink, a first aid kit, and more!

On the rooftop, there’s a washing machine and dryer. That’s why I chose this place! So I could do laundry, and they even provided detergent!

This hotel is definitely approved! Highly recommend! The owner is also super friendly and speaks fluent English. If you need anything, just WhatsApp them!

After resting for a bit, where should we go next? Hmmmm...