Hotels Hanoi Imperial - The three-storey Dong Xuan Market is 1.3 km northern end of Hoan Kiem Lake. The market is a tourist attraction in its own right with varioue kinds of products. They are hundreds of stalls and you can find their everething you need with reasonable price.

Hom market is relatively small, but good imported foods, wine, beer and flowers. The 2nd floor is good for fabric and ready- made clothing. The market is very close to St.Joseph Cathedral.

Cua Nam Market is a few blocks north of the Hanoi railway station. The market itself is no great interest (except maybe for the flowers), but Le Duan Str between the market and the railway station is a treasure trove of househlod goods, including electronics, plastic ware and the like.It's a particularly good shopping area if you are up aresidence in Hanoi.

Buoi Market out in the far north-west part of town is famous not only for live animals (chicken, ducks ects) but also ornamental plants. You might actually want to visit Buoi Market to sell your ornamental plants when departing the country - the vendors are willing to buy back plants and flowers if in good condition at about half the original price.

Shops

On Trang Tien street you will find many shops willing to make dirt-cheap eyeglasses in a mere 100 minutes. Unfortunately, quality is mostly abysmall...This is where most expats in Hanoi go to get their eyes examined. It's at 48 Trang Tien Str on the 2nd floor.

Lots of western customers seem to like the Ho Chi Minh T-shirts. Either printed or embroidered ones are available around Hang Bong or Hang Gai Strs.

Hang gai, Hang Khay and Cau Go Sts are good areas for sourvenirs and antique (real and fake). Hanoi is a good place to have informal clothes custom- tailored. One souvernir item to loo for here are Russian- made watches.

Hang Gai St and its sontinuation, Hang Bong St, are a good place for embroidered tablecloths, T-shirt and hangings.

A good sho for silk clothing is Khai Silk, 96 Hang Gai St. The proprietor is fluent in French and English, and the clothes are modern and western in design.

There is an outstanding shoe market along Hang Dau St at the north - east corner of Hoan Kiem Lake; however, it's difficult to find large sizes for western feet.

North of Hoan Kiem lake is Hang Buom St, as close as Hanoi gets to having a China town. The goods on sale here differs significantly from what you see else  where.It is, for example, the best place to get Chinese chops (seals) carved. If nothing else, it's a picturesque to stroll