Dong Xuan Market Hanoi 2026: Hours, Night Market & Tips

Dong Xuan Market (Chợ Đồng Xuân) is Hanoi’s largest covered market, at the northern end of the Old Quarter, about 1 km north of Hoan Kiem Lake. Founded under French rule in 1889 and rebuilt after a fire in 1994, it sells clothes, fabric, household goods and souvenirs, mostly wholesale. Entry is free; it opens daily from about 6:00.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily as normal and free to enter, roughly 6:00–18:00 (longer on weekends). The weekend night market runs from Friday to Sunday evenings, about 18:00–22:30, along Hang Dao and Hang Ngang to the market gate.

Why Dong Xuan Market is worth a visit:

Hanoi’s biggest market: about 14,000 m² of stalls on several floors.
Real local trade: wholesalers, porters and shopkeepers rather than a tourist show.
Heritage façade: the colonial-era front with its arches survived the 1994 fire.
Street food all around: the lanes behind the market are a busy local food hub.
Weekend night market: the car-free walking street ends right at its gate.

Dong Xuan Market at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Chợ Đồng Xuân
Location	Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi (north end of the Old Quarter)
Distance	About 1 km north of Hoan Kiem Lake; near Long Bien Station
Known for	Wholesale clothes and fabric, household goods, street food, weekend night market
History	Founded in 1889; rebuilt after the fire of 14 July 1994
Opening hours	About 6:00–18:00 Monday–Thursday; to about 22:30 Friday–Sunday
Entrance fee	Free
Time needed	45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Best time	Morning (8:00–11:00) for the market; Friday–Sunday evening for the night market
Nearby	Old Quarter, Long Bien Bridge, Hang Ma lantern street
Find it	Google Maps

Is Dong Xuan Market Worth Visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy local markets and street life, but not as a souvenir paradise. Much of what is sold is everyday wholesale goods, often imported, so it is more interesting to watch than to shop. Combine it with a food walk and the Old Quarter.

Best for: curious travellers, photographers, street-food fans, bargain hunters for fabric and household items.
Skip if: you dislike crowds and narrow, busy aisles, or want quality handicrafts (try Hang Gai or Hang Bac instead).
Short on time? Walk the ground floor and the food lanes behind the market in 30–45 minutes.

Historic photo of Dong Xuan Market, then called Les Halles, in Hanoi around 1900 — Dong Xuan Market, known to the French as "Les Halles", photographed by Pierre Dieulefils around 1900. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

History of Dong Xuan Market

The market began on the banks of the old To Lich River, where several traditional markets met. In 1889 the French colonial authorities built a large covered market here, with a decorative arched façade, which the French called “Les Halles”. For a century it was the biggest trading centre in northern Vietnam.

On the night of 14 July 1994 a huge fire destroyed most of the stalls. The market was rebuilt from 1995 with modern fire safety and more floor space, while the historic front façade was preserved. In October 2025 Hanoi celebrated the market’s 135th anniversary. More background is on Wikipedia.

What to See and Do at Dong Xuan Market

1. The colonial façade

The arched front on Dong Xuan Street is the best photo spot, especially in the morning when porters unload goods.

2. The ground floor

The busy ground floor sells clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, electronics and dried goods such as tea, coffee, dried fruit and spices.

Crowded stalls packed with goods inside Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi — Narrow aisles packed with wholesale goods inside Dong Xuan Market. Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

3. The upper floors: fabric and textiles

Upstairs, rolls of fabric, ready-made clothes and children’s goods fill long aisles, mostly sold wholesale but often to individuals too. It is a good place to buy fabric before visiting a tailor.

Colourful rolls of fabric stacked at a stall in Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi — Rolls of colourful fabric on the market’s upper floors. Photo: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

4. The food lanes

Around the market, especially towards Hang Khoai and the back of the building, street-food stalls serve bun cha, bun rieu, banh cuon, snails and sweet soups to traders and shoppers. Our Hanoi food guide explains what to order.

5. The weekend night market

From Friday to Sunday evening the walking street from Hoan Kiem Lake along Hang Dao, Hang Ngang and Hang Duong becomes a night market ending at Dong Xuan, with clothes, souvenirs, snacks and buskers.

Dong Xuan Market Opening Hours (2026)

Area	Hours	Entry
Indoor market, Monday–Thursday	About 6:00–18:00	Free
Indoor market, Friday–Sunday	About 6:00–22:30	Free
Weekend night market (Hang Dao to Dong Xuan)	Friday–Sunday, about 18:00–22:30	Free
Food stalls around the market	Morning to late evening, some until after midnight	Pay per dish

Individual stalls set their own hours; many close earlier on Sundays and during Tet.

Shopping Tips and Etiquette at Dong Xuan Market

Bargain politely: start at about half to two-thirds of the first price for clothes and souvenirs; prices for food and small items are usually fixed.
Bring cash in small notes; few stalls take cards.
Watch your belongings in crowded aisles and keep your phone secure.
Ask before photographing vendors up close.
Mind the porters: step aside for carts and loaded motorbikes.

How to Get to Dong Xuan Market

From	How	Time
Hoan Kiem Lake	Walk north along Hang Dao, Hang Ngang and Hang Duong	About 15 minutes
Hoan Kiem Lake	Electric sightseeing car or cyclo	5–10 minutes
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum	Taxi or Grab	10–15 minutes
Long Bien Bridge	Walk	About 5 minutes
Noi Bai Airport	Taxi or Grab	35–50 minutes

See our Hanoi transportation guide for taxis, Grab and cyclos.

Best Time to Visit Dong Xuan Market

When	What to expect
6:00–8:00	Wholesale deliveries and porters; most authentic, very busy outside
8:00–11:00	All stalls open, manageable crowds, best for browsing
Friday–Sunday evenings	Night market and walking street; lively and crowded
Before Tet (January/February)	Extremely busy with festive shopping; colourful but hectic
October–April	Cooler weather; the indoor halls are hot in summer

Local Expert Tips for Dong Xuan Market

These tips come from years of arranging Hanoi tours for international travellers.

Come hungry: the food lanes behind the market are better than the souvenirs inside.
Buy tea, coffee and dried fruit here at local prices to take home.
For better handicrafts and silk, walk south to Hang Gai and Hang Bac; see our Hanoi shopping guide.
Walk on to Long Bien Bridge, five minutes away, for river views and passing trains.
On weekends, start at the market at 18:00 and walk south through the night market to Hoan Kiem Lake.

Dong Xuan Market vs Ben Thanh Market

	Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi)	Ben Thanh Market (Saigon)
Founded	1889	Current building 1914
Main trade	Wholesale clothes, fabric, household goods	Souvenirs, clothes, food court
Tourist focus	Mostly local	Strongly tourist-oriented
Night market	Weekends, on the walking street	Nightly, around the market

Our view: Dong Xuan feels more local; Ben Thanh is easier for souvenirs. Heading south? Read our Ben Thanh Market guide.

Nearby Attractions

Hanoi Old Quarter: the market sits at its northern end.
Long Bien Bridge: the 1903 steel bridge over the Red River, five minutes’ walk.
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: 15 minutes south on foot.
Quan Thanh Temple and West Lake: about 2 km west.
St Joseph’s Cathedral: 20 minutes’ walk south.

Sightseeing in Hanoi for First-Time Visitors: Where Dong Xuan Market Fits

An Old Quarter half-day: start at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, walk the craft streets and 87 Ma May, and end at Dong Xuan Market and Long Bien Bridge, with street food along the way. Pair it with a morning at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. See our Hanoi travel tips for more.

Plan your trip with our Hanoi travel guide and Hanoi tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.