Hanoi’s Old Quarter has been a hotbed of trade for centuries. Its streets and alleyways have long been where traditional medicine doctors, metal workers, bamboo artisans and silversmiths are found. Nowadays, alongside traditional wares, it’s home to chic lacquerware, vintage clothing and cutting-edge design collectives.

Meanwhile, north of the Old Quarter and close to the twin lakes of Ho Truc Bach and Ho Tay, contemporary art shops and avant-garde fashion houses abound. More than any other Vietnamese city, Hanoi welcomes fresh trends while honouring the past, and nowhere is this more evident than in the city’s vivacious shopping culture.

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