Hanoi - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Not particularly if you are interested in high quality manufactured goods. Lots of generic tourist type knick-knacks are available, mostly of middling quality. We have not seen any antique stores of good repute. There are some porcelain stores, but again the quality is OK. - Aug 2021
Yes - great (and cheap!) fabrics/tailoring, ceramics, woodwork, embroidery (though the paintings are not as good as they used to be), silk, propaganda posters, and various knock-offs of your favorite brands (if you are so inclined). - Dec 2019
It's definitely a shopping post: pottery, lacquer, tailored clothing, baskets, - Jul 2019
I didn’t think I would want to buy much, but my list keeps growing. There’s the cheap tourist souvenirs that make good gifts for children back home (I doubt much of it is real, and have a feeling it's made in China). Lacquer boxes and furniture (even in more modern styles), pottery (dishes/ tea sets), and oil paintings (even custom). Nothing is as good a deal as you think it should be, but there a variety of things to add to your collections. - Apr 2018
You can buy inexpensive gifts from Craft Link, an NGO with several locations who profits are invested back into minority communities. Many people get custom-made furniture (but be careful because the beautiful furniture can crack when brought into drier climes). Tailors are cheap and plentiful so get lots of custom-fitted suits and dresses -- I regret not buying more suits! If you don't mind haggling you can find all sorts of interesting knick-knacks in the markets. - Dec 2017
Baskets are gorgeous, tribal fabrics from Sapa, pottery.... - May 2016
Travel, fancy restaurants, private school tuition - Aug 2015
Paintings and lacquer stuff - Aug 2014
Artwork, hand-made clothes, silk, lacquer, gems, pearls. - Dec 2011
Lacquer, silk, furniture - Aug 2011
Silk, furniture, and pottery. - May 2010
Furniture. Art. Vintage motorcycles. - Feb 2009
Lacquerware, art work (paintings) by renowned local artists, embroidary, silk, furniture, Asian style household decorations, porcelain, ceremics, and pottery. Tailor-made clothes. - Sep 2008
Personally, not much. You can have clothes hand made fairly cheap. Show a craftsman a picture and they can make it, clothing, furniture....... - May 2008
