10:00 AM — Back on the Move
Around ten in the morning, we picked you up again from the Ho Guom area in the French Quarter. The day was already bright and busy, Hanoi fully awake. Rather than walk, we booked a Grab car to Dong Xuan Market for VND33,280 (≈ MYR5/USD1/EUR1) and headed north.
The streets shifted quickly—tree lined roads giving way to tighter lanes, traffic thickening, noise rising. By the time we arrived, the Old Quarter’s energy had completely taken over.
Arriving at Dong Xuan Market
The moment we stepped out, everything felt louder and closer. Vendors shouted, carts rattled, scooters edged through gaps. The market rose ahead of us, solid and humming, people flowing in and out without pause.
We slowed at the entrance for a breath before stepping inside.
The Main Atrium
Inside, the space opened up suddenly. The main atrium was tall and echoing, filled with layered sound—voices, footsteps, shutters, negotiation. At its centre stood a circular water fountain, gently flowing, almost calm amid the rush. People passed around it constantly, using it as a quiet anchor before vanishing into the aisles.
Smells overlapped—fruit, herbs, fabric, plastic, cooking oil. Above us, multiple levels curved around the space, light filtering down through railings and signs.
Level Two and the Annex
An escalator carried us up. On level two, the aisles tightened, packed with clothing and textiles stacked high. Fabric brushed fabric, hangers clacked, calculators beeped. Vendors sat low behind their goods, focused and unhurried. The air felt warmer, heavier.
We eventually wandered deeper into the annex building on the same floor, where the light dimmed slightly and the space felt more wholesale, quieter but no less busy.
The Top Floor — A Sea of Red
At the top floor, we stepped into an open space overlooking the atrium. From above, the movement below softened into patterns around the fountain.
Across the open span—from one end of the atrium to the other—Vietnamese flags were strung overhead, forming a canopy of red. They shifted gently in the warm air, yellow stars repeating again and again until the entire space below felt wrapped in color.
The Áo Dài Search
Cat had dreamed of buying an áo dài in Hanoi, and here we were, surrounded by endless choices. We first stopped at Chân Dung – Hà Ngọc, but the price proved too high.
Farther along, we found a small, nondescript stall run by an elderly, friendlier shopkeeper. Cat bargained gently, smiling. The shopkeeper listened, smiled back, but stayed firm. Cat agreed and chose a golden áo dài for VND 300,000 (≈ MYR45/USD12/EUR10).
The áo dài is Vietnam’s traditional dress—a long, fitted tunic with a high collar and side slits, worn over loose trousers. Elegant and practical, it moves with the body and is worn for daily life, ceremonies, and celebrations.
Carrying It Forward
We booked another Grab to Hanoi Centre for VND37,440 (≈ MYR5/USD1/EUR1) to resume the Bluetooth headset hunt. When we stepped outside, sharp afternoon light hit us, and the street noise felt brighter.
We carried the áo dài carefully, as if it were no longer just fabric, but a small story we had written together.
Be sure to catch our previous video to see what happened next.
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📍 Location:
Đồng Xuân Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/imczm2Z3XWuy8Y5n7
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