When night falls in Hanoi, the area around the scenic Hoan Kiem lake transforms into a lively walking street filled with bustling street markets. This charming night market offers visitors enchanting views of Hanoi’s commercial and cultural vibrancy after dark.
A Promenade of Shopping and Dining Delights
The half-kilometer pedestrian-only stretch lining the northern shores of Hoan Kiem lake becomes packed with hundreds of vendors setting up colorful stalls to sell clothes, souvenirs, artworks and an enormous variety of street food. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to indulge in retail therapy and tantalizing cuisines unique to Hanoi until the wee hours.
Interspersed between the vibrant shopping and dining stalls lies cozy cafes, fusion restaurants and happening bars housed in restored French colonial buildings. Hipsters mingle alongside families and foreigners checking out the latest watering holes around the scenic promenade.
For visitors keen on experiencing Hanoi’s dynamic nightlife off the beaten tourist track, the Returned Sword Lake Night Market provides the perfect fix.
Experiencing Vietnamese Street Food Culture
No trip to Vietnam is complete without experiencing Vietnamese street food culture, and the night market lining Hoan Kiem Lake offers visitors plenty of options. Given Hanoi’s chilly year-round evenings, hot noodle dishes prove especially popular.
Visitors can take their pick from steaming bowls of pho noodle with slices of beef or chicken, or slurp up endless strands of bun cha noodles that come dipped in sweet and savory broth with grilled pork patties heaped on the side. Those with adventurous palates can request their noodles with nutritious additions like pig’s blood curd or stuffed tofu.
Typical local dishes
Beyond noodles, the promenade has other tantalizing Vietnamese snacks to discover. Crispy fried shrimp cakes, sticky rice topped with fragrant sausages, spring rolls bursting with veggies and vermicelli bowls capped with a mix of herbs and grilled meat all make delightful snacks while pub-hopping along the lake.
And given Hanoi’s French colonial history, stalls offering pastries like coconut macaroons and buttery custards appeal to visitors with sweet tooths. For less than two dollars, one can easily get their fill of Hanoi’s eclectic street food offerings at this night market.
Experiencing Vietnamese Culture for Free
Beyond shopping and grazing on delectable street fare, the Hoan Kiem night market invites visitors and locals to experience Vietnamese arts and culture through free shows. Traditional Vietnamese music performances, chèo singing and quan họ folk melodies entertain market-goers from makeshift open-air stage areas.
Visitors can also witness and even join locals partaking in public dances like salsa and the fan dance right around scenic Hoan Kiem lake till midnight. Such glimpses into Vietnam’s vibrant culture get positively amplified against the backdrop of Hanoi’s sparkling skyline under moonlit skies.
The festive spirit carries on till sunrise, making Hoan Kiem Lake night market a must-visit for culture vultures exploring beyond Hanoi’s tourist sites.
Special Thoughts
The bustling night market around Hoan Kiem lake offers an intoxicating mix of shopping, dining and cultural extravaganza set against Hanoi’s majestic skyline. Its unique street food culture blended seamlessly with historic architectures create an unforgettably enchanting Hanoi experience. Night market on the walking street considered as an outstanding point with our free local guides.
If you are in Vietnam and interested in discovering more about Hanoi – the capital and its significance, we invite you to join us at Free Walking Tours Hanoi. We’ll take you across the building, and provide you with a unique perspective of the city. Book now and don’t miss out on this amazing experience.
