Dong Xuan Market has been at the northern end of the Old Quarter since 1889, when the French colonial administration consolidated Hanoi's street traders into a covered building. The current three-storey structure dates from a 1994 reconstruction after a fire destroyed the original hall. It is primarily a wholesale market — plastic goods, fabrics, garments, electronics, housewares — though retail buyers are welcome. The upper floors are more chaotic and less visited by tourists, which makes them more interesting.
The area around the market's exterior, particularly on the eastern and southern sides, is where much of the real action is: street vendors selling produce, dried goods, flowers, and snacks operate from the crack of dawn. The night market that runs along Hang Dao Street from the market south toward Hoan Kiem Lake on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings is the more tourist-oriented version, with clothing stalls and souvenirs. The daytime market is harder to navigate but more authentic — bring cash, expect no English, and be prepared for the particular chaos of a market that serves the city's wholesale trade rather than its visitors.