US tourist publication talks up Vietnam night markets

By Hoang Phong May 23, 2022 | 06:34 pm PT

Foreign tourists visit a street food stall at a night market in Hanoi's Old Quarter, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Huyen

U.S. travel site Thrillist has named Vietnam among the world's nine best places to discover the culture of night markets with their crowds and diverse street foods.

"Strung up in glowing lights and lanterns, Vietnam's night markets are known for their bright hues," it said.

"Many Vietnamese night markets are laid out as walking streets or in historic city neighborhoods, and perhaps the most famous is the night market in Hanoi's Old Quarter."

Spanning three kilometers from Hang Dao Street to the gate of Dong Xuan Market, the market opens from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every weekend, and sells a variety of items ranging from clothes, toys and souvenirs to handicrafts and street food.

It opened in 2003 and has become a popular attraction for foreign tourists.

The website also said night markets in tourist towns such as Nha Trang, Ha Long, Hoi An, and Phu Quoc are worth exploring as they "offer a sea breeze and coastal scenery."

Some other countries in the list include India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.