Đồng Xuân Market

This is Đồng Xuân Market, on the northern side of Hanoi's Old Quarter.

The market dates from 1889, under French rule. That year the French authorities closed two older markets nearby and moved all the traders to open land in the Đồng Xuân ward. The market building was put up afterwards, and together with the nearby Long Biên Bridge it was one of the notable new structures of Hanoi at the time.

Look at the facade: it has five arched entrances. The original building had a French-style front and five large halls roofed with corrugated iron, 19 metres high, with a covered area of about 6,500 square metres.

In February 1947, fierce fighting took place around the market between Vietnamese soldiers and French troops. A memorial near the market commemorates it.

In July 1994 a major fire destroyed almost all of the stalls. The market was then rebuilt, keeping the look of the old facade.

Today the market has three floors. The ground floor sells clothes, shoes and bags, the second floor clothes and fabric, and the third floor children's goods. Many stalls are wholesalers, and goods are shipped from here to provinces across northern Vietnam. Behind the market, pets and birds are sold. Food is mainly sold at the neighbouring Bắc Qua Market.

Since 2003, a night market has also been held in the street in front, with souvenirs, handicrafts and traditional food.