Although many people only think of lakes and the old quarter and little quant lanes when they think of Hanoi, in fact, there are some outstanding huge shopping malls which would compete favourably with any large shopping mall in the world!
With whole floors of restaurants, numerous little areas for the ubiquitous photo-taking opportunities and some great deals to be had, it is well worth visiting Hanois shopping malls for the experience itself!
Vincom Center
There are various Vincom Centers scattered throughout the city. These range from only a few shops at the bottom of an apartment block to a whole shopping centre. These tend to be very upscale malls with a focus on international luxury brands, high-end boutiques, and world-class cosmetics and skincare shops.
As with all shopping malls in Vietnam, there will be a whole floor devoted to the food court – where you can find a large number of restaurants catering to a wide variety of tastes.
There are numerous Vincom centers throughout Hanoi – the lastest being at Smart City
Lotte Mall – West Lake
This is the newest shopping mall in Hanoi, having opened in September 2023. It is very close to the expatriate area of Tay Ho so if you are interested in visiting the expat area then this shopping mall can easily be incorporated.
It is a huge shopping mall, with numerous seating areas, and cafes dotted throughout the complex as well as a whole floor of food. It has a cinema as well as a very large children’s play area. It has a large Marks and Spencers as well as Lush and a very large Muji – giving it a very international feel.
The latest shopping mall in Hanoi is totally huge and very well designed
Royal City
Royal City is one of the largest and most comprehensive shopping complexes in Hanoi. It has a cinema as well as a large ice skating rink. It used to have a water park – and this is still up on many websites – however, it closed many years ago.
There is a wide range of fashion stores, and electronics shops, as well as a very large bookstore (with lots of books in English at a reasonable price!). In addition, there is a large international sports shop – decathlon – which offers an amazing range of goods at very reasonable prices.
Royal City features a large ice skating rink
Lotte Center Hanoi
Lotte Center Hanoi is more of a department store rather than a shopping mall. It occupies the lower floors of a massive sixty-five-floor tower block right in the middle of the city.
Like all department stores around the world, the ground floor is dedicated to cosmetics and skincare, with the floors above being dedicated to a specific theme e.g. a floor for women’s fashion/a floor for household items, etc.
There is a large bookstore – with a limited supply of books in English as well as a children’s playing area (designed for the younger age range)
Note that there is no wifi in Lotte Centre – which is unusual as in most shopping malls there is a free internet service.
As it is a Korean-owned building, the toilets have fancy Korean toilets with warmed toilet seats and a variety of buttons for water and hot air for drying! – well worth a visit for the experience!
Whilst at the Lotte Center you may like to go to the skydeck on the sixty fifth floor!
AEON Mall Long Bien/Ha Dong
AEON Mall is represented by two shopping areas – one in Long Bien (which is over the river from the old quarter) and one in Ha Dong (which is very difficult to find and when you are almost there you think you are in the middle of nowhere and then suddenly up it pops!)
Both of the AEON malls are huge. In addition to a huge array of shops – from H&M/Zara to the Body Shop and Sketchers there is a very large AEON mall section which offers a very large selection of goods at very reasonable prices – these range from clothes, bags, and shoes to household items.
In addition, there is a very large AEON supermarket (in all shopping malls there is a large supermarket – e.g. a Lotte supermarket in the Lotte center, etc) which offers a wide variety of products which cannot be found at other supermarkets.
In addition to the food court with restaurants, AEON mall has a very extensive food area where you buy food from the various “stalls” and then sit in the communal area to eat.
AEON Mall is amazingly huge!
Vinhomes Times City
This is a large shopping mall located underneath a huge housing complex. This means that you can not only enjoy the underground shopping mall but also walk around the landscaped area and enjoy the small shops and cafes on ground level.
There is a very large aquarium there which is extremely popular and well stocked. There is also an aquarium at the new Lotte Mall West Lake however at the time of writing (October 2023) it is still being stocked with large sea creatures.
Times City shopping mall is located at the bottom of a housing complex
For each of the shopping malls, there is easy and convenient parking – which is typically underneath the building. Make sure that you take a photo of where you are parked however as it can be very easy to forget where you parked! Note that in most shopping malls you can get free parking (typically limited to two hours) if you spend a certain amount at the supermarket (usually around 200,000 VND) Simply ask the cashier for a parking ticket and then instead of paying at the exit show the small piece of paper instead!
Overall, Hanoi’s shopping malls offer a shopping experience that ranges from luxury boutiques to affordable local brands. These malls are not just about shopping; they provide a diverse range of dining options that cater to various tastes and preferences. Whether you’re a fashion enthusiast, a foodie, or a family looking for entertainment, Hanoi’s shopping malls have something to offer for everyone. Explore the malls, indulge in retail therapy, and savour the culinary delights that make Hanoi’s shopping scene a unique and unforgettable experience.
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