Going to the Market

A slightly different experience than going to the South End Mercer Island QFC, a trip to Hanoi's biggest market is an assault on all of your senses. I've been to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Chang Mai's Night Market, Hong Kong's Bird Market and even the Namche Bazaar in Nepal... The Dong Xuan Market in Central Hanoi is not like any of those! More chaotic, more people, more smells, more sounds... it's completely out of control! I think it's the clutter of so much stuff just laid out on every available space of street and sidewalk, with little to no organization, that makes it so chaotic... Here are some images from our first shopping trip to the market... it doesn't even begin to capture it!