Shopping

Q: Are there shops that import western food?

A: You can easily find some western shops or shops that sell western products. However, they are just small shops like L’s place, Hung Long shop, Veggies, Annam, etc. They can be quite expensive. Locally, Lotte Mart is the closest thing to a big western supermarket, and Mega Market and some of the Winmart locations have a good selection. Mega Market also sells appliances, kitchen equipment, basic home tools, clothings, etc. 

Q: Is it easy find our favorite movies and TV shows?

A: Viet Nam also has Netflix. The cable packages that are local include BBC, CNN, National Geographic, etc. Many of the channels on cable for children (as well as some adult programs) are dubbed in Vietnamese. You can also find DVDs here. The app store for Kindle Fire TV has some VPN apps, which will generally allow you to watch as usual.

Q: Can you get quality adult and kids bikes? Are they expensive?                                                                                     

A: Yes, there are plenty of quality bikes and they are affordable, though you might not be able to find a name brand you prefer.  If you are tall or large, you also may have difficulty finding the right sized frame. You can buy basic bikes at Decathlon, and Ridebikes has a variety of brands, including Trek. They will also special order bicycles as well, though it may take months for the bike to arrive.

Q: Can I get good shampoo, conditioner, contact lens solution, soap, lotion, pantyliners, tampons, face cleaner, face cream and vitamins?  

A: Nowadays, you can find almost anything in Hanoi. If you cannot find it in a shop, you can most likely find it online. You are best to go to Pharmacity or Guardian pharmacy to buy these types of products as they have a much wider range. Supermarkets also supply them but the options are more limited, and many creams contain whitening products. Beauty products can be more expensive. Tampons, pads, menstrual cups etc. are sold at most places. If you have specific products you want to purchase you could consider bringing them in your shipment, or bring an extra suitcase with you from your home country. Shops sell some vitamins, but these can be limited, so we suggest you bring these. Bangkok is just an hour and half flight away to stock up on more if you need it.