Food Shopping

Where to shop for our day to day items? Is always a question I have to ask myself when doing the weekly shop. I have found Hanoi is an easy place to shop in compared to other places we have lived. Oh how I wish for a Coles or Safeway supermarket to do the one stop shop.

If you want to buy local items the prices are quite cheap its when you look at the expat lines that's when costs do add up. In the local area of Tay Ho or Ho Tay which ever way you want to pronounce the area name we have a number of options for shopping depending on the item we are looking for. There seems to be a mini mart on every street so hunting through them becomes a bit of hit and miss afair when you want to find something. The same old story applies when you see an item you grab it as next time it may not be there when you want it.

Picture: Syrena Shopping centre has a small supermarket

Picture: Ls Place a local mini market stocking a good selection of expat lines

Picture: One of the local hardware stores


Picture: One of the local fruit stalls


Picture: A flower seller

Picture: A local broom seller in front and a kitchen wares seller in back

A part from the local stores there is also a number of street sellers who wonder around the area with carts or bikes selling a number of items which is quite novel to see. How much they can fit on their mode of transportation will depend on the items they are selling.

Depending on the exchange rate costs seem to be changing all the time so I never really know the correct cost I am actually paying for an item. Then if it is not in the local currency of Dong its in USD so then I have to convert into Australian dollars to see how much I am actually spending.

Here is a sample of what some items cost to buy

Can of corn $1.26, 4 x 190ml Milo drinks $1.20, 2 Chicken Breasts $6.20, 1 lt long life milk $2.69, Shaving Cream $2.60, Palmolive Shampoo $1.33, Sour Cream $2.66, Tasty Cheese 500gm $8.00, Roast Lamp $30.00, small jar of Vegemite $10.00

The question I have is that in USD or Australia dollars? Where's a Coles supermarket when I want one?.........................................................