Bookshops in Hanoi

Good bookshops in Hanoi are few and far between. Most shops offering books in English have a smattering of classics, but very little in terms of books offering insightful commentary on the culture and political life of Vietnam.

Aside from the Ngoai Van Bookstore (below), you'll find some of your best books at shops located within Hanoi's museums.

Recommended

Ngoai Van Bookstore

64 Trang Tien Street.

GPS: N21°01.520' E105°51.216'

This store, located near Hoan Kiem Lake, offers a good selection of books ranging from Vietnamese architecture to cultural facets of Vietnam. Their section on Vietnamese language for English speakers is the best we've seen in Hanoi.

Bookworm

15a Ngo Van So

Open since 2001, Bookworm is located in the French quarter, a few streets south of Hoan Kiem lake. They sell new and used 2nd-hand English books, with over 3000 titles including fiction, non-fiction and kids. There is a small gallery at the rear of the store featuring exhibitions from local artists.