Visitors will have the chance to explore areas beyond the market's familiar trading stalls, gaining access to its rooftop, a space that has not previously been used for public visits.
The initiative is among the highlights of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2026.
Dong Xuan Market, more than 100 years old in Hanoi's Old Quarter, is vivid with colour and diverse goods, making it a popular stop for visitors to sightsee and shop (Photo: Manh Quan).
According to the organisers, the idea of opening the rooftop emerged following a sociological study of the market conducted by a team of architects, researchers and collaborators.
With the market's indoor trading areas already densely occupied, the rooftop is seen as having the potential to become a venue for social gatherings, cultural events and artistic performances in the future.
The organisers plan to display 50 artworks created by Vietnamese designers, alongside landscape installations.
Opening the rooftop is also part of a broader effort to bring lesser-used areas of Dong Xuan Market closer to the public.
The festival will also feature a multisensory art exhibition running from November 14 to 28, as well as a programme of around 150 activities from November 13 to 28. These events aim to connect cultural heritage, traditional crafts and contemporary art.
The organisers said the project seeks to encourage visitors not only to go to the market to shop or socialise, but also to engage with the layers of memories, everyday life and emotions associated with the historic site.
In preparation for the project, participating artists spent more than a year researching the lives of market traders, collecting thousands of photographs and more than 1,000 audio recordings capturing everyday activities.
These materials were shared with Vietnamese and international artists to inspire works reflecting the architecture, people and daily rhythms of Dong Xuan Market.
Dong Xuan Market is the largest market in the Hanoi's Old Quarter and one of the biggest in the capital. It was established in 1889.
The market is an example of French colonial-era architecture and has been closely associated with Hanoi's trading history and urban development across generations.
