During the day, Hang Chieu Street in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District appears to be just another street, with shops selling carpets and curtains.
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But come nightfall and it becomes altogether different, morphing into the renowned “sex toy market.”
Tuoi Tre visited the market one night last month, and was greeted by a 50-year-old woman who offered to show some of her wares.
Tuoi Tre asked to see her most “special” toys and she took out a black nylon bag with dozens of boxes of aphrodisiacs, which are banned in Vietnam, and bizarrely shaped condoms, some even looking like animals.
“You’ll never be disappointed with my unique products,” she said.
The condoms cost from VND20,000 (USD0.96) to VND40,000 (USD1.93) and the aphrodisiacs from tens of thousands of dong to hundreds depending on their power, she said.
“I have good aphrodisiacs of various types for both men and women,” she said.
“They are powerful enough for you to ‘enjoy’ for a whole night.”
She also had vibrators and even sex dolls costing VND500,000 (USD24.1), but they were not openly displayed.
“Give me the money and I will go get it for you,” she said.
She swore that the products were from Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand and not from China.
There were discounts for customers buying in large quantities.
The market gets many customers, including many women.
And they are not coy about buying the stuff.
“Why on earth should I feel shy about buying this?” L., a very young girl, asked.
“This is a safe choice to satisfy your sexual needs without the risk of getting disease.”
L. said she frequently visits the market to buy sex toys for herself and for friends.
Locals said Hang Chieu market has been in existence for dozens of years though occasionally someone is arrested.
The sellers are very discreet and careful: Only five or six come any given night and tell customers how to get their items when they buy something.
The sellers usually hide their wares under trees so that the police cannot charge them for selling forbidden goods if they are found.
A special condom on sale there
The market becomes busy at night
