The Journal Things Hanoi: Unique Souvenirs Near Hoan Kiem (2026)

---

Great Places to Buy Vietnamese Souvenirs

The Journal Things: A Souvenir Shop in Hanoi's Old Quarter

Stationery & Select Shop: Location & Opening Hours

The Journal Things

---

📌

If you're looking for places to buy souvenirs in Hanoi,

it usually boils down to three options.

The night market, Lotte Mart,

and the souvenir alley in the Old Quarter.

The problem is, the items sold at all three are pretty much identical.

Magnets, rattan bags, embroidered pouches.

Every time friends visit from Korea, I hear the same thing:

"There's nothing unique to buy!"

But... is that really true?

The Journal Things

is a spot we often pop into

when exploring around Hoan Kiem Lake.

I visited the West Lake branch separately before,

and the vibe between the two locations is quite different.

I'll compare them both.

What Kind of Souvenir Shop is The Journal Things?

The Journal Things Hanoi Souvenir Recommendations

​

As the name suggests, 'journals' are at the heart of this store.

It started in 2018 and is introduced as the first brand in Vietnam to specialize in journals.

This means its product range is quite different from typical souvenir shops.

​

​

​

Embroidered cover notebooks, Vietnamese illustrated notepads

Stickers, washi tape

Postcards, mini cards

Enamel pins, keyrings

Tote bags, candles

Goods by local illustrators

The key is the last item.

If you visit a few souvenir shops in Hanoi, you'll quickly notice that the designs are often recycled.

Here, the proportion of items collaborated with local artists is high, so you won't easily find designs you've seen elsewhere.

This is also why it's a great place to buy gifts.

🔍Hanoi Souvenir Shops Best 7 Post

Locations and Opening Hours of 3 Branches in Hanoi

Where to Shop for Stationery in Hanoi

​

It's best to summarize them here.

Even though it's the same brand, each branch has a fairly distinct character.

---

Address: 31 Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Opening Hours: 09:00 - 21:00

Inquiries: 034 889 6372

2nd Floor of Building / Remove shoes before entering

---

40 Lạc Chính, Trúc Bạch

09:00 - 18:00

101B, Ngõ 47 Quảng Khánh, Tây Hồ

10:00 - 18:00

The West Lake branch shares a space with Cùng Nhau Cafe.

It's designed so you can enjoy coffee while decorating your journal with newly bought stickers before you leave.

However, West Lake is quite far from the Hoan Kiem tourist area.

The Lac Chinh branch is located near Truc Bach Lake and is smaller in size.

-> For your first trip to Hanoi,

if you can only visit one spot, the Quan Thanh Main Branch is the way to go.

🔍Hanoi West Lake Souvenir Shop The Journal Things Post

Comparing Branch Locations & Features

The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in Hanoi

​

Category	Quan Thanh Main Branch	Lac Chinh Branch	West Lake Branch
Address	31 Quán Thánh	40 Lạc Chính	101B, Ngõ 47 Quảng Khánh
Hours	09:00-21:00	09:00-18:00	10:00-18:00
From Hoan Kiem	20 min walk / 5 min Grab	10 min Grab	25 min Grab
Size	Largest	Small	Medium
Features	Widest selection of items	Quiet atmosphere	Includes a cafe
Cafe	No	No	Yes
Recommended for	3-4 day travelers	Those taking a stroll around Truc Bach Lake	West Lake accommodation / Long-term stays
Reservation	Not required	Not required	Not required

Just looking at the table, the choice is clear: if you're on a short trip, Quan Thanh is the undeniable winner.

It's also the only branch open until 9 PM.

Being able to pop in after dinner is more convenient than you might think.

How to Get to Quan Thanh Main Branch from Hoan Kiem

​

The address is 31 Quán Thánh.

It's in Ba Đình District, but it's actually right on the northern edge of the Old Quarter.

It's about a 3-minute walk from Hang Dau Water Tower (Bốt Hàng Đậu).

---

20-minute walk (great for sightseeing through the Old Quarter)

5-minute Grab ride, around 30,000 VND (~$1)

If you're in the northern part of the Old Quarter, it's a 5-10 minute walk.

---

The reason I recommend walking isn't just because it's a short distance,

but because there's so much to see along the way.

Hang Dao Street, Hang Dau Water Tower, and the beginning of Long Bien Bridge are all along that route.

If you just pinpoint the destination and take a Grab, you'll completely miss this entire fascinating stretch.

Of course, if it's the middle of the day or you have luggage, taking a Grab is better.

There's no need to push yourself to walk a distance that only costs 30,000 VND.

I often use this route when showing friends around.

Starting from Hoan Kiem accommodation,

and walking continuously through the Old Quarter, everyone tends to get tired from the crowds,

but once you pass Hang Dau Water Tower and head up Quan Thanh Street, it suddenly becomes quiet.

A good itinerary is to go in around that time, browse for a bit, and then head out.

​

For reference, if you're taking a Grab from Hoan Kiem

or finding the store with Google Maps, having data makes it much easier.

Installing an eSIM before your trip is incredibly convenient as you can use it immediately upon arrival at the airport.

🔗 Get your Vietnam eSIM at a discount and prepare in advance!

​

---

When a friend visited before, we stayed together near Hoan Kiem,

and back then, commuting through this area daily was quite pleasant.

🔍 Hanoi Hoan Kiem Hotel Splendid Secret Hotel: 3-Night Review

🔻🔻🔻

For accommodations near Hoan Kiem,

it's easy to compare locations here:

> Check out great value accommodations near Hoan Kiem, Hanoi <

Great Souvenir Items to Buy in Hanoi

Real-world price ranges

​

​

📍

What really stands out here are the notebooks and keyrings.

Notebooks, keyrings, and other stationery adorned with Vietnamese illustrations

range from 25,000 VND to under 200,000 VND.

That's approximately ~$1 to ~$7.

​

It's packed with illustrations that capture the essence of Vietnam,

featuring pho, cyclos, motorbikes, beer, Banh Mi sandwiches, and Hanoi alleys.

If you know the recipient has recently visited Vietnam, this gift is simply unbeatable.

The prices are also affordable, and there was a wonderful variety of stickers, masking tape, and memo pads.

Even if you buy several of these, they hardly take up any extra space.

For anyone worried about luggage room, these are the most practical souvenirs!

---

👍 What I loved

-> The designs are unique and don't overlap with other souvenir shops..!

-> All items have price tags, so there's no need to haggle!

-> They even package purchases with mini cards in kraft paper, which made this stationery lover so happy..!

-> Staff don't follow you around or push sales!!

🤔 What I found a bit disappointing

It's a second-floor shop, which means climbing a narrow staircase,

making it a bit inconvenient if you have a stroller or a large suitcase.

The items are densely displayed, so it might feel a little cramped if it gets crowded..

With so much variety, it's hard to just take a quick look and leave..?!

🔍My visit to Dot Grid Book stationery store in Hanoi

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

What to buy for a Hanoi travel souvenir?

If you need to buy a gift for a specific person,

they'll even package it for you, so you don't have to do anything extra.

A notebook and a few stickers make for a lovely presentation.

If you don't want to add bulk to your luggage,

focus on stickers, masking tape, and postcards.

They hardly add any weight or volume.

​

​

If Hoan Kiem Lake is on your itinerary,

it's within walking distance from the Old Quarter.

They're open until 9 PM, so it's perfect for a visit after dinner.

If you're staying in West Lake,

you don't necessarily need to come all the way to Quan Thanh.

It might be better to visit the West Lake branch and enjoy a coffee while browsing.

​

​

On the other hand, in these cases, is it really worth it...?

If you have absolutely no interest in stationery, Lotte Mart might be a better option.

Ultimately, this shop is for people who love paper and stickers and want to spend a lot of time browsing.

---

More Great Reads

🔍Post on Leather Vu, a leather workshop in Hanoi's West Lake

🔍Review of a unique experience in Hanoi - visiting a tea ceremony cafe

🔍Recommended Hanoi Lotte Mart Shopping List

​

#HanoiGiftShop #HanoiSouvenirs #HanoiStationeryStore #TheJournalThings #TheJournalThings #HanoiTravel #HanoiShopping #VietnamSouvenirs #HanoiAttractions #HanoiOldQuarter #HanoiQuanThanh #HanoiHoanKiemAccommodations #VietnamTravel #HanoiItinerary #JournalDecorating