Vietnam Shopping
Shopping is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture during your Vietnam holiday, where you can find unique handicrafts, food items, and apparel at relatively affordable prices. Whenever perusing through Vietnam’s local markets, art galleries, and craft centers, it’s wise to take your time searching for good Vietnamese souvenirs and gifts for your family and friends. Bargaining (at least 75% lower than the retail price) is a must for better deals as vendors often charge higher for tourists.
Locally produced coffee, conical hats, and dipping sauces can be found in most shopping venues in Vietnam, but if you’re looking to purchase authentic Vietnamese silk, jewelry and antiques, make sure you’ve done your research and visit reputable brands to avoid getting scammed. Read on for our guide on the best things to buy in Vietnam.
1. Vietnamese Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular and high-quality products in Vietnam, selling almost everywhere. However, if you want to avoid the slight chance of scams and cheaper prices, it is possible to buy great coffee in Hanoi, Da Lat, or Tay Nguyen (Vietnam Central Highlands). Otherwise, you can find this type of souvenir in any big city without much trouble. Just ask the local or your tour guide for the trusting providers.
The Best Vietnamese Coffee on Display
2. Ao Dai
Ao Dai (long dress) is perhaps extremely well-known over all the world as the traditional clothes of Vietnam. Its elegance and beauty are loved by plenty of fashionable tourists and obviously Vietnamese women. Nonetheless, be sure to look up at different types of Ao Dai such as trendy ao dai, hippy ao dai, or mini ao dai. Moreover, tailors also need about 24 hours to complete an Ao Dai. However, this will both be a nice present for your friends, family member or simply kept as a memento.
Ao Dai and Elegant Woman
3. Conical Hat
For 10 or so years ago, the conical hat (or straw hat) was a familiar garment to Vietnamese. It provides not only protection from the heat but also added to the charm of the wearer. Today, it is usually used as decorations and presents. The conical hat may have few differences between regions yet all the basic features are the same. This souvenir can be found in many parts of Vietnam at a reasonable price. So, the conical hat is one of the special gifts that you should add to your Things to buy in Vietnam list.
Tiny Conical Hats for Souvenir
4. Silk (Silk Products)
Vietnam was once very famous for silk as one of the main trading products in South East Asia. The lightness and durability are the main features that make Vietnamese silk attractive. A great number of places offer raw silk for sale, namely Van Phuc Silk Village in Hanoi, Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh, and so on. Beautiful products made from silk are available, especially hand embroidery paintings. This is considered an art in modern Vietnam and few even cost a fortune.
Beautiful Silk Products
5. Brocade
Besides silk, brocade in Vietnam is also very popular Vietnam with a wide range of items made from that material. You can easily buy one of them in the misty town of Sapa or markets in Lao Cai, Dong Van, Ha Giang. There are bags, clothes, scarves in various shapes, sizes, colors, and decorations. Brocade products will certainly amazing enough to win the heart of all collectors in the world
Impressive Ao Dai Made from Vietnamese Brocade
6. Pottery/Ceramic
Several countries are selling Vietnamese traditional pottery which shows the great influence of the once pottery center in Asia. A huge number of stores offer this type of product since pottery is still being used in the everyday life of Vietnamese people. Nevertheless, if you travel to Hanoi, it is advised to get to Bat Trang traditional village in which the art has been passed down for a thousand years. In the South of Vietnam, high-quality ceramic is available in Ho Chi Minh shops or Binh Duong province.
Magnificent Pottery from Bat Trang
7. Watercolor Painting
For those who love paintings, even though they may visit the national museum in the country to contemplate the unique watercolor paintings, it is possible to buy a work of art showing the magnificent scene in Vietnam. This is one of the main products in souvenir shops resulting in easy trade for tourists. The price is reasonable ranging from 10$ to 20$ with lots of topics and styles.
Unique Art in Vietnam
8. T-shirts
Budget travelers probably think this kind of souvenir much more appealing than other options on this list because of the cheap price and availability. You can keep and pack them easily or even wear them immediately after buying. There is a wide variety of unique designs and decorations about Vietnam for visitors to choose from. If you are worried about the size, then a good selection of souvenir shops offer western size in their stocks as well.
Lots of Designs to Choose
9. Sedge Products
In the modern day, you will be surprised at the huge number of traditional sedge tools in every household. They are extremely cheap, durable and have multiple uses for Vietnamese people. Tourists may not particularly find them helpful, but sedge products are definitely the most iconic items in this South East Asia country. Furthermore, the creativity of local has given birth to the special sedge souvenir like vases, baskets, and animals. For the best place to buy, try to visit Kim Son Sedge village in Ninh Binh.
» Consider our Ninh Binh Tours to get the best excursions to this amazing land «
Nice Local Products
10. Wooden Puppet
The water puppet show has been the greatest art in Vietnam for several centuries. If you love the authentic wooden puppet after participating in one of the shows in the theater, you can purchase some to bring home. It is pretty hard to locate which mainly sold stores around Hanoi Old Quarter and Van Mieu. However, this rare kind of souvenir will obviously worth your time and money anyway – one of the best things to buy back from Hanoi.
A Scene in the Show