Best Souvenirs & Gifts to Buy When Traveling Vietnam

It is joyful to explore the new culture, capture stunningly spectacular landscapes, and taste the authentic flavors of the country during your Vietnam holiday. Accompanied by them, shopping and picking up some “touchable memories” (souvenirs) is highly recommended. Have a look at the best souvenirs to consider bringing back home after your Vietnam travel.

The Top 7 Vietnam Souvenirs & Gifts Worth your Purchase

Ao Dai

Ao dai has long been a national garment for both male and female in Vietnam. It is a tight-fitted long dress worn over long pans, which makes the Vietnamese more charming and elegant. Nowadays, the ao dai is a little bit different in length, width, materials, and colors for various users, however, it still stays the same design.

Where to buy: It can be easily found in a tailor shop in Vietnam
Price: Its price is various ranging from $50 to several hundred dollars. The best thing is to have ao dai tailored so that it can get better quality and fit you perfectly.

Conical Hats – Non La

Referred as leaf hat or Non La, conical hat is considered as a symbol of Vietnam for over 3000 years. It is 100% hand-made with simple natural materials such as palm leaves and bamboo and sometimes decorated with images of flowers or Vietnamese identities on the outside by locals. Non La is used as an umbrella during rains and sun protection during summers. Therefore, the conical hat looks like a close friend of farmers on paddle fields as well as boatmen and women. Nowadays, these hats are still put on frequently by farmers or used as an accessory when locals go to festivals and pagodas.  If you enjoy the Vietnam eco-tour packages, try buying one to mix with the locals and avoid the heat in summer as well.

Where to buy: This gift is often sold in traditional markets like Dong Xuan or some souvenir shops along the streets.
Prices: From $2 for the simplest one.

Ceramic & Pottery Products

Ceramic and pottery products are other popular gifts you can bring back home from Vietnam. These products were influenced by Chinese, Cambodia, and India for its own appealing style. You can buy ceramic vases, lacquer vases in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Bat Trang and Phu Yen Village are the most famous sites for producing bowls, dishes, and vases for the domestic market and for export. Pay a visit to this village to learn how to make your own pottery product.

Where to buy: Bat Trang Village, Phu Yen Village, some pottery shops in main cities.
Price: Ranging from $5-10 for a cup. It can have a fall to half of the price when you join a workshop and make one on your own.

Dong Ho’s Folk Paintings

Dong Ho painting is hanged up on the wall as a precious decoration to celebrate some special occasions such as Tet holiday. According to Vietnamese’s belief, these paintings host a meaningful symbol reflecting people’s wishes for lucks and their perception of everyday life. It is a good idea for you to own a Dong Ho Painting on your house.\

Where to buy: You can buy at Dong Ho Village when visiting Bac Ninh Province.
Price: It also depends on the size of the painting you want to buy. Normally, the cheapest one is about $20.

Hand Fan – Paper Fan

The fan is made of sturdy bamboo and paper or silk with a view to fanning or decorating in your house. It is regarded as one of eight artsy and luxurious objects in the house including a quill pen, gourd bowl, an orchid, a Ty Ba (4 string guitar), a chess-set, a feather duster, and a sword. If you want to visit and observe the process of fan making, you should go to Thach That – the most well-known paper fan-making in Vietnam.

Where to buy: it can be found in some souvenir shops in the Old Quarter and Thach That village.
Price: Ranging from $3 (hand fan) to $100 (wall-hanging fan).

Wooden Clogs – Guoc Moc

Wooden clogs are soft of traditional footwear for males and females in Vietnam with diverse designs, colors, and materials. The Vietnamese wear wooden clogs together with ao dai and conical hats to increase the gracefulness of Vietnamese people. Nowadays, locals do not use them frequently due to the changing of Vietnam lifestyle, nevertheless, people still wear them in some cultural activities such as Cai Luong and Ca Tru.

Where to buy: in some traditional stores in Vietnam
Price: About $5-10 for a pair of wooden clogs

Products of Ethnic Minorities

If you have a chance to explore mountainous tribe hills such as Sapa, Mai Chau, Moc Chau, etc, products of ethnic groups here would be an ideal offer. Thanks to 50 different ethnic tribes in Vietnam, the products are also designed with very different woven patterns, colors showing their own distinctive culture.

Where to buy: It is easily found in the mountainous hills and some major cities.
Price: It depends on what you buy. The products in the mountainous area will be cheaper than those of other cities.

The Top 4 Gifts as Food & Drink to Buy in Vietnam

Coffee

Vietnam is known as the world’s largest producer of Robusta coffee. Vietnam coffee always attracts thanks to its preparation and special taste as locals put condensed milk instead of sugar into strong coffee. In addition to enjoying coffee in Vietnam, you can consider it as a gift. With a Vietnamese coffee filter, Vietnamese coffee, and a recipe, you and your family can try Vietnam dedicate taste even in your country.

Where to buy: It is widely sold in local markets and shopping malls.
Price: Around $2-3 per 100g of Robusta coffee and only $2 for a coffee filter.

O Mai – Salted Dry Apricot

This food was used for the medical purpose in Vietnam and China in the past but a snack nowadays. The main ingredients conclude fresh fruits such as plum, lime, peach, star fruit, pineapple, etc. After choosing the good ones, they will be spiced, dried, and added many flavors of O Mai like sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. It will make a great gift since it is easy to carry and hard to get spoiled and dedicates a very different cuisine of Western countries.

Where to buy: In some stores or local markets in the center of major cities. (Hang Duong Street in Hanoi, and Ham Nghi RD in Ho Chi Minh City)
Price: Ranging from $2-$5 for 200 grams to $10 for 500 grams.

Tea

Vietnamese tea is a traditional drink for Vietnamese in the household. Waking up in the morning, Vietnamese would love to enjoy a cup of hot green tea before starting a new day in order to refresh their mind. Three of the most popular tea kinds are green tea, plain black tea, and scented tea.

Where to buy: In the local markets and any supermarket.
Price: the average price of tea in Vietnam is $4-$5 per kilogram.

Snake Wine

Snake liquor is bottles of medical rice wine soaking with a dead cobra, scorpion, lizard or seahorse. Some people think that it is cruel, however, it is one part of the culture in Vietnam where some superstitions remain. According to the tradition, this wine can make men stronger, so enjoy it and consider it as a gift.

Where to buy: On Trieu Viet Vuong or Pho Hue Street in Hanoi and Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh.
Price: It depends on the size of the bottle, ranging from $10-20.