TOP 10 GIFTS TO
BUY FROM VIETNAM (2018)
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.
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 and have a nice time.
1. Silk
Silk
in Vietnam is made from the cocoons of silkworms using manual looms, and comes
in a variety of patterns and colors. You can find plenty of fashion boutiques
and souvenir shops selling shirts, ties, accessories, and dresses at relatively
affordable prices. Unfortunately, counterfeit goods are very common in Vietnam,
so the best places for authentic silk products is Van Phuc Silk Village (about
10km southwest of Hanoi) and Hoi An Silk Village (Da Nang city)
Be
one of the most common materials used daily by the locals, silk is easily met
in a scarf, paintings and many kinds of traditional costumes in Vietnam. Silk
in the country is made in traditional hand-looms at very beautiful patterns,
along with distinguished colors and sizes. Everywhere around Vietnam can
tourists buy woven silk or products made of silk, but it is highly recommended
for Hoi An city – one of top 10 best places in Vietnam or Van Phuc Village
(nearby Hanoi center, 15 minutes by taxi from Hanoi center).
Silk
in Vietnam is renowned for brilliance and you can effortlessly find some unique
souvenirs to buy here. Silk also belongs to the souvenirs from Vietnam which is
a kind of animal protein fiber of insects so silk fabric is silky and soft.
Users who wear this kind of fabric once will like using it on normal days and
special cases. In Vietnam, you can find gorgeous silk scarves for men and women
so they are popular souvenirs from this country.
The
silk is still made on traditional hand-looms and the best place to buy is at
the silk village in Hanoi (named as Van Phuc) and Hoian as well. Nowadays, Silk
and its beautiful products are affordable, hence, tourists have a chance to
choose their favorites and gifts to friends and family. This village is just 8
kilometers south-west of Hanoi, making it convenient for a half-day visit. Take
this to learn about the weaving process, and buy the products your heart
desires at the original prices. Those
can’t make the trip can get silk at specialty shops on Hang Gai (the silk
street of Hanoi).
Things
to bring back include the raw fabrics and ready-to-use stuff like scarves, Ao
Dai, dresses, ties, cosmetic bags, and underwear bags.
In
addition to the above-mentioned wonderful souvenir, another type that should be
taken into your consideration is silk which is very popular in Vietnam. Woven
from the cocoons of the silkworm, silk is regarded as the symbol of luxury and
nobility.
You
can easily find beautiful and gorgeous products made from silk like silk
scarves. Step into local markets in Vietnam, you will be mesmerized by a
variety of silk with myriad colors. Especially, to have a truly experience, you
should make your way to Van Phuc Silk Village where you can gain an
understanding of traditional culture of producing silk. Nowadays, silk and
products made from silk is much more affordable than it used to be. Therefore,
you are advised to buy silk as souvenir or gift to your friends and families.
Weaving-making
village – Van Phuc silk village (Ha Dong – Ha Noi)
Located
in Ha Dong, which is about 10 kilometers from the heart of Ha Noi Capital, the
village near Nhue River bank fully reserves the unique features of a typical
and traditional handicraft village. On paying a visit to Van Phuc silk village,
you can see the great banyan tree at the village’s gate, as well as many
familiar images of traditional Vietnamese village such as the well, the large
yard of the village’s temple, or the market held under the shade of the great
banyan tree every afternoon. From the gate of Van Phuc silk village, we can hear
the sound of the looms weaving the silk.
The
silk of Van Phuc is famous for its smoothness, softness, and coolness. It is
not only a favorable product in the country but also exported to many countries
all over the world.
When
it comes to Vietnamese silk, Hanoi has the best silk village and textiles. Its
famous Van Phuc silk village (aka Ha Dong silk village) with a thousand year of
history
BEST
GIFTS FOR:
The
ties make the great gifts for the males while the scarves are something the
females will love.
PRICES:
From
150,000 VND ($6.50) per meter of silk fabric;
480,000
VND ($21) per scarf;
240,000
VND ($10.50) per cosmetic bag;
the
famous ties are from $30 to $50 per item
70,000
VND – 100,000 VND/m (about 4$ per meter)
PORTABLE
LEVEL:
Easy
to manage
WHERE
TO BUY:
Hang
Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Van
Phuc Silk Village, Ha Dong, Hanoi
2. Vietnamese
Coffee
Vietnamese
coffee is famous for its preparation and special taste as locals put milk
mainly instead of sugar into strong coffee. Therefore, tourists can enjoy
themselves in the coffee shops of Vietnam, most of them have green, fresh and
quiet atmosphere. To buy coffee as a souvenir when in Vietnam, you should
prepare carefully, the best coffee for a gift is the original ones called dried
coffee beans. They are often at the price around $10.00 per 1 kilogram, Arabica
is much more expensive.
To
enjoy the flavor of their exquisite coffee bean to the fullest, Vietnamese brew
their coffee on the spot in tin coffee filters that sit on top of glasses.
Freshly brewed coffee then drips into the glass and is drizzled with a layer of
creamy and sweet condensed milk. This type of Vietnamese coffee concoctions is
becoming one of the most famous coffee beverages in the world. Besides local
coffee powder, you can also purchase a traditional tin filter and Vietnamese
condensed milk to make your take-home coffee experience truly authentic.
Vietnamese
coffee beans can be found just about anywhere in Vietnam, from local markets
and quaint cafes to shopping malls and international airports. Hanoi is arguably
the epicenter of Vietnam’s café culture, where you can get a 1kg bag of whole
or ground Robusta beans for about USD 4 or USD 5. With numerous branches in
Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, Trung Nguyen is one of the most popular
local coffee brands in Vietnam.
Vietnamese
coffee is well-known for its preparation (drip coffee) as well as putting
condensed milk or egg into very strong coffee (Vietnamese iced milk coffee, Egg
coffee). The majority of Vietnamese coffee is Robusta, which carries a stronger
amount of caffeine than Arabica and tastes a bit bitter. Combine these two and
you will have a unique strong taste and thick brew cup of Vietnamese coffee. Vietnamese
filter, grounded coffee, condensed milk and 10 minutes - Voila, Vietnamese Ca
Phe Sua Da.
Besides
enjoying coffee in Vietnam, you could purchase it as a gift to bring back home.
With a Vietnamese coffee filter, some Vietnamese coffee and a recipe (could be found
online), you and your friends back home could together enjoy Vietnam famous
styles of coffee.
Where
to buy coffee bean or ground coffee in Vietnam?
In Hanoi:
In
the Old quarter area
Price:
the
price of Vietnamese coffee ranged from $5 to $18 for 250 grams (Trung Nguyen
coffee).
3. Hand Embroidery
An
art passed down from ages, Vietnamese hand embroidery is a tradition with over
700 years old. In Vietnamese culture, traditionally, girls are expected to know
how to do hand embroidery to decorate pillowcases, handkerchief, tablecloths…
The mastery and explicit craft are bound to amaze you. So, when on a Vietnam
trip don’t forget buying at least one embroidered piece from there.
Hand
embroidery in Vietnam often depicts natural scenes and wildlife, though
travelers can visit prominent craft centers and embroidery shops to have their
very own personalized designs. Our favorite place for quality embroidery is XQ
Hand Embroidery in Nha Trang, which specializes in silk apparel and
hand-embroidered portraiture.
The
art of the hand-embroidery piece of clothing and framed silk pictures is an
ancient handicraft tradition in Vietnam. Visitors can mostly encounter
picturesque natural scenes such as flowers, trees, animals, birds and even
human patiently basted in one colorful thread a one time.
Also,
daily life scenes and portraits can be created with this old technique. Offered
in various hand embroidery shops, the vast variety of designs and patterns
along with the vibrant colors and spiritual depth of the artwork usually baffle
tourists when coming here. Especially in some shops, visitors can exchange or
sketch their individual idea to the artist, who creates a personalized present for
friends and family.
Vietnam
has a long history of silk embroidery with its world-famous art houses, such as
the XQ Dalat. Embroidery in Vietnam is a form of art, and it’s practiced and mastered
only by the most talented artists. Life-like and aesthetically intricate, these
embroidered canvasses which are crafted by the most talented artists in
Vietnam, make sophisticated gifts for your beloved family members or someone
you look up to. You can find silk embroidery arts in Dalat. Or, you can find
folk embroidery arts at provincial art houses and independent art stores.
There
is a wide range of available hand embroidered products from painting, bed
sheets, quilts, pillowcases, bed throw, place mats, napkins, table runners,
cosmetic bags, night dresses…This could be the best gift for your mother and
wife/girlfriend.
Hanoi
is a great place to buy embroidered products in terms of selection, quality,
and price. Available products include embroidered bed sheets, quilts, bed
throws, pillowcases, napkins, place mats, table runners, cosmetic bags,
lingerie, night dresses and many more.
Pay
close attention to the different materials that the embroidery pieces are
created on. Some of the best items are found on special Vietnamese cotton and
linen. And some of the best designs to look for are the majestic dragons and
lotus flowers. Anybody who appreciates hard work and culture will definitely
like these beautiful handmade gifts.
You
can purchase a premade item for about VND 500,000, but if you have time, you
can also have your portrait embroidered at the shop.
BEST
GIFTS FOR:
The
special ladies in your life – mother, and wife/girl friend
PRICES:
From
100,000 VND ($4.50) to 300,000 VND ($13) per handkerchief;
From
30,000 VND ($1.30) to 130,000 VND ($5.70) per cosmetic bag;
From
180,000 VND ($8) per napkin set (two pieces)
From
$5 to $13 per handkerchief. $2 to $6 per cosmetic bag. $8 per napkin.
PORTABLE
LEVEL: Easy to manage
WHERE
TO BUY
Hang
Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Hang
Da Market, Hang Da, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem Hanoi
4. Do Paper
Postcards, Notebooks and Dong Ho Paintings
It
cannot be denied that Vietnam has a rich culture with myriad customs,
entertainments, and handicrafts and so on. Welcome to Vietnam and immerse
yourself in one of the most precious cultural and traditional paintings known
as Dong Ho painting which is gaining its over-increasing popularity to be one
of the most integral parts of folk culture of Vietnamese people. There are
different paintings portraying different meanings and legends such as Ba Trieu,
Thanh Giong and Truyen Kieu. If you are interested in Dong Ho paintings, head
to Dong Ho village to purchase the one that you like.
Do
paper is made from the bark of the Do tree, a wild plant commonly found around
local riverbanks. It was popular for many years before the modern paper came.
The process of making this paper is very complex, which takes up to three
months. But the results are soft, light and durable paper. There are
archeologist finding of Do paper that is 800 years old (according to BBC).
Nowadays,
Do paper is only used for making Hanoi ‘s ethnic greeting cards, watercolors,
folk paintings or bamboo-bound notebooks. They are also used to cover notebooks,
which cost for more than $2.0.
Having
a thriving pool of artists, people have come to know Vietnam as a source of
amazing paintings. With various galleries scattered in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi
Minh City, shopping for oriental masterpieces is fairly easy. Pick up a piece
of art from each new city you visit, and create your own evolving art
collection. Display your art on a beautiful gallery wall in your home to help
remember all of the amazing trips you’ve taken through the years.
Nowadays,
Do paper is used only to make Hanoi’s ethnic greetings cards, water color, folk
paintings and bamboo-bound notebooks. You could use this type of postcards to
send friends back home as a gift from your Vietnam travel.
Do
paper is a traditional type of paper, made from the bark of the Rhombohedron balance,
a wild plant found on the local riverbanks. This durable paper has been used in
folk art for hundreds of years. The famous Dong Ho paintings are often seen on
this kind of paper.
A
stroll along the streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter will introduce you to various
craft stores where Do paper products like greeting cards, postcards, notebooks,
and stationary sets shine their beauty. These make a greet gift for all the
females in your life who are into crafting.
Painting-making
village – Dong Ho painting village (Bac Ninh)
Dong
Ho village is a famous painting-making village of Vietnam. Located in Dong Ho,
Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh Province, this traditional painting village has
a good reputation of making folk paintings, which is the ancient style of
Vietnamese painting. In the past, the village drew meaningful pictures to meet
the need of the customers during the Lunar New Year festival. Nowadays, Dong
Ho’s paintings are also drawn every day to serve the tourists’ requirements.
Almost
of Dong Ho paintings represent for the desire of peace, happiness, and
prosperity. Because of this reason, these pictures are usually used in the
Lunar New Year Festival.
The
raw materials used for a typical Dong Ho’s painting is a special kind of paper
made from the bark of the Rhombohedron balance, which is called “Giay do” or
“Do Paper” and the colors for the picture are made from brick, leaves, or burnt
roots. In order to create the sparkling look for the painting, the artists use
the clam’s shells.
After
being heated in the kiln, the shells are broken and mixed with the resin. Then,
the artists will cover a layer of this mixture on “Do paper” before painting.
BEST
GIFTS FOR: Children and female friends or family members
PRICES:
From
35,000 VND ($1.50) to 45,000 VND ($2) per item
Do
paper cards with embroidered squares, hemp covered notebooks cost more or less
$2, bamboo bound notebooks are from $1.5. They could be found in most book
stores in major cities.
PORTABLE
LEVEL: Easy to manage
WHERE
TO BUY
Van
Mieu, Dong Da, Ha Noi, Vietnam
5. Tea & Lotus
Tea
Lotus,
the national flower of Vietnam, can be found in many parts of the country but
it is believed that the ones in Hanoi’s West Lake are the best varieties with a
more lingering scent.
Over
the years, the tea makers of Hanoi have mastered the art of flavoring green tea
with lotus stamen fragrance. This meticulous and time-consuming process takes 1500
lotus flowers to make 1kg of lotus tea. That is why the prices of this
Vietnam’s ancient tea can go up to hundreds of dollars per kilogram.
But
when you taste this noble tea, you will know that it is worth the price. A cup
of high-grade green tea combined with lotus’s luscious fragrance gives us a
crisp, sweet, vanilla hinted flavor with scent of Lotus flower lingering in the
mouth.
BEST
GIFTS FOR:
Yourself
or someone really special in your life
PRICES:
The
average price for normal tea in Vietnam is $4-$5 per kilogram.
For
best quality Lotus Tea, price from VND 5 million ($220) to VND 8 million ($352)
per kilogram. A 125-gram box is good enough to be a nice gift, about $30-35.
It
takes only a teaspoon (3.6g) to make a 180ml pot of tea.
PORTABLE
LEVEL: Easy to manage
WHERE
TO BUY
Ma
May, Hoan Kiem, Hano
Hang
Manh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
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Best
Souvenirs to Take Home from Vietnam
Top
10 Souvenirs from Vietnam
10
Things to Buy in Vietnam
17
Best Vietnam Souvenirs Ideas for Kids and Adults
The
10 Best Souvenirs Hanoi has to offer
Famous
Handicraft Villages of Vietnam
Top
10 Souvenirs and Gifts to Buy in Vietnam
Top
10 Souvenirs to Buy in Vietnam
Where
to Buy the Best Souvenirs from Vietnam
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BUY FROM VIETNAM
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