If you want to know what to buy in Vietnam, read Seni World’s guide. We will show you Vietnamese souvenirs that are a part of the culture and history here.
Vietnam has many wonderful souvenirs for travelers all over the world. If you want to learn more about what to buy in Vietnam when traveling here, read the top 15 Vietnamese souvenirs Seni World introduces below now.
Ao Dai
- Where to buy: Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City), Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi), a tailor store in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, as well as in the Hoi An Ancient Town area,…
- Price of Ao Dai: 50 – 300 USD for custom-made designs, and 20 – 100 USD for available designs.
Shopping in Vietnam after traveling, you can not miss out on the most iconic Vietnamese item – Ao Dai. Ao Dai is not only an item of casual clothing of Vietnamese women (for female teachers or officers in some fields), but it’s also a nationwide symbol showing femininity and timeless beauty. Ao Dai is featured with long flowing sleeves, a stand-up collar, and 2 slits that reach the waist. You can pair Ao Dai with palazzo-fashion pants, or with the modern version, you can pair Ao Dai with a silk skirt.
Non La
- Where to buy: Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City), Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi), Hoi An Ancient Town area, Chuong Craft Village, and Kim Bong Craft Village,…
- Price of Non La: 2 – 20 USD.
Non La (Conical Hat) is the next souvenir for the question of what to buy in Vietnam. This is a cultural icon and also a point of elegance for many traditional Vietnamese clothing, especially when combined with Ao Dai. Non La is made from palm leaves, bamboo, or straw. The top of this hat has a large brim and gracefully slopes down from its conical crown. This design brings comfort, making it both beautiful and useful when helping you to protect yourself from the sun and humid climate.
Silk
- Where to buy: Dong Xuan Market and Hang Gai Street (Hanoi), Hoi An’s boutiques and tailor shops, Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square (Ho Chi Minh City),…
- Price of Vietnamese silk: 6.5 – 22 USD (silk scarves), 22 – 87 USD (silk apparel), 9 – 35 USD (silk accessories like pocket squares, ties, bowties, or handkerchiefs), 13 – 130 USD (decoration like cushions, covers, or wall hangings),…
One of the best things to buy in Vietnam while traveling here is silk. Vietnamese silk is spun from the cocoons of silkworms, which gives it a luxurious texture and a luminous quality that catches light fantastically. According to Vietnamnews, nowadays, Vietnam has become the world’s sixth-largest manufacturer of silk, as well as the third-largest silk exporter in Asia.
Ceramics
- Where to buy: Bat Trang Pottery Village and Phu Lang Pottery Village (Hanoi), Chu Dau Ceramic Village (Hai Duong),…
- Price of Vietnamese ceramics: 20 – 30 USD (small ornamental objects like small bowls, figurines, and decorations), 30 – 100 USD (medium vases and bowls), from hundreds to thousands USD (massive pieces like elaborate sculptures),…
The fourth item for the answer to what to buy in Vietnam is ceramics. Vietnamese ceramics were first stimulated by the culture of the Chinese and Cham. Over time, Vietnamese artisans created a unique and personal route for shapes, styles, and making methods of Vietnamese ceramics. They are a mixture of classic and modern, providing a bit of historical vibe and creativity for buyers.
Paper Lanterns
- Where to buy: Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoi An Ancient Town, Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City),…
- Price of Vietnamese paper lanterns: 2 – 50 USD.
Paper lanterns have a deep importance within Vietnam’s culture, not only lighting houses or streets, but also the Mid-autumn festival, Tet Holiday, and other traditional festivals’ symbols. Besides being a beautiful ornament, paper lanterns will be the icon for preventing ugly evil spirits and welcoming luck and wealth for the Vietnamese.
Vietnamese Coffee
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas, supermarkets, specialty coffee shops throughout Vietnam,…
- Price of Vietnamese coffee: 5 – 15 USD for packaged coffee, and 1 – 3 USD for a cup of coffee.
Coffee is one of the famous things to buy in Vietnam when traveling. Vietnam is very proud of the unique coffee lifestyle, which has robust flavors and exclusive brewing techniques. You can try to drink cups of hot or iced coffee in Vietnamese cafés to taste the special flavor, especially Capuchino and Egg Coffee – a Hanoi specialty. After that, let’s buy Vietnamese coffee in the form of packaged coffee beans or ground coffee.
Vietnamese Tea
- Where to buy: Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi) or Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City), tea shops in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, tea plantations of Moc Chau, Thai Nguyen, Bao Loc,…
- Price of Vietnamese tea: 2 – 11 USD for 100 grams of tea.
If global travelers ask, “What is famous in Vietnam to buy?”, the answer is Vietnamese tea. There are various types of tea in Vietnam, each with particular special features. For example, green tea has diffused grassy notes, black tea has the bold richness, oolong tea gives a middle flavor, or jasmine and lotus tea have slight floral fragrances,…
Vietnamese Fish Sauce
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas, supermarkets, and souvenir stores on Phu Quoc Island, Phan Thiet, and Nha Trang,…
- Price of Vietnamese fish sauce: 2 – 10 USD.
Fish sauce has a long-lasting history in Vietnamese cuisine, as well as being one of the Vietnamese souvenirs when travelers ask what to buy in Vietnam. With fish sauce, both fish and salt undergo months or years of fermentation, changing into a deep amber liquid. Vietnamese fish sauce has a sturdy, savory depth that makes meat more delicious.
- Where to buy: Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi) or Ben Thanh Market (Ho Chi Minh City), Mekong Delta,…
- Price of Vietnamese herbs and spices: 0.5 – 4 USD.
Don’t forget to buy Vietnamese herbs and spices when traveling here. Vietnamese food can be full of flavor thanks to the blend of various herbs and spices. Among them, there are many highlights, including lemongrass, mint, cilantro, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. You can buy them in packages for better preservation and bring them to your home.
Vietnamese Rice Wine
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas and rural areas throughout Vietnam,…
- Price of Vietnamese rice wine: 1 – 22 USD based on quantities and quality.
Vietnamese rice wine has a long-lasting history through the centuries. Rice wine appears on many different occasions, like weddings, birthdays, galas, parties, and intimate gatherings of relatives and family. The making process of Vietnamese rice wine is quite simple. Glutinous rice will be meticulously cooked before being fermented with yeast.
Hand Embroidery
- Where to buy: Hanoi Ancient Town, Dong Xuan Market (Hanoi), Hoi An Ancient Town area, Ben Thanh Market, and Saigon Square (Ho Chi Minh City),…
- Price of Vietnamese hand embroidery: 5 – 5,000 USD based on the size and the complexity.
Next, when searching for what to buy in Vietnam, you can see the hand embroidery as one of the high recommendations. The highlight of Vietnamese embroidery is the method of meticulous hand sewing of complicated designs onto many types of fabric. Besides the outstanding skill level of artisans, the chosen fabrics are also important, regularly expensive items like silk, satin, and luxurious cotton. This combination makes a perfect art for Vietnamese hand embroidery.
Mung Bean Cake
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas and souvenir stores in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and especially in Hai Duong, known as “the hometown” of this cake.
- Price of Mung Bean Cake: 10 – 15 USD.
Originating from Northern Vietnam, especially famous in Hanoi, Banh Dau Xanh (also called Mung Bean Cake) is soft, sweet, and you can chew it, and it will melt in your mouth. The sweetness of the nature of mung beans brings a subtle and pleasurable taste. Regularly, this cake is made in small-sized squares or rectangular blocks for easy enjoyment, and when eating, you can drink Vietnamese tea to neutralize the sweetness.
Dried Candied Fruits
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas and souvenir stores throughout Vietnam,…
- Price of dried candied fruits: 4 – 20 USD.
Dried candied fruits, the English name as Mut Trai Cay, are a popular traditional souvenir when travelers ask what to buy from Vietnam. Dried candied fruits are made by keeping fruits in sugar syrup, resulting in a candy and flavorful snack. There are many types of fruits to make dried candied fruits, such as ginger, coconut, lotus seeds, pineapple, tamarind, kumquats,… Dried candied fruits are really one of the important snacks in the Tet Holiday in Vietnam, and especially famous in Ben Tre.
Coconut Candy
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas, souvenir shops, and supermarkets throughout Vietnam,…
- Price of coconut candy: 2 – 6 USD.
Coconut candy is also called Keo Dua in the local tongue, and this is a famous type of candy in the Mekong Delta. Coconut candy is a mixture of both coconut milk and malt, which brings a sweet and greasy flavor to the enjoyment. When traveling to the Mekong Delta, Vietnamese coconut manufacturing, you can customize to visit a coconut candy workshop and see the real making process.
Young Green Rice Flakes
- Where to buy: Markets in local areas, specialty stores, and even souvenir shops throughout Vietnam, especially in Hanoi,…
- Price of young green rice flakes: 5 – 10 USD.
Young green rice flakes are also called Com in the local tongue. This Vietnam shopping souvenir typically appears throughout the autumn months, when rice fields in Northern Vietnam teem with life. Young green rice flakes are made from younger glutinous rice, which is then roasted and carefully pounded to do away with the husks. This process makes the feature vibrant, green in colour, and has a wonderful fragrance.
Final Thoughts: Are Vietnam Souvenir Worth Buying?
There are many specialties from Northern to Southern Vietnam, and after the article above, you know what to buy in Vietnam. They are an important part of history and culture in the S-shaped country. If you want to explore Vietnam, as well as consult travel tips, learn more about souvenirs, and receive support for the visa process, let’s contact Seni World, a reputable tour operator from Vietnam. We are here to help you from A to Z on your Vietnam discovery journey.
