What to Buy On Your Vietnam Tour?

Apart from tasting the exotic flavours, taking photos, and discovering a new culture, a shopping trip can give a perfect opportunity to get in touch with the daily life and habits of the local Vietnamese people.

Here are a few things to buy for yourself or gifts for loved ones, family members, or friends while on your Vietnam holiday:

Lanterns
Any visitor to the delightful and atmospheric town of Hoi An on the Vietnam customized tour will witness the wide range of trinkets for sale, including the iconic paper lantern. The magical lanterns come in endless sizes, shapes and colours. The lanterns are mostly noticed in the evenings and at times of festivals, such as Tet. Hoi An has a few lantern making workshops to learn the local techniques and the history of this modest art form.

The lanterns are easily found in Hoi An’s lantern night market for the cheapest and widest selection, while the artisan quarter will have the more intricate designed lanterns.

shopping in vietnam

Silk Paintings
Vietnam is a country that is widely appreciated for its silk and even has its own unique style of silk painting. This type of art was most popular from 1925 to 1945, but still remains an iconic art form that is preserved by traditional Vietnamese artisans. Silk paintings often depict scenes with a simple and mystical appearance and showcase pagodas or the countryside. The scenes in the paintings have vivid hues thanks to the natural texture and colour of the silk. Beyond the traditional wall hangings, silk paintings can also feature on brilliantly decorated scarves. Silk paintings are the easiest gift idea to find, but Hanoi’s Old Quarter is worth a look, as is Van Phuc Silk Village (10 km from the Old Quarter) which has a varied range of silk textiles, paintings and other products.

Woven Textiles
Vietnam has more than 50 ethnic groups with many in the northern mountainous regions known for their fine textiles – whether dying, embroidery or weaving. The Hmong people (also known as black Hmong) create fabrics with bold patterns and rely on unique techniques. While most of the textiles are used in clothing, it can also feature in shoes and purses. Other ethnic groups like the Cham people use a similar style with clothing made with rich patterns and strong colours.

A great place to experience woven textiles on the Indochina tour is to journey to Sapa in the north of the country. The ethnic minorities in this region are widely known for their culture and arts. The Hmong textiles are certain to make a stunning and distinctive souvenir to take home.

Coffee
Vietnam is the second largest country for producing coffee in the world with nearly 2 million tones of coffee beans grown annually. Coffee became an indispensable part of daily life in Vietnam under the influence of the French colonial rule. While visiting this large producer of coffee it may be worth picking up a few of the local brands at a relatively affordable price. Well-known coffee brands in the area include Highland coffee, SAGOCAFE, G7coffee and Moossy.

coffee in Vietnam

Lacquerware
The practice of lacquer painting is popular throughout Asia, but the lacquerware in Vietnam is quite unique and relies on resin sourced from local son trees. The lacquerware originated in the early 1900s and this art form has been passed from generation to generation. It is a delicate and difficult art form that undergoes nearly 20 individual stages to complete a single object. It is used to make place settings, dishes, vases and bowls in a varied range of intricate to simple designs.

The Ben Thanh market is a great place to visit for the classic and simple piece, while the art galleries near Dong Khoi in Ho Chi Minh City are preferred for the more modern pieces.

Pottery
Vietnam has built up a solid reputation for creating high-quality ceramics. Vietnam was once a major trader and producer of pottery and sold its wares to the western, Chinese and Japanese markets. Most pottery is handcrafted by local families and villagers with the techniques passed down through the centuries.

A great journey to see a wide array of pottery products is from Hanoi to Bat Trung Ceramic Village. The style of pottery varies from the modern to traditional pieces.

Traditional áo dài
The traditional áo dài is a Vietnamese national costume and popular for special events such as religious festivals and weddings. Hanoi is a great place to visit for a beautiful áo dài that is custom-made to match the personal shape and size.

shopping in hoi an

Wood crafts
One of the most popular souvenirs to buy on the 2 week tour in Vietnam is the handcrafted wood crafts. The basic material is sourced from the old-growth forests in the west and central parts of Vietnam. Alternative sources for high-quality hardwoods include neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos. Many of the crafts are made of fragrant woods like paulownia and sandalwood.

The preferred places to buy wooden crafts are in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The best quality wood carving crafts are found in Ho Chi Minh City, with the quality slightly inferior in Hanoi. But, this means the cost of wood crafts in Hanoi are relatively cheaper.

Dried fruits
All kinds of dried fruits make a perfect gift to present to friends or family members on arriving home. Fresh tropical fruit is mouth-watering and should certainly be tasted while travelling in Southeast Asia. But, fresh fruit isn’t practical or permitted to travel with. So, a close alternative is to buy a few bags of dried fruits. Popular choices include dried longans, banana, plums and pineapple. Also, sugary coconut strips are delicious and fragrant, while the coconut cakes are a popular local snack choice. They are made using the coconut meat and have a smooth, creamy and sweet taste.

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