What to Buy in Vietnam: Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home

The best things for what to buy in Vietnam are coffee, tea and Phu Quoc pepper for food lovers, and silk, lacquerware, Bat Trang ceramics and tailored clothes for everyone else. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers each, where to shop, how to bargain, what you should not buy, and how to get it all home.

Most Vietnamese souvenirs are light and cheap, so it is easy to overbuy and run out of luggage space. If you are still planning the trip, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online first, then leave room in your bag.

Souvenirs at a glance:

Food and drink gifts

Vietnamese coffee to buy is usually robusta-heavy and strong, sold whole or ground for the small metal phin filter, which makes a good gift in itself. Specialty roasters in Hanoi, Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City also sell arabica from the Central Highlands.

Tea is the other classic, especially green tea from Thai Nguyen and lotus-scented tea from Hanoi. Peppercorns from Phu Quoc, covered in our Phu Quoc guide, and dried fruit from the Mekong Delta are easy to pack. Fish sauce is famous but needs careful packing, as explained below.

Crafts and textiles

Vietnam's crafts include silk scarves and clothes, lacquer boxes and paintings, embroidered textiles, ceramics, and the conical leaf hat (non la). Quality varies widely, so compare a few shops.

Bat Trang village near Hanoi has made ceramics for centuries, and you can buy directly from workshops. Hoi An is the center for tailored clothes, often made in a day or two; see our guide to Hoi An tailors. Ethnic minority textiles from the northern mountains are best bought from cooperatives that pay makers fairly.

Where to shop

The best places for where to shop in Vietnam are the old quarters, markets and craft villages of the main tourist cities. Fixed-price shops and malls suit buyers who do not want to bargain.

In Hanoi, browse the Old Quarter streets around Hang Gai for silk and crafts, and the weekend night market; our Hanoi guide covers the area. In Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market and the design shops in the old center are popular. Hoi An has tailors, lanterns and crafts along every lane.

Bargaining in Vietnam

Bargaining in Vietnam is normal at markets and street stalls, but not in shops with price tags, cafes or restaurants. Start by asking the price, offer less, and settle somewhere in the middle with a smile.

Agree on the price and the currency before handing over money, and count change carefully; our guide to common scams explains the currency switch. Walking away politely is the strongest move, and often brings a better offer.

What to buy in Vietnam and what to avoid

Do not buy antiques without export papers, or anything made from wildlife. Antiques and cultural relics need a permit from Vietnam's culture ministry to leave the country, and customs can seize them at the airport.

Ivory, tortoiseshell, tiger and bear products, rhino horn and some corals are banned under Vietnamese law and international wildlife rules, and many countries prosecute travelers who bring them home. Check rules with Vietnam's customs department if unsure. Two practical issues remain: packing liquids and food, and shipping larger items.

Getting purchases home

Most souvenirs fit in a suitcase, but liquids and large items need planning. Here is how to handle both.

Liquids and food in your luggage

Liquids over 100 ml, including fish sauce, rice wine and sauces, must go in checked luggage. Some airlines restrict fish sauce because of leaks and smell, so check your airline's rules, wrap bottles in plastic, and pack them upright. Check your home country's rules on importing meat, plants and seeds.

Shipping larger items

For large lacquer paintings, furniture or bulk ceramics, ask the shop to ship by courier and get an itemized receipt. Reputable shops pack and handle export paperwork. Pay by card where possible, so you can dispute a charge if the parcel never arrives.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like your application checked before you fly, start your application with us.