What to Buy in Vietnam: 18 Best Souvenirs to Bring Home

What is the best thing to buy in Vietnam?

For most travelers, the best thing to buy in Vietnam is Vietnamese coffee with a small phin filter: it is inexpensive, easy to pack and closely tied to daily life. Silk, lacquerware, tailored clothing and regional textiles offer more lasting value, provided you check the material and finish before paying.

The table below sums up our 18 suggestions in the order they appear in this guide. Prices are indicative ranges from our local team, updated in November 2026, with 1 USD worth about 26,300 VND.

1. Conical Hat (Nón Lá)

If there is one gift to bring back from Vietnam, it is surely the famous conical hat, the nón lá, a true emblem of the country. Made from bamboo hoops covered with palm leaves, it is still worn by farmers against the sun and rain.

You can buy one almost anywhere, but the style changes from region to region. In the north, Chuông village, west of Hanoi, has long been known for making them. In Hue, the hats become finer and more elegant, closer to works of art than everyday accessories: the nón bài thơ, or poem hat, hides pictures or verses between its layers of leaves. Đông Ba Market is a good place to find one.

One thing to keep in mind: a full-size hat rarely survives a suitcase, so plan to carry it by hand.

Price: 60,000 to 100,000 VND (US$2 to 4). Hue poem hats cost more.

2. Vietnamese Coffee and a Phin Filter

Vietnamese coffee is one of the most popular souvenirs to bring home. Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, and it is best known for Robusta, a bean with intense, chocolatey and slightly caramelized notes.

The French introduced coffee in the 19th century, and it has since become a culture of its own. Before you shop, try the local specialties, such as cà phê sữa đá, black coffee with sweetened condensed milk over ice, or Hanoi’s egg coffee. To bring some home, look for these well-known brands:

• Trung Nguyên Legend: probably the best-known Vietnamese brand, with ground coffee, beans and gift boxes that travel well.
• Cộng Cà Phê: the café chain inspired by Vietnam of the 1970s and 1980s, whose colorful packaging makes a cheerful gift.
• Highlands Coffee and Phúc Long: two chains you will find in every large city, with products sized for gifts.

Add a phin, the small metal filter used for slow-drip coffee, and the recipient can brew it exactly as it is made here.

Opinions on sweet 3-in-1 sachets are sharply divided, and a black-coffee drinker will be happier with ground Robusta and a phin. As for cheap “weasel coffee,” it is usually a flavored imitation, so it is best avoided.

Price: 60,000 to 150,000 VND (US$2 to 6) per 250 g; a phin costs 30,000 to 150,000 VND.

3. Vietnamese Tea

Vietnam also has a long tea tradition. The most emblematic is lotus tea, a refined tea closely linked to Vietnamese culture. The leaves are scented several times with fresh lotus flowers, which explains its price. You will also find:

• Green tea, the most common, with Thái Nguyên tea prized for its strong character
• Jasmine tea
• Chrysanthemum tea
• Artichoke tea, a specialty of Đà Lạt

For a quality gift, buy from a specialist tea house in Hanoi or Hoi An, and taste lotus tea before paying, as flavored versions look much the same. Our guide to Vietnamese tea tells you more.

Price: 100,000 to 250,000 VND (US$4 to 10) per 100 g of green tea, and 300,000 to 900,000 VND (US$11 to 34) per 100 g of quality lotus tea.

4. Coconut-Leaf Crafts from the Mekong Delta

On a trip to the Mekong Delta, you will come across small, original objects woven from coconut leaves. Local artisans turn these simple leaves into tiny hats, grasshoppers (cào cào), flowers, miniature animals and delicate decorations.

Made entirely by hand, they are light, inexpensive and full of charm, and they reflect a region where the coconut palm is part of daily life. Keep them in a small box, as they crush easily.

5. Traditional Sweets and Supermarket Snacks

A few local sweets make a lovely souvenir, whether you give them away or enjoy them slowly at home. Among the most typical are:

• Bánh pía: a flaky pastry from southern Vietnam, filled with mung bean, durian or a salted egg yolk for those who like sweet and savory together.
• Bánh đậu xanh: a sweet mung bean cake, especially popular in the north and often bought as a gift.
• Ô mai: candied or preserved fruit, one of Hanoi’s signature specialties, eaten as a snack or with tea.

In Hanoi, Hàng Đường Street in the Old Quarter is the classic place for ô mai, and some family shops there have kept their recipes for decades. Hồng Lam, with shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, sells it in packaging that suits gifts.

Coconut candy from Bến Tre is another classic, at its best when fresh. Bought in Bến Tre or Mỹ Tho, it is soft and chewy; after a few weeks on a shelf, it turns noticeably harder. That is a good reason to buy it at the end of your trip.

What to Buy in a Vietnamese Supermarket

For several small gifts on your last day, a supermarket such as WinMart, Co.opmart, Lotte Mart or AEON is more practical than a tourist market, with displayed prices and no bargaining. Look for coconut candy, cashews, roasted lotus seeds, dried mango and jackfruit, coconut crackers, rice paper and Vietnamese chocolate.

Filipino travelers call these gifts pasalubong, and when you need enough for a whole office, supermarket snacks are the easiest option. Seasoning packets for phở, bún bò Huế or bánh xèo are an underrated choice for anyone who cooks: light, cheap and useful long after the trip. For more ideas, see our guide to Vietnamese desserts.

Price: 30,000 to 250,000 VND (US$1 to 10) per box or bag.

6. Lacquerware

For a typical and cultural souvenir, a lacquered object is a fine choice. Lacquer has been part of Vietnam’s heritage for centuries, and artisans keep refining their techniques, so you will often find pieces inlaid with mother-of-pearl, eggshell and sometimes gold leaf.

Prices depend on the size and the work involved, from small boxes and coasters to panels built up through many layers of natural lacquer. Turn a piece over before buying: the edges and underside reveal the finish better than the polished front.

Price: From 120,000 VND (US$5) for a small item.

7. Đông Hồ Folk Prints

Đông Hồ prints are traditional woodblock prints from Đông Hồ village in Bắc Ninh province. Each color is printed with its own carved block on handmade paper coated with điệp, a layer of crushed seashells that gives a soft shimmer, while the colors themselves come from natural pigments.

Their charm lies in a simple, lively style. Scenes of village life, symbolic animals and good-luck images linked to Tết carry wishes for happiness, prosperity and family.

You will find them in craft shops around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and they travel flat between two sheets of cardboard.

Price: From 50,000 VND (US$2) for a small print.

8. Water Hyacinth Bag

A water hyacinth bag is a popular Vietnamese souvenir, appreciated for its natural look and the handwork behind it. Woven from plant fiber, it is sturdy, light and kinder to the environment than many synthetic bags.

Some are plain, others decorated with women in áo dài, flowers or landscapes. They usually cost less than similar bags in Europe or North America, and buying one supports local weavers. Choose a model that folds flat, as it will travel far better than a rigid basket.

Price: From 300,000 VND (US$11).

9. Vietnamese Silk

Vietnamese silk is a classic of traditional craftsmanship. Spun from silkworm cocoons and carefully woven, it has long held an important place in Vietnamese culture.

You will find beautiful fabric and clothing in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, often for less than in Europe. In Hanoi, Hàng Gai Street and Vạn Phúc silk village are the best-known addresses.

Silk is easy to find; knowing exactly what you are buying is harder. Blends are common, so ask for the fiber composition, and for an expensive piece, have it written on the receipt. A scarf is a safer purchase than several meters of fabric.

Price: From 100,000 VND (US$4) per meter of simple fabric. Scarves cost 150,000 to 1,000,000 VND (US$6 to 38).

10. Embroidery

Vietnamese embroidery is known for its original motifs and fine stitching, from tablecloths and cushion covers to hand-embroidered pictures. Simple pieces are affordable; large framed works cost much more.

To see how far the technique can go, visit XQ Historical Village (XQ Sử Quán) in Đà Lạt. For something easier to take home, look for smaller pieces in Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Sapa. Turn the work over before buying: hand embroidery shows slight irregularities on the back, while machine work looks perfectly even.

Price: From 150,000 VND (US$6) per item.

11. Áo Dài

The áo dài, the long traditional tunic, is often at the top of the list of things to bring back from Vietnam. Its origins go back to the 18th century, and it has evolved into today’s form, with long sleeves, a mandarin collar and loose trousers, usually in silk. The price depends on the quality of the fabric and the embroidery.

A ready-made áo dài is enough for a photo session, but a custom piece fits far better. If you are buying for someone else, bring their measurements rather than relying on S, M or L.

Price: From 600,000 VND (US$23) for a ready-made piece. Custom silk áo dài cost more.

12. Vietnamese Figurines

Vietnamese figurines come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. They depict people in traditional dress, symbolic animals and typical scenes of Vietnamese life, such as a farmer with his buffalo or a woman carrying a shoulder pole.

Charming and affordable, they make easy gifts. You will find them in souvenir shops all over the country, carved in wood or made from stone powder or ceramic.

Price: From 60,000 VND (US$2).

13. Vietnamese Ceramics

Ceramics are a craft the Vietnamese have practiced for millennia. Bát Tràng, on the banks of the Red River near Hanoi, has made pottery for centuries and is still the best-known name. According to Hanoi’s tourism department, more than 50 companies and around 750 households work in its ceramic trade today.

Beyond Bát Tràng, look for Chu Đậu in the Red River Delta, Thanh Hà near Hoi An and Bàu Trúc, a Cham pottery village in south-central Vietnam.

Ceramics need some care on the way home. A small cup, bowl or tea set travels far better than a large vase, especially if the shop wraps it well and you pack it in the middle of your suitcase.

Price: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (US$6 to 11) per small piece.

14. Hoi An Lanterns

If Hoi An is on your route, it is hard to leave the town of lanterns without at least one. Lantern-making here is tied to the town’s past as a trading port, where Chinese and Japanese merchants settled from the 16th century, and Hoi An is now seen as the home of the Vietnamese lantern. Read more in our guide to Hoi An lanterns.

Covered in silk on a bamboo frame, many Hoi An lanterns fold flat, so they are easy to carry. The choice of colors and shapes is huge, and so is the price range. The best place to compare them is the night market on Nguyễn Hoàng Street, on An Hội islet, which usually runs from about 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. You can also make your own in one of the town’s many lantern workshops.

Before paying, open and close the lantern to make sure it folds evenly. Most are sold without electrical fittings, so you can add a bulb that suits your home.

Price: 150,000 to 300,000 VND (US$6 to 11) for a medium lantern, and 300,000 to 450,000 VND or more for a large one.

15. Cultured Pearls from Phú Quốc

Known for its pearl production, Phú Quốc island has several pearl farms where you can learn how the oysters are cultivated. If you spend a few days on the island, a piece of local jewelry makes a natural souvenir.

A single loose pearl costs around 300,000 VND (US$11), but prices climb quickly with quality and setting. Earrings start around 900,000 VND, and necklaces can reach thousands of dollars. Ask whether the pearls are freshwater or saltwater, and keep a detailed receipt for any valuable piece. Our guide to jewelry in Vietnam has more buying advice.

Price: From 600,000 VND (US$23) for a simple piece of jewelry.

16. Indigo Fabric from the Northern Mountains

In the mountains of northern Vietnam, you can buy indigo fabric made by ethnic minority communities, above all the Hmong. The women weave hemp or cotton, dye it deep blue with indigo and embroider it once it has dried in the sun. Hà Giang and Sapa are the best places to find it.

A purse, a cushion cover or a small bag is easier to use at home than a blanket. A traditional motif alone does not prove that a piece was made locally or by hand, so favor sellers who can tell you who made it and where.

Price: From 300,000 VND (US$11).

17. Rice and Corn Liquor from Sapa and Bắc Hà

Looking for an original local gift? Put on your walking shoes and head into the northern mountains, where trekking trails wind past terraced rice fields. Part of the harvest is used to make rice liquor, the emblematic Vietnamese spirit, and around Bắc Hà, corn liquor is the local specialty. It is worth tasting at least once.

Bringing a bottle home takes a little planning. Vietnam Airlines limits drinks between 24% and 70% alcohol to 5 liters per passenger, in the manufacturer’s sealed and labeled container, and does not carry anything stronger. Homemade liquor poured into a plastic bottle at a market may not qualify, so choose a properly labeled bottle and pack it in checked baggage.

Price: From 180,000 VND (US$7) per bottle.

18. Vietnamese Spices

Not sure what to buy in Vietnam? Think of spices. They make an original, useful gift for anyone who loves to cook. Star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger and lemongrass are sold in every market, and Phú Quốc pepper ranks among the best known. For something less expected, look for these seasonings:

• Mắc khén: a wild mountain pepper, citrusy and slightly numbing
• Hạt dổi: a wild seed toasted before being added to meat or dipping sauces
• Chẩm chéo: a dipping-sauce seasoning from northwestern Vietnam
• Muối tôm Tây Ninh: a chili and shrimp salt eaten with fruit

Whichever you choose, look for sealed packaging with a clear ingredient list. Whole spices keep their aroma far longer than loose powders, and a simple recipe card turns them into a gift that will actually be used.

Price: From 30,000 VND (US$1) per bag.

What Else Is Worth Buying in Vietnam?

Beyond classic souvenirs, three purchases are often worth the money in Vietnam: clothing made by a tailor in Hoi An, leather goods such as wallets or belts, and pieces from Vietnamese fashion or skincare labels. Each offers practical value at home, but quality varies, so take time to compare.

Tailored Clothing in Hoi An

Tailoring in Hoi An is worth it if your schedule leaves time for fittings, which is why it pays to order early in your stay. A suit made in 24 hours can do for a single event; for something you will wear every week, choose a tailor who asks for two fittings over several days.

Leather Goods in Hoi An

A wallet, belt or pair of shoes is more likely to stay in use than most souvenirs. Kampá’s local team has used Hoi An Leather and confirmed that the shop offers products made from genuine cowhide. Look closely at the stitching and zippers, and remember that “genuine leather” says nothing about the grade or thickness.

Vietnamese Fashion and Skincare Brands

Is the “designer” gear sold in tourist markets worth it? In my view, no: the logos are often printed or sewn onto generic items, and zippers and prints give up quickly. The same budget goes much further with a Vietnamese streetwear or fashion label, or with skincare from Cocoon, a Vietnamese brand of plant-based cosmetics sold in pharmacies and beauty shops.

What Products Are Cheaper to Buy in Vietnam?

Products that are clearly cheaper in Vietnam are the ones made or grown locally: coffee, tea, spices, cashews, dried fruit, silk scarves, made-to-measure clothing and handicrafts. International chain brands and imported cosmetics rarely offer big savings, and counterfeit “designer” goods are cheap for a reason.

Cashews are a good example: those sold by weight from large sacks at a market stall are often fresher than pre-packed bags. By contrast, airport shops usually charge more than city supermarkets, so keep them for last-minute gifts.

What to Buy in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Phú Quốc and Other Destinations

Don’t worry about finding shops: in tourist areas, you will find almost everything. In Hanoi, head to the Old Quarter around Hoan Kiem Lake, especially Hàng Gai, Hàng Đường, Hàng Bông, Hàng Đào and Đinh Tiên Hoàng streets. In Ho Chi Minh City, start around Bến Thành Market. Each destination also has its own specialties.

In Hanoi, Đồng Xuân Market is handy for fabric, coffee and small gifts, and the weekend night market that runs from Hàng Đào Street toward it is a good place to compare prices.

Responsible Places to Shop and Fair Trade

Still not sure what to bring back? Fair trade is growing in Vietnam, and as a local company committed to responsible travel, we like to share shops that support local communities. Prices are a little higher, but they reflect a real commitment.

• Indigo Cat (Sapa): a Hmong family-owned boutique on Fansipan Street, with handmade indigo textiles and workshops in batik, embroidery and natural dyeing.
• Craft Link (Hanoi): a non-profit, fair-trade organization on Văn Miếu Street, selling clothing and homeware made by ethnic minority communities and disadvantaged groups.
• Mekong Quilts (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City): a social enterprise selling handmade quilts, cushions and bags while creating work for women artisans.
• Zó Project (Hanoi): a project working to preserve handmade dó paper, with notebooks, prints and stationery.

Opening hours and addresses can change, so check each shop’s official page before you go. Bargaining is normal at market stalls, but not in these shops.

What Should You Avoid Buying in Vietnam?

Avoid counterfeit designer goods, wildlife products made from coral, ivory or reptile skin, antiques without export papers, and expensive silk, pearls or jewelry sold without documentation. Medicines, fresh food and fragile pieces you cannot pack are also better left behind, because they may be refused at customs or arrive broken.

Taking antiques out of Vietnam requires a permit from the cultural authorities. My advice is simple: unless the shop can supply the paperwork, admire the piece and leave it there. Medicines call for the same caution, since some sold over the counter in Vietnam need a prescription, or are controlled, in other countries.

What Can You Bring Back from Vietnam on a Plane?

Coffee, tea, dry spices, textiles, silk, crafts and well-wrapped lacquerware travel without special rules, within your baggage allowance. Liquids over 100 ml must go in checked baggage, spirits between 24% and 70% alcohol are limited to 5 liters per passenger in sealed retail containers, and power banks stay in the cabin.

Liquids in the Cabin

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet follow international security rules: each container in the cabin must not exceed 100 ml, and all of them must fit in one transparent, resealable bag of up to one liter. Fish sauce therefore belongs in checked baggage, double-bagged and packed upright, and Vietnam Airlines recommends the hold for any strong-smelling food.

Knives and other bladed items also go in checked baggage. Remember, too, that customs at home have rules of their own, so check them before buying meat, seeds or fresh produce.

Power Banks and Batteries

Under rules issued by Vietnam’s civil aviation authority from July 1, 2026, each passenger may carry up to two power banks, in the cabin only. Each must be rated at 100 Wh or less, or up to 160 Wh with the airline’s approval. They cannot be used to charge devices during the flight and must be kept out of your carry-on bag, in a visible place.

Final Thoughts

Souvenirs in Vietnam are easy to find and reasonably priced, and the best ones keep a clear link to the place you visited. We hope this list helps you choose well: buy fewer things, ask a few more questions and leave room in your suitcase.

If you would like a trip with time for craft villages, markets and a fitting with a tailor, our local team will gladly design a private itinerary around what interests you. Contact us to start planning.