There’s a moment on every trip to Vietnam that truly ignites the senses. It’s when you step into a bustling local market for the first time. The air is thick with the fragrant scents of star anise and freshly brewed coffee. A vibrant kaleidoscope of silk, ceramics, and tropical fruits surrounds you. The cheerful, rhythmic sound of vendors calling out their wares fills the air. It’s a treasure trove, a whirlwind of color and culture.
But in the middle of this wonderful chaos, a question arises: with so many choices, what should you buy? What are the authentic treasures that truly represent the soul of Vietnam, and what are the mass-produced trinkets to avoid? How do you find that perfect, meaningful memento of your travels?
Think of this guide as your treasure map. We’re going to navigate the bustling markets and quiet artisan workshops together, uncovering the most authentic and best things to buy in Vietnam. We’ll explore everything from world-class coffee and elegant silks to unique handicrafts.
And as we explore, you might just notice something interesting. You’ll see that many of these beautiful souvenirs are not just cottage crafts; they are the products of major, world-class industries. So, whether you’re looking to fill your suitcase with gifts or spark an idea for a new business venture, this guide will show you the incredible products Vietnam has to offer.
For the Connoisseur: Vietnamese Coffee & Phin Filters
You cannot talk about Vietnam without talking about coffee. It is the national obsession, the fuel that runs the cities, and arguably the country’s most famous agricultural export. Bringing home Vietnamese coffee is bringing home the country’s energized spirit.
The Coffee Itself: Robusta Power and Arabica Nuance
Vietnam is the world’s number one producer of the Robusta bean. Unlike the milder Arabica, Robusta has a bold, strong, and earthy flavor with a powerful caffeine kick. This is the traditional taste of Vietnam. For an authentic experience, look for brands like the iconic Trung Nguyen Legend (their “Sang Tao” or Creative blends are fantastic) or high-quality local roasters. If you prefer a smoother, more acidic taste, you can also find excellent 100% Arabica beans grown in the highlands around Da Lat.
The Phin Filter: The Secret to Vietnamese Coffee
The real secret to the iconic cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk) is the brewing method. The phin is a small, simple, and elegant metal filter that sits directly on top of your cup. Hot water is added, and it drips slowly, producing a thick, intensely flavorful coffee concentrate. A phin filter is incredibly cheap, lightweight, and the most authentic coffee-related souvenir you can buy.
Where to Buy
You can find coffee and phins everywhere, from major supermarkets like Co.opmart and GO! to local markets and dedicated coffee shops. For the best quality, visit a specialty roaster or a dedicated showroom for brands like Trung Nguyen.
Thinking Bigger? Sourcing Coffee at Scale
As you enjoy your coffee, consider this: Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter on the planet. The same beans you’re buying as a souvenir are sourced by major global brands. For entrepreneurs, this represents a huge opportunity. It’s possible to partner with Vietnamese suppliers to source high-quality green beans or even develop your own private-label roasted coffee brand for export.
For the Fashion-Forward: Silk, Ao Dai & Tailored Clothing
Vietnamese craftsmanship truly shines in its textiles. The country has a rich history of silk production and a world-renowned tailoring industry.
The Luster of Vietnamese Silk
From shimmering scarves and elegant blouses to beautifully embroidered pillowcases, Vietnamese silk is a luxurious and surprisingly affordable purchase. Look for products from traditional “silk villages” like Van Phuc near Hanoi. Be discerning, though, many markets sell cheap polyester satin masquerading as silk. A quick way to test is the “burn test” (a real silk thread will burn to a fine ash and smell like burning hair, while polyester melts into a hard bead and smells of plastic), or simply by feeling the fabric, real silk has a unique warmth and a soft, slightly textured feel.
The Elegant Ao Dai: Vietnam’s National Garment
The Áo Dài is one of the most beautiful and graceful national costumes in the world. It’s a long, form-fitting tunic worn over loose trousers. While you can buy ready-made versions, the best experience is to have one custom-tailored. You can choose your fabric and have a skilled tailor create a garment that fits you perfectly, often in just a day or two.
Hoi An: The Tailoring Capital
The charming ancient town of Hoi An is the undisputed tailoring capital of Southeast Asia. Its streets are lined with hundreds of skilled tailors who can create custom suits, dresses, shirts, and more for a fraction of what you’d pay at home. The process is simple: you choose a design (or bring a picture), select your fabric, get measured, and return for one or two fittings. It’s a must-do experience for any visitor.
Thinking Bigger? The Garment Industry
The tailor shop in Hoi An is a small window into Vietnam’s largest export industry. The country is a global manufacturing giant for apparel, producing clothing for virtually every major international brand. For fashion entrepreneurs, the same skills and infrastructure that allow a tailor to make a beautiful custom suit in two days are available on an industrial scale. This represents the opportunity to partner with a Vietnam garment factory to produce an entire clothing line.
For the Artisan Seeker: Lacquerware & Ceramics
If you are looking for a gift that embodies centuries of Vietnamese artistic tradition, look no further than lacquerware and ceramics.
The Art of Lacquerware: A Meticulous Tradition
Lacquerware (sơn mài) is a truly unique Vietnamese art form. The process involves applying multiple layers of lacquer, derived from the resin of the lacquer tree, onto a wooden base, often inlaid with mother-of-pearl or eggshell designs. Each layer is meticulously sanded and polished. The result is a stunningly beautiful, glossy, and durable product. Look for bowls, plates, jewellery boxes, and decorative panels.
Bat Trang Ceramics Village: A Legacy of Pottery
Located just outside Hanoi, Bat Trang has been the center of Vietnamese ceramics for over 700 years. Here, you can find everything from beautiful, hand-painted tea sets and dinnerware to decorative vases and statues. The pottery is known for its quality, durability, and traditional motifs. You can even try your hand at the potter’s wheel yourself.
Where to Find Quality Pieces
For the best quality, visit speciality stores and galleries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City rather than tourist markets. For ceramics, a trip to Bat Trang itself is a fantastic experience.
Thinking Bigger? Home Goods & Decor Sourcing
The same artisan skills used to create these beautiful individual pieces are also applied on a larger scale. Vietnam is a major global producer of home goods and decor for international retailers. For a business, this opens up the possibility of sourcing entire container loads of high-quality ceramics, decorative items, and even furniture.
For the Home Cook: Spices, Sauces & Local Snacks
The soul of Vietnam is in its food, and bringing home its unique flavors is one of the best ways to keep your travel memories alive.
Essential Spices: Phu Quoc Pepper & Cinnamon
- Phu Quoc Black Pepper: The island of Phu Quoc is famous for producing some of the world’s most aromatic and flavorful peppercorns. It’s a fantastic and practical gift for any food lover.
- Vietnamese Cinnamon: Vietnamese “Saigon” cinnamon has an intensely sweet and spicy flavor that is prized by chefs worldwide.
The Soul of a Meal: Quality Fish Sauce
Fish sauce (nước mắm) is the single most important ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. While it’s an acquired taste for some, a high-quality fish sauce is complex and savory, not just “fishy.” Look for brands from Phu Quoc or Phan Thiet, and check the nitrogen content (độ đạm) on the label, a higher number (above 30°N) generally means higher quality.
Delicious Gifts: Dried Fruits and Candied Lotus Seeds
In any Vietnamese market, you’ll find a huge array of ô mai (preserved dried fruits) and mứt (candied fruits and seeds). Candied lotus seeds and dried mango are popular and delicious choices that travel well.
Thinking Bigger? The Agri-Processing Sector
Vietnam is an agricultural powerhouse. The delicious products you buy in the market are part of a massive food processing industry that exports everything from cashews and black pepper to coffee and seafood around the globe. This represents a huge opportunity for food businesses to source high-quality ingredients directly from Vietnamese suppliers.
A Pro Shopper’s Toolkit: Tips for Navigating the Markets
To make your shopping experience fun and successful, keep a few tips in mind.
- The Art of Friendly Bargaining: In markets like Ben Thanh in HCMC or Dong Xuan in Hanoi, bargaining is expected and is part of the culture. Always do it with a smile and a friendly attitude. A good strategy is to offer about half of the initial asking price and meet somewhere in the middle.
- Cash is King: While larger stores accept credit cards, small market stalls and street vendors will almost always require cash (Vietnamese Dong).
- Quality Checks: Inspect items carefully before you buy them, especially things like textiles and handicrafts. Check the seams on clothing and look for any chips or cracks in ceramics.
From Souvenirs to Supply Chains: How We Can Help
As you’ve seen, many of the best things to buy in Vietnam as a traveler are also the products of major, world-class industries. The beautiful silk scarf you buy in a boutique is a single expression of a massive garment industry. The delicious coffee you sip is part of a global export powerhouse.
Perhaps your souvenir-hunting trip has sparked a bigger idea. Maybe you’ve been inspired to launch your own fashion line, start a craft coffee brand, or source beautiful home goods for your retail store. This is where the journey transitions from traveller to entrepreneur, and it can be a daunting leap.
This is where our expertise at VALO Vietnam comes in. Our entire mission is to bridge that gap. We help businesses take that spark of an idea and turn it into a scalable reality.
- If you fall in love with Vietnamese craftsmanship, we can connect you with a vetted Vietnam garment factory or a network of artisan producers.
- If you’re inspired by the flavors, we can connect you with suppliers in the agricultural processing sector.
- If you admire the design of local products, we can connect you with factories specializing in home goods, packaging, and more.
In short, we help you transition from buying one beautiful item to producing thousands, managing the entire process of factory vetting, quality control, and logistics.
Conclusion: Bringing a Piece of Vietnam Home
Shopping in Vietnam is an unforgettable adventure. It’s a chance to engage with local culture, discover unique traditions, and find beautiful, handcrafted items. Every product you buy, from a simple conical hat to a complex piece of lacquerware, tells a story.
It’s the story of Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage. But it’s also the story of its incredible industrial capability. So as you pack your bags, know that you are bringing home a piece of that dynamic spirit, whether it’s a small souvenir in your suitcase or the seed of a big idea for a future business partnership.
Inspired by the products of Vietnam and thinking about a bigger project? Let us help you turn that inspiration into a reality.
Contact VALO Vietnam to explore your sourcing options today!