9 Great Souvenirs to Bring Back From Vietnam

Ao dai, widely regarded as Vietnam’s national costume for women, consists of a long tight-fitted dress that’s worn over slacks in contrasting colors. Although ready-made ao dai can be found in tourist-friendly markets and fashion boutiques, some travelers may require the service of a local tailor to get their costumes fitted according to their body type. Hoi An is renowned for its professional tailoring services, where you can choose from an extensive collection of fabric and have your very own custom-made aoi dai.

Silk in Vietnam is made from the cocoons of silkworms using manual looms and comes in a variety of patterns and colors. You can find plenty of fashion boutiques and souvenir shops selling shirts, ties, accessories, and dresses at relatively affordable prices. Unfortunately, counterfeit goods are very common in Vietnam, so some of the best places for authentic silk products are Hoi An Silk Village and Van Phuc Silk Village (about 10 km southwest of Hanoi). 

Vietnamese coffee beans can be found just about anywhere in Vietnam, from local markets and quaint cafes to shopping malls and international airports. Hanoi is arguably the epicenter of Vietnam’s café culture, where you can get a bag of whole or ground Robusta beans at rather affordable prices. With numerous branches in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, Trung Nguyen is one of the most popular local coffee brands in Vietnam.

Pearl farms are mainly found in coastal locations, such as Ha Long Bay and Van Phong Bay. Saigon Pearls, based in Nha Trang, is widely known as an excellent placefor authentic pearls and jewelry in Vietnam. This homegrown brand has several showrooms selling necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, and rings. If you’re not a fan of pearls, accessories made with gold and colorful gemstones are available as well.

Buying a conical hat may seem novelty, but it’s one of the most practical items for traveling, especially during Vietnam’s downpours and scorching summers. Also known as non la, these hats have been around since the 18th century. They are typically handwoven using bamboo, palm leaves, and the bark of Moc trees. 

Lacquerware is a traditional form of craftsmanship commonly used on furniture, dishes, lawn bowling, vases and paintings, which takes up to 4 months to produce. There are several galleries along Hang Bac Street in Hanoi and An Dong Craft Market in Ho Chi Minh City selling high-quality lacquerware at reasonable prices, many of which depict mythic creatures and the daily lives of the Vietnamese. 

Hand embroidery in Vietnam often depicts natural scenes and wildlife, though travelers can visit prominent craft centres and embroidery shops to have their very own personalized designs. One of our favorite places for quality embroidery is XQ Hand Embroidery in Nha Trang, which specializes in silk apparel and hand-embroidered portraiture. It is built to resemble a Vietnamese village home (complete with a garden courtyard), where you can see locals in traditional clothes working on new pieces around the store. You can purchase a premade item, but if you have time, you can also have your portrait embroidered at the shop.

Propaganda posters were used by Ho Chi Minh and the northern Vietnam government in efforts of rallying the troops and raising the spirits of the local population. Often painted on walls, trees and large vehicles during the Vietnam War, these artworks feature colorful imagery and powerful slogans. You can easily find reproductions of propaganda posters in several art galleries along Hanoi’s Hang Bac Street.

Nuoc cham is a Vietnamese dipping sauce, which is served as condiments with spring rolls, rice and noodle dishes. Available in sweet, savory, salty and spicy variations, the most popular nuoc cham sauce is made with a mix of lime, sugar, minced garlic, bird's eye chilis, and fermented fish sauce, called nuoc mam pha. You can easily purchase bottled nuoc cham at local markets all over Vietnam, from Dong Xuan Market Hanoi to Hoi An Central Market.