Shopping is the best way to soak into local culture during your Vietnam trip whether it’s for business purpose or for holiday. A shopper’s paradise, great things to buy in Vietnam can make really a long list. First time travelers might find it overwhelming and daunting to navigate through the massive country and find the best deals.
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What are 10 best things to buy in Vietnam?
1. Tailor Clothing
A rule of thumb for shopping in Vietnam, if it’s made in Vietnam it’s cheap, if it’s imported the price levels up. If you’re buying from branded shops in polished, modern shopping malls, the prices are similar to what you pay in the west. The real savings come from shopping at local tailors especially when you’re in Hoi An. Tailored clothing from head to toe including dresses, shirts and pants start as low as USD $20, depending on quality of the fabrics and work involved. A nice suit cost as little as USD $100. Getting your clothes custom made in Vietnam gonna saves a lot. Check out previous post 7 Frequently Asked Questions about Importing Garment from Vietnam.
2. Ao Dai
Indisputably recognized as national costume for Vietnamese women, the elegance and beauty of Ao Dai are loved both by fashionista tourists and locals alike. Though you can find a staggering range of ready-made Ao Dai in every corner of the street, some people might prefer tailoring service with custom made Ao Dai fitting well their body shapes. Hoi An is a much preferred destination, where you can choose from an extensive catalogue of fabrics and have your own custom made Ao Dai starting from VND 700,000.
3. Silk
Vietnamese silk used to be one of the main products for export. Made from cocoons of silkworms using manual looms, and available in a wide range of colors and patterns, the lightness and durability make Vietnamese silk quite attractive. You can easily find silk and beautiful products made from silk in many places, for instance, Van Phuc Silk Village in Hanoi is a much preferred place for silk.
4. Pearl Jewelry
Vietnam is home to a large number of pearl farms along the coast such as Ha Long Bay and Van Phong Bay, widely known for producing high quality authentic pearls and jewelry. Saigon Pearls, a home grown brand based in Nha Trang, with several showrooms selling bracelets, pendants, necklaces, earrings and rings at VND 3,000,000 upwards, is widely recognized as the best place to buy pearl jewelry.
5. Vietnamese Coffee
Coffee is one the most well-received products in Vietnam, and can be found just about anywhere in Vietnam from local markets to cafes, shopping malls and international airports. Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta coffee beans in the world, and trying Vietnamese coffee is definitely a must-do in your Vietnam trip. Hanoi is indisputably the epic center of Vietnam’s coffee culture, where you can find innumerable cafes lining around the city, and you can get 1 KG Robusta coffee beans for about USD $4.
6. Pottery
The intricate detailing of Vietnamese pottery is simply amazing. If you’re interested to learn about how these beautiful pottery are brought into life, it’s suggested to visit the traditional pottery villages like Bat Trang in Hanoi, Phuoc Tich in Hue and Thanh Ha in Hoi An, where the art has been passed down from generation to generation for thousand years.
7. Laquerware
A traditional form of craftsmanship widely applied in furniture, dishes, bowls and vases, it takes about four months to produce a laquerware. Many galleries along Hang Bac Street in Hanoi and An Dong Craft Market in Ho Chi Minh City sell premium quality lacquerware depicting daily lives of Vietnamese or mythical creatures. Price starts from VND 200,000.
8. Ethnic Handicrafts
A kind of art that is applied in products made by minority groups in Vietnam, ethic handicrafts feature distinctive culture varying from different ethnic groups. The culture is vividly depicted in the patterns and clothing styles of different ethnic groups. Some of the most popular ethic handicrafts are clothes, bags, scarves, paintings, woodworks, etc.
They make perfect gift items or even as business purpose for those who are into exotic culture. If you’re travelling to the Highland region or the Northern region, don’t miss the chances of visiting the various ethnic group villages, experience how these handicrafts are brought into life manually, and buy these products directly.
9. Paintings
Filled with rich colors, each painting tells a story. For other products we always recommend to check around and scope out other prices before going into the deal, as chances are high that you would find something the same or similar at better prices. The exception with paintings is that all hand painted artworks are unique, and it’s rare you would get a better deal of the same or similar item elsewhere. As you roam around in Vietnam, you might easily come across locals painting on the street, you can see how much work goes into an artwork and the attention to detail it requires. Be sure to visit local art galleries, ethnic tribe villages for unique Vietnamese artworks.
10. Hand Embroidery
Known for embroidery art, the hand embroidery products in Vietnam available in an extensive selection including embroidery clothes, bags, scarves, quilts, pillow cases, bed sheets, purses and table clothes are simply the best buys. Hanoi is a great destination to buy hand embroidery products as the city houses an extensive range in various quality and prices. Besides, the different villages of the valley in Sapa are great spots to see how embroidery products are made on site. The best hand embroidery items are usually found on special cotton and linen and the best designs.
I really wish to visit Vietnam’s heritage places in the near future . I really love to spend in Vietnam at least 10 days. Love Vietnam