Are you racking your brains about what to bring from Vietnam as a souvenir/gift? This list will help you to choose the best products of Vietnam to make happy your friends/relatives and have nice memories of the trip.
1. Conical hat
Non la (leaf hat) is a circular cone made of bamboo cataphylls, notable for its romantic adornments. The non la is more than an indispensable tool for people in Vietnam: it has become a cultural symbol. This hat is worn by the locals all year around, while it protects them from the rain and it also provides shade and protection from the sun.
2. Snake Wine
Vietnam’s answer to “Budweiser” or “Carling” (not quite), snake wine is the sort of gift likely to send your grandmother into a coronary. There’s not much “wine” to it – the snake is infused in grain alcohol – but at least it’s novel to look at. It is believed by the Ancient Chinese that the wine increases virility. In a country known for old-world superstitions, this is the perfect elixir. Available nearly everywhere in Vietnam, snake wine is often made by villagers filling up leftover brandy or Perrier bottles.
3. Silk
Silk is woven from the cocoons of the silkworm. Thus, it has always been considered extremely luxurious and only available to the nobility. The days when silk had only been manufactured for Vietnamese royalty is long gone, and the fabric has become widely used throughout the country. Silk and its beautiful products are affordable nowadays, so tourists have a chance to choose their favorites and gift them to friends and family.
4. Ao Dai
Ao Dai is a traditional costume in Vietnam which impresses people from all over the world. The ao dai’s unique design accentuates the inherent beauty of Vietnamese women, making them more attractive. It is demure yet charming, and highly elegant.
5. Painting
One of the most popular paintings is sand painting. The layers of sand form an enthralling piece of art, which looks stunning on every shelf and makes an excellent souvenir. If tourists are fond of products requiring meticulous skills, they can visit the Vietnamese souvenir shops which have lacquer paintings. It’s said that high – quality lacquer products go through 20 stages of development and can be used to craft dishes, bowls, vases, and more with beautiful colors and intricate designs. Especially, Dong Ho painting, silk painting, rice painting and so on are unique souvenirs that you can buy in Vietnam.
6. Tea and coffee
Bring home some tea and coffee. One cup will instantly transport you back to those early mornings sitting in your favorite open-air coffee shop enjoying the irresistibly addictive cups of Vietnamese robusta. Coffee from the Central Highlands / Trung Nguyen will cost around $4.00 and Arabica coffee will cost more. The Vietnamese culture drinks a lot of tea and it’s one of the most commonly purchased souvenirs for our guests. Tea can be bought in many of the larger cities in Vietnam. Your average bag of tea can be bought anywhere from $5.00 to $8.00.
7. Marou Chocolate
Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat was founded by two Frenchmen, Samuel Maruta and Vincent Mourou, whose devotion to creating world-class chocolate has put Vietnam on the map as a gourmet chocolate destination. All ingredients in Marou Chocolate are from cacao plantations in the Mekong Delta. It is quite expensive, but absolutely delicious.
8. Cinnamon box
This gift is definitely one that will keep your loved one guessing until they get the chance to finally unwrap it. You may be thinking from the photo below that this is your typical cylindrical box or pencil holder… but wait ’til you smell it! It’s made from cinnamon bark, which is why your loved one is bound to put this on their desk or kitchen counter. If you ask someone at the market, they’ll say the box’s purpose is to hold toothpicks, which then get a light yet delicious cinnamon flavor. However, you can also use this aromatic gift to store sugar, flour, coffee, tea, or whatever you wish to smell like sweet cinnamon.
