If you’re visiting Vietnam soon, you might be wondering about the best souvenirs to take home. There are a lot of interesting and unique things to take back to friends and family when you’re in Vietnam. From silk dresses to hand-embroidered items and from lacquerware to woodwork, something will surely catch your eye as you tour the country. Don’t forget the following unique souvenirs found only in Vietnam.
Take-Home An Ao Dai Or A Silk Dress
An Ao Dai is the traditional dress for women as well as for Vietnamese men. It is a tight-fitted dress that’s worn over long pants. The Ao Dai is unlike other conventional Asian dresses because it is very colorful and flatters the wearer’s curves. Women and men wear this dress during festivals, weddings, graduations, and other formal events. The best shop to buy the material for a traditional Ao Dai is in Hanoi, and after you purchase the fabric, you need to take it to a local dressmaker to have it made according to your measurements.
And while you’re checking out great Ao Dais, why not take home a silk dress? Vietnamese silk is the finest because it is made by moth caterpillars, silkworms, and other silk-making insects. The best silk items are found at the silk village called Van Phuc in Hanoi and also in Hoi An.
Don’t Forget The Iconic Conical Hats
Also called the leaf hat or the Non La, the conical hat is the symbol of Vietnam and has many uses. It can shield you from the sun and keep you dry in the rain. There are plain Non Las, but there are also hand-painted ones with lovely, nature-inspired prints. The shops from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City sell the best conical hats.
The Traditional Guoc Moc
Before leather and fabric shoes were the wooden clog. The Guoc Moc is a wooden clog for males and females. These have been used as tools for thousands of years, and today, the simple wooden clog is famous and is usually worn during performance art. You don’t have to worry about carrying a large instrument when you come home because most of these are easy to carry and are also inexpensive. You can buy lovely, decorated Guoc Mocs at specialty souvenir shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
All Kinds Of Lacquerware Products
Lacquerware is distinct in style and form. It is made from the resin of the Son tree, and the art is linked to French art. It takes time to make even the smallest lacquerware item, like a cigarette box or a jewelry box. You might chance upon some lacquer bobblehead boy souvenirs here, but the most popular and most intricate collections are found in the Thu Huong Lacquer Art, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and the Lacquer Art Tay Ho.
Vietnamese Coffee Is Your New Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is prepared differently. Most coffees are Robusta, which is stronger and bolder than Arabica coffees. You’ll also find a coffee that’s a combination of the two. But what makes Vietnamese coffee different is that they put a raw egg or condensed milk in strong coffee, making egg coffee or Vietnamese iced milk. You can purchase Vietnamese coffee in small packs, but make sure to take home a traditional coffee filter too. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have the best coffee shops, where you can also purchase a traditional filter.
The Symbolic Paper Fan
A Vietnamese fan is considered a luxurious and artsy object that a family can own. These fans have a bamboo frame, and the fan itself is made from silk or traditional paper. Most decorative and souvenir fans are decorated with scenic views of Vietnam, and some with symbolic calligraphy. For the best fans, visit the village of Thach That, where fan –making is a specialty.
Everything Hand Embroidered – With Love
Vietnamese hand embroidery is a national tradition that dates back more than 700 years. You can take home all kinds of embroidered items like handkerchiefs, pillowcases, tablecloths, placemats, table runners, dresses, and more. Truly something fitting to gift your mother or grandmother when you arrive home. According to locals, the best-embroidered souvenir shops are also found in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Traditional Vietnamese Musical Instruments
If you love playing the guitar, one of the best souvenir items you can take home is handcrafted instruments like the bamboo flute, bamboo xylophone, or the mini T’rung. You can find these traditional musical instruments and more in shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Beautiful Ceramic Pottery
Everywhere you look in Vietnam, you’ll find interesting ceramic items, but the best has to be their ceramic pottery. The style and design of Vietnamese pottery were influenced by Chinese ceramics, but over many years, Cambodian and Indian styles also emerged. The pottery shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the most beautiful, so check these out.
See Bat Trang Traditional Ceramics Making Village
How About Traditional Edible Souvenirs?
The O Mai was known as medicine in Vietnam and China, but today, it is more commonly eaten as a snack. O Mai’s main ingredients are fruits like lime, star fruit, plum, peach, and pineapple, to name a few. Some of the fruits are spiced, while some are dried, but some are dried and spiced with more spices. The O Mai is the best edible souvenir to take home because it is easy to carry and will never spoil. It even comes in a handy gift box. The best edible souvenirs are found in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.