Sinh Giang
The best things to buy in Vietnam are Vietnamese coffee, hill-tribe textiles, silk, lacquerware, ceramics, tea, spices and handmade crafts — almost all of them affordable, distinctive and made in Vietnam. Whether you want a few easy souvenirs or a special piece to treasure, this is one of Asia's best-value countries to shop, from buzzing markets to Hoi An's famous tailors. Below are the 10 best things to buy in Vietnam, with what each costs, where to find it, and how to get a fair price.
We are a local team based in Sapa, so we have a particular soft spot for the handmade textiles of the northern mountains — but this guide covers the whole country, from Hanoi's craft streets to the Mekong Delta markets. Everything here is something we would happily send friends home with. Let's start with the shopping essentials, then go through the ten items one by one.
Vietnam Shopping at a Glance
The quick essentials before the list.
In short: shop the markets for atmosphere, bargains and handmade crafts, and the reputable shops and villages for quality and shipping. The north (Sapa, Bac Ha) is best for hill-tribe textiles, Hoi An for silk and tailoring, and Hanoi for lacquerware and ceramics.
The 10 Best Things to Buy in Vietnam
Here are the ten buys we recommend most, from everyday souvenirs to special keepsakes.
1. Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee producer, and a bag of strong, rich Vietnamese robusta (or smoother arabica from Da Lat) is the easiest, most useful souvenir there is. Buy whole beans or ground coffee from a specialty shop, and add a cheap aluminium phin filter so you can brew it the Vietnamese way at home. Skip the overpriced novelty "weasel" coffee unless it is from a trusted roaster. A bag or two costs just a few dollars, weighs almost nothing, and brings a taste of Vietnam back to every morning at home — which is why it is the single most popular thing to buy in Vietnam.
2. Hill-Tribe Textiles & Indigo
The handwoven textiles of the northern mountains are, for us, the most special buy in Vietnam — Black H'mong indigo and hemp cloth, Red Dao embroidery, brocade bags, scarves, blankets and cushion covers, all made by hand in the villages. The colours and patterns are unlike anything mass-produced. Buy them in the villages around Sapa and at the Bac Ha and Ta Phin markets, straight from the women who made them, so your money goes to the community.
Trek to the Villages Where the Crafts Are Made
1 Day TrekEasy
Trekking Through Rice Terraced Fields
Walk through Black H'mong villages and buy textiles from the families who weave them.
2D1N HomestayModerate
Rice Terraced Fields & Homestay
Stay with a village family — see the weaving and indigo dyeing up close.
Families & SeniorsVery Easy
Sapa Easy Trekking For Seniors
A gentle village walk with time to browse the local handicrafts.
3. Silk Scarves & Fabric
Vietnamese silk is soft, light and beautifully coloured — a scarf, tie or length of fabric folds flat into any suitcase and makes a lovely gift. Hoi An and Hanoi (Hang Gai, the "silk street") have the best selection. Genuine silk feels warm and is slightly uneven up close; if it feels cold, slippery and perfectly regular, it may be synthetic, so buy from established shops if quality matters.
4. Tailored Clothing & Áo Dài
Hoi An is Vietnam's tailoring capital, and a made-to-measure suit, dress, coat or traditional áo dài is the country's great-value splurge. Hundreds of shops will stitch a custom garment in one to three days — bring a photo of what you want, allow time for a fitting or two, and choose a well-reviewed tailor for good fabric and finishing. Prices run from around $40 for a dress to $150–200 for a quality suit — a fraction of what the same tailoring costs at home. Order early in your Hoi An stay so there is time for adjustments, and don't be shy about asking for changes at the fitting; good tailors expect it and want you to leave happy.
5. Conical Hats (Nón Lá)
The iconic Vietnamese conical hat is cheap, light and instantly recognisable — a fun, inexpensive souvenir at $2–6 from any market. The finest come from the Hue region, some with poems or patterns hidden between the layers, visible when held to the light. They squash a little in a bag but pop back into shape.
6. Lacquerware & Lacquer Paintings
Vietnamese lacquerware (sơn mài) — glossy bowls, boxes, trays, vases and eggshell-inlaid paintings — is a centuries-old craft and a handsome, hard-wearing gift. Small boxes and coasters cost a few dollars; larger pieces and lacquer paintings run higher. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have the best craft shops. Look for a smooth, deep finish and check for cracks before buying.
7. Bat Trang Ceramics & Pottery
The village of Bat Trang, just outside Hanoi, has made ceramics for over 500 years — bowls, cups, teapots, vases and tiles in blue-and-white and modern glazes. You can visit the village to watch potters at work and buy directly, or find Bat Trang pieces in Hanoi shops. Small items travel well wrapped in clothes; ask about shipping for anything large or fragile.
8. Vietnamese Tea
Vietnam grows excellent tea, and a packet is light, cheap and easy to pack. Look for northern Shan Tuyet (ancient-tree green tea from the highlands), fragrant lotus tea, or artichoke tea from Da Lat. Tea shops and the northern markets have the freshest; loose-leaf in a resealable bag travels best. If you are trekking in the north, you will pass tea growing on the hillsides — buying a packet where it is grown is as fresh and authentic as it gets.
9. Spices, Cashews & Food Gifts
Edible souvenirs are always a hit: Vietnamese pepper (among the world's best), cinnamon and star anise, roasted cashews, dried fruit, and sealed bottles of good fish sauce (nước mắm). Buy from markets and supermarkets, keep everything sealed for customs, and check your home country's rules on bringing food and seeds.
10. Bamboo, Rattan & Handmade Art
Rounding out the list are Vietnam's many handmade crafts — woven bamboo and rattan baskets and bags, coconut-shell bowls, hand-embroidered pouches, wood carvings, and colourful reproduction propaganda posters that make striking, rollable wall art. Craft villages and markets are full of them, and most cost just a few dollars.
More Great Buys — and What to Skip
The ten above are our headline picks, but a few more are worth a look depending on your taste and budget:
- Ha Long Bay pearls — freshwater and saltwater pearls set into jewellery; buy from reputable, certified dealers rather than boat-deck stalls.
- Da Nang marble & stone carvings from the Marble Mountains — beautiful but heavy, so buy small or arrange shipping.
- Coffee kit — a phin filter, condensed milk and an egg-coffee recipe make a fun themed gift alongside the beans.
- Water-puppet figures & bamboo toys — light, cheap and great for kids.
- Reproduction propaganda posters & prints — bold, rollable wall art that packs flat.
A few things are best avoided. Please never buy anything made from wildlife — ivory, tortoiseshell, animal furs, or snake and scorpion wine — as the trade is illegal, unethical and harms endangered species. Be wary of "genuine antiques" (real ones need an export licence and most on sale are reproductions), and skip the pricey novelty weasel coffee sold in tourist traps. Stick to the honest, handmade buys and both you and the local makers come out ahead.
Price Guide & Where to Buy
A quick reference for the ten items — typical prices (they vary with size, quality and your bargaining) and where each is best bought.
| What to buy | Typical price | Best place |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vietnamese coffee | $3–8 / bag | Specialty coffee shops, supermarkets |
| 2. Hill-tribe textiles | $5–40 | Sapa, Bac Ha & Ta Phin markets |
| 3. Silk scarves & fabric | $5–25 | Hoi An & Hanoi silk shops |
| 4. Tailored clothing / áo dài | $40–200 | Hoi An tailors |
| 5. Conical hats (nón lá) | $2–6 | Markets everywhere |
| 6. Lacquerware & paintings | $5–60 | Hanoi & HCMC craft shops |
| 7. Bat Trang ceramics | $3–50 | Bat Trang village, Hanoi |
| 8. Vietnamese tea | $4–15 | Tea shops, northern markets |
| 9. Spices, cashews & food | $3–10 | Markets & supermarkets |
| 10. Bamboo, rattan & art | $5–50 | Craft villages & markets |
Prices are a guide in US dollars for reference — you will pay in Vietnamese dong, and market prices drop with friendly bargaining. Fixed-price shops and malls cost a little more but save the haggling and often handle shipping.
Head North for the Handicraft Markets
Where to Shop: Markets vs Shops
Where you buy matters as much as what you buy. Here is how markets and fixed-price shops compare.
Shop the markets for…
- The lowest prices — if you bargain
- Authentic, handmade hill-tribe crafts
- Atmosphere and buying from the makers
- Small souvenirs: hats, textiles, spices, tea
Choose shops & boutiques for…
- Fixed, hassle-free prices
- Guaranteed quality (silk, lacquer, ceramics)
- Tailoring, and larger or fragile pieces
- Shipping and packing for the journey home
The best approach is to use both: browse the markets for the fun, handmade things and the bargains, and turn to reputable shops for anything valuable, breakable or that needs shipping. In the north, the Sapa area markets are unbeatable for genuine textiles.
How to Bargain in Vietnam
Bargaining is part of market life in Vietnam — expected, friendly, and half the fun. Done well it is a warm little exchange, not a battle: a smile and a bit of patience get you a fair price and a good story. A few simple rules:
- Only haggle where it is expected — markets and street stalls, not fixed-price shops, supermarkets or malls.
- Start with a smile, ask the price, then counter at roughly half and meet in the middle — often 20–40% off the first quote.
- Be ready to walk away — it often brings the price down, and you can always come back.
- Buy several items together for a better overall deal.
- Keep it fair and kind — don't grind village sellers over a dollar; a fair price supports local families.
Rent Trekking Gear in Sapa — Save Space for Souvenirs
Gear Rental$2/Day
Trekking Boots Rental
Rent boots here instead of packing them — more room for what you buy. At 105 Thach Son Street.
Gear Rental$2/Day
Walking Poles Rental
Poles at $2/day at our office — keep your bag light for the market. At 105 Thach Son Street.
Customs, Fakes & Shipping
A few practical points to shop smart and get everything home:
- Watch for fakes. "Silk" that feels cold and plastic, and cheap "weasel" coffee, are often not the real thing — buy quality items from established shops.
- Leave luggage room (or bring a foldable bag) — it is easy to buy more than you planned.
- Ship the bulky stuff. Good ceramics, lacquer and tailoring shops can pack and post larger items home reliably.
- Keep food sealed and check your home country's customs rules on food, seeds and animal products.
- Carry small cash in dong — markets are cash-only, and small notes make bargaining easier.
