Vietnam captivates visitors with its stunning natural beauty, from the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta's floating markets. This Southeast Asian nation seamlessly blends ancient temples, French colonial architecture, and dynamic modern cities with a rich culinary tradition that has gained worldwide acclaim.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Lacquered bowls and trays
Handcrafted lacquerware using traditional Vietnamese techniques with inlaid mother-of-pearl designs. A quintessential Vietnamese craft produced in Hanoi and Hue workshops.
Price: $10-80
Where: Hang Khai Street, Hanoi or Dong Ba Market, Hue
Hoi An silk scarves and ao dai
Lustrous silk fabric hand-woven and tailored in Hoi An's centuries-old tradition. Custom ao dai (national dress) can be made within 24-48 hours at Old Town tailor shops.
Price: $15-150
Where: Hoi An Old Town tailor shops, Cloth Market Hoi An
Conical hat (Non La)
Traditional Vietnamese palm-leaf hat with intricate poetry or landscapes visible when held up to light. Handmade by artisans in Hue's village of Thuy Thanh.
Price: $3-15
Where: Dong Ba Market Hue, Ben Thanh Market HCMC, Dong Xuan Market Hanoi
Vietnamese drip coffee and ca phe trung kit
Robusta-heavy Vietnamese coffee blends including the iconic weasel coffee (Kopi Luwak-style) and egg coffee ingredients. Sold with traditional drip phin filter as a complete gift set.
Price: $5-40
Where: Hanoi's Dinh Le coffee street, Trung Nguyen stores nationwide
Bat Trang blue and white ceramics
Traditional hand-painted pottery from Bat Trang village outside Hanoi, known for distinctive blue-on-white designs depicting Vietnamese landscapes and lotus flowers.
Price: $5-50
Where: Bat Trang Ceramic Village, 15km from Hanoi
Silk embroidery pictures
Intricate needlework depicting traditional Vietnamese scenes, portraits, and landscapes created by ethnic minority artisans in Sapa and Da Lat.
Price: $20-200
Where: Sapa market, Da Lat night market, Old Quarter Hanoi
Carved wooden figurines
Hand-carved wooden water puppets, Buddha statues, and decorative items reflecting Vietnam's rich woodworking traditions from Dong Ky village.
Price: $8-60
Where: Dong Xuan Market Hanoi, Ben Thanh Market HCMC
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Ben Thanh Market
Ho Chi Minh City's iconic covered market selling everything from fresh produce and spices to souvenirs, clothing, and street food. The surrounding night market opens after 6pm with more bargain shopping.
Where: Le Loi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Hours: 6AM-10PM (outdoor stalls until midnight)
Dong Xuan Market
Hanoi's largest covered market spread across four floors with wholesale and retail goods including textiles, household items, and fresh produce. The surrounding streets form one of Hanoi's busiest shopping districts.
Where: Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Hours: 6AM-6PM daily
Dong Ba Market
Hue's main market and the largest in Central Vietnam, selling local specialties including Hue's famous sesame rice crackers, royal purple rice, and conical hats unique to this region.
Where: Tran Hung Dao, Hue
Hours: 5AM-9PM daily
Hoi An Central Market
Fresh produce market on the Thu Bon River banks where local fishermen bring the morning catch. Surrounding vendors sell fabric, dried goods, and Vietnamese herbs perfect for cooking class ingredients.
Where: Tran Phu, Hoi An Ancient Town
Hours: 5AM-7PM daily
Bac Ha Sunday Market
Weekly highland market where Flower Hmong and other ethnic minority groups from surrounding villages gather in their distinctive embroidered costumes to trade livestock, local crops, and handmade textiles.
Where: Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province
Hours: Sunday only, 7AM-2PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Hang Dao - Dong Xuan Night Market
Vibrant Friday-Sunday night market in Hanoi's Old Quarter where the pedestrianized streets fill with clothing vendors, street food, and performers. Best time is 6-10pm when the energy peaks.
Best for: Budget clothing, souvenirs, street food
Hoi An Old Town
The ancient town's Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets are lined with tailor shops, lantern makers, art galleries, and souvenir boutiques within beautifully preserved 17th-century merchant houses.
Best for: Custom tailoring, silk, ceramics, lanterns
Trang Tien Plaza Area, Hanoi
Ho Hoan Kiem lakeshore area around Trang Tien Plaza with international brands, bookshops, and the Hilton Hanoi Opera nearby. Central and walkable for upscale shopping.
Best for: International brands, books, luxury goods
Saigon Square, HCMC
Two-story discount mall near Ben Thanh with branded clothing at reduced prices, including local and international labels. Popular with both locals and tourists seeking bargains.
Best for: Discounted branded clothing
Bat Trang Ceramic Village
Traditional ceramics-making village 15km from Hanoi's center where over 1,000 families produce hand-painted pottery. Visit workshops, watch artisans at work, and buy direct.
Best for: Handmade ceramics, pottery workshops
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Vincom Center Ba Trieu
Hanoi's prestigious mall across two towers with international brands including Zara, Mango, and H&M plus Vietnamese designers. Contains a large food court and cinema. Central location near Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hours: 9:30AM-10PM daily
Vincom Plaza Dong Khoi
HCMC's most central upscale mall on prime Dong Khoi Street with designer boutiques, restaurants, and a cinema. Above the city's best restaurant and bar strip, perfect for a combined shopping and dining day.
Hours: 9:30AM-10PM daily
Aeon Mall Tan Phu
Japanese-owned hypermarket and mall in Ho Chi Minh City with supermarket, food courts, fashion, and entertainment. Excellent for stocking up on Vietnamese snacks and local food products to take home.
Hours: 8AM-11PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected at markets and street stalls but not in malls or restaurants with fixed prices
Start at 50-60% of the asking price and negotiate towards 70-80% - a good deal for both sides
Be polite and smiling throughout - aggressive bargaining is counterproductive in Vietnamese culture
Walk away slowly if the price isn't right - vendors will often call you back with a better offer
Buy multiple items from one vendor for better discounts
Learn basic Vietnamese numbers (mot, hai, ba...) and pricing phrases to show respect and get better deals
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Cannot export antiques (items over 50 years old) without government certificate. Wild animal products, certain plant products restricted.
Tax Refund: VAT refund available at major international airports for purchases over 2 million VND at participating shops displaying Tax Refund sticker
Duty Free: Allowance: 1.5 liters spirits or 2 liters wine, 400 cigarettes, goods up to $500 value
Shipping: Vietnam Post and DHL available for sending goods internationally. Major hotels can arrange packaging and shipping of fragile items like ceramics.