Visit Vietnam’s bustling Ho Chi Minh City and you can experience: Ancient traditions and modern energy colliding, and the perfect gift waiting for you around every corner! So if you are wondering about what to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, this energetic southern metropolis simply exudes charm – and we’re not just talking about sweet Vietnamese coffee, beautiful Ao Dai, or handmade conical hats. From the vibrantly chaotic Ben Thanh Market to slick art galleries, the options are limitless. So here we go with memorable things to buy in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam- and take a look at the best souvenirs from Vietnam, don’t miss our picks!
The Ao Dai is Vietnam’s traditional costume. Simplicity, beauty, and typically woven of finest Vietnamese silk, it represents for women the essence of their femininity and Vietnam’s cultural traditions. Otherwise, the Ao Ba Ba is a simple, rustic garment of the southern countryside: soft, basic, and full of charm.
If you’re on the lookout for an ideal gifts that define the traditional aspect of Vietnam, then these clothing lines are a timeless option in that case to search for things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
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Ao Ba Ba in Hoai Giang Shop (Source: trangphucchupanhsaigon)
Fancy something lightweight, symbolic, and stylish? What to buy in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam, Vietnam? Easy: The classic Non La hat – the Vietnamese conical hat.
Both functional and artistic, hand-woven from dried palm leaves, bamboo, and thread, the Non La is art in practical use. You will see them everywhere, from farmers laboring in the sun to dancers in cultural performances. It’s a great keepsake that shouts Vietnam in the loveliest way.
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Non La in Ben Thanh Market (Source: thegioitiepthi)
One of the most underrated things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh is the Khan Ran, which is a traditional checkered scarf that runs deep in the southern Vietnamese blood. Once worn by farmers and guerrilla fighters, today, it’s a symbol of strength and simplicity, and it looks great as a fashion accessory or for layering and preserving history.
Lightweight and packable, this scarf is a fashionable design with a functional design, perfect when it comes to the list of what to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
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Khan Ran in Ben Thanh Market (Source: tcdulichtphcm)
Lacquerware is one of the traditional Vietnamese crafts that generates the highest levels of appreciation. With their rich, glossy finishes and intricate hand-painted designs, these things aren’t souvenirs so much as works of art. Jewelry boxes, vases, trays, and wall décor, many in vivid colors, with symbolic motifs from folklore and daily life.
Ceramics and pottery, especially those that draw on ancient dynasties, feature traditional glazes and patterns of lotus flowers, dragons, clouds – symbols of harmony, luck, and longevity in Vietnamese culture.
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Lacquerware in Huong Nga Fine Arts (Source: huongngafinearts)
Sand paintings and Dong Ho woodblock prints are great options for a gift that has a personal and deep meaning. Every sand painting is created completely by hand, grain by grain, with stunning fine detail. In contrast, Dong Ho art is printed from engraved wood blocks, then painted with organic colours from leaves, seashells, and, not least, rice husks!
In a search for unique souvenirs from what to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, for the art aficionados in your life, or simply want to bring a slice of Vietnamese culture into your own home?
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Paintings Dong Ho in Dong Ho Art Shop (Source: bantranhdongho)
Take a step back in time and get your hands on purchases to be proud of, in things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh: vintage posters and propaganda posters from wartime Vietnam. Featuring bold colors, retro typography, and images of the greatest acts of insurrection in history, these posters are works of art in their own right – and icons for a new age of rebellion loved by everyone from art collectors to fans of history and liberty.
You will also find retro pins, matchboxes, badges, old books, and maps that provide a window into the country’s tumultuous 20th-century evolution.
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Vintage Collectibles in Artbook Saigon (Source: ivivu)
There’s no silk like Vietnamese silk – light as a feather, smooth as water, and in vivid colors. This luxurious fabric, which has been famous for centuries, is still produced in two traditional methods, one in the South and one in the North of Vietnam. From silk scarves, ties, pillow cases, and even elegant blouses, silk can be transformed into some of the finest things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
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A scarf will set you back 100,000 VND, and tailored silk clothing upwards of 3,000,000 VND.
Vietnamese Silk at Thai Tuan Silk Showroom (Source: thanhnien)
Handmade by ethnic minorities from the mountainous north of Vietnam, brocades are bold, textured, and have a character all their own. They are embroidered with the stories of tribes like the Hmong, Dao, and Tay – woven into every fiber. Whether you fancy a backpack, coin purse, or clutch, these items go on to become meaningful things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
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Brocade Bags in Ben Thanh Market (Source: kemchien47)
Seeking affordable, packable, and charming things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh? Hand fans and paper lanterns are popular for a reason! Light and inconspicuous but striking aesthetically, they are popular with travelers who want to take a piece of Vietnamese craft back home.
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Paper Lanterns in Ben Thanh Market (Source: kenh14)
Let’s begin with a national obsession: Vietnamese coffee. Famous for its strong taste, body, and slow-drip process, this is one of the must-bring-home list of things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
Arabica vs. Robusta: Vietnam is the second largest exporter of coffee in the world, and Robusta rules the roost here! Robusta beans have a higher caffeine content and a bolder, more bitter flavor than Arabica, which makes them the ideal coffee for that classic ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee). Arabica is more delicate, flowery, and mild-flavored.
The Phin Filter: This is the traditional brewing device that can be seen in most Vietnamese coffee shops. It’s a tiny, metal drip filter that sits atop your glass. To see the coffee slowly drip into the condensed milk is a show in itself!
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They range from 50,000 VND for instant packs to 300,000+ VND for premium whole beans or gift boxes. Phin filters will run you between 40,000 – 100,000 VND.
Arabica Coffee in Phuc Long (Source: lazada)
Did you realize that one of Asia’s best bean-to-bar chocolates also comes out of Ho Chi Minh City? Marou A chocolate bar made exclusively with Vietnamese-grown cacao, processed here with French precision and passion. Each bar is single origin, marked with its province and enveloped in beautiful paper – an edible work of art.
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But chocolate isn’t the only delight worthy of your lips to taste. Local sweet treats also make great budget-friendly and tasty gifts!
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Prices for sweet treats vary, from 25,000 VND (snack packs) to 150,000 VND for more premium chocolate bars. And many stalls have mix-and-match multibag deals.
Local Sweets in Ben Thanh Market (Source: danviet)
So before you hop on that plane out of Ho Chi Minh City, take note of this: the sweetest souvenirs things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh are the ones that carry home a piece of its spirit. From Vietnamese coffee to handmade ao dai, each item brings a story of tradition and craftsmanship. Still pondering over what to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh? Let our ultimate list of best souvenirs from Vietnam help you select something a cut above the typical fare, because souvenirs should do the talking, not languish on a shelf.
The number one souvenir in Vietnam is, without a doubt, the Ao Dai, Vietnamese traditional dress. Whether it’s a customised or off-the-shelf Ao Dai, it’s a beautiful symbol of Vietnam and an impressive gift for family and friends. Other top suggestions are Vietnamese coffee, conical hat, and lacquerware, again, all of which are the clichés of things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh.
Vietnam’s a spot with quite a few unique treasures to take home with you! Among the things that tourists like are silk goods, hand-embroidered fabrics, robusta coffee beans, ceramic articles, and ethnic brocade bags. If you are still unsure of what to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, check out Ben Thanh Market for real souvenirs that are a mix of quality, culture, and affordability.
It’s filled with Ben Thanh Market’s colorful stalls and presentation-worthy art galleries; Ho Chi Minh City is packed with must-have souvenirs! Gone are Vietnamese coffee, phin filters, ao dai, conical hats, Marou chocolate, and handmade lacquerware. Here are some of the best things to buy in Vietnam Ho Chi Minh that represent local art and culture.
A meaningful gift from Vietnam might comprise tradition-based items (a hand-painted conical hat, a sumptuous silk scarf, or a box of Trung Nguyen coffee. For something artistic, go for sand paintings or Dong Ho woodblock prints. These are ideal gifts that reflect the soul of Vietnamese culture and craftsmanship.
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