Markets, stalls, street vendors and shopping malls spill out before those embarking on Vietnam travel. From the chaos of the bustling cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the floating markets on the Mekong Delta, sellers call out to travelers with their best deals on Vietnam souvenirs. You find yourself shopping in Vietnam at the local marketplace on your holiday and wonder, “What in the world should I buy as a souvenir?” While souvenir shopping Vietnam style, that bottle of snake wine may seem like the best souvenir you’ve ever discovered in your travels. However that very unique Vietnam gift of alcohol, complete with layers of once slithering Vietnamese reptiles, may cause a serious headache for you at immigration. I don’t mean a hangover either. Heading home with great Vietnamese souvenirs requires a bit of knowledge and an eye for traditional work of local Vietnamese artisans. Vietnam souvenirs – Suggestions of what to buy in Vietnam Stepping into a large shopping complex such as Ben Thanh Market in central Ho Chi Minh City, the the boisterous scene is enough to cause even the experienced shopper to think twice about moving forward in search of Vietnam gifts. Before you travel give some thought to what would be the best Vietnam products to purchase. Conical hats Worn by locals year round to protect from both sunshine and rain, the cone shaped hat is an iconic Vietnamese souvenir. Seen throughout Southeast Asia, the conical hat in Vietnam is referred to as ‘non la’ translating to leaf hat. No matter what the name give some thought as to how you are going to pack this souvenir from Vietnam. Wearing it may be your best, if not only, option unless you have a very large suitcase. Silk From buying a silk painting in Vietnam to silk scarves to complete suits tailored to fit, Vietnamese silk is often the souvenir of choice. Silk has played a large role in Vietnam’s history and today Vietnam holds the number six position of silk producers in the world. In Hanoi, Hang Gai street, known as silk street is lined with many traditional silks shops. Hoi An, the ancient town located on the former silk road is a silk shopping paradise. Hand fans When looking for good things to buy in Vietnam, perhaps your friends and family won’t mind slightly used souvenirs. With the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia turning tourists into sweating puddles on the sidewalk, the silk paper and bamboo Vietnamese hand fans can be used to revive overheated shoppers in Vietnam. Often seen in traditional Vietnamese dance, fans are seen in most every Vietnamese shopping venue. Ao dai This traditional Vietnamese garment ‘ao dai’, translated to long shirt, can be worn by women or men. The more traditional version comes with multiple flaps and layers. Today the more common Vietnamese ao dai is a tight fitting tunic worn over a pair of pants or trousers. Embroidery Art From clothing to silk art wall hangings, embroidery art in Vietnam has been passed on through the generations. Scenes of nature such as birds and landscapes are most common, although complete portraits done stitch by stitch can also be found. The variety of designs and smorgasbord options of vibrant colors leaves those on a visit to Vietnam with endless embroidery choices. Guoc moc Vietnamese wooden clogs may not be the most practical souvenir from Vietnam, nor the lightest to pack in a suitcase, but they definitely will be a conversation starter. Not necessarily easy to find, they are considered by locals as old fashioned, you may see them in a traditional dance performance. Coffee Introduced by the French in 1857, the coffee industry in Vietnam now serves as a major economic force. Vietnamese coffee is strong and dark roasted. You may suggest to those receiving your souvenirs from Vietnam that they drink it with sugary condensed milk as coffee is often served this way in Vietnam. Is it a fake brand name product? When a product you know retails for over $1000 USD and is selling in Vietnam for $40 USD be assured you are not getting the real thing. Vietnam is a land full of products made to look like the real thing. Very good ones I must say. They are without question one of the best buys in Vietnam. As to the ethics of whether you purchase them or not we leave that as your personal decision. Tips for buying Vietnam souvenir items Understand what currency you are paying in and count your change. With one US dollar converting to approximately 23,000 Vietnamese Dong, a vendor can confuse shoppers quickly. Be mindful of overcharging when change is given, especially if given in a different currency. For example you pay in US dollars and are given change in Vietnamese dong. It may look like a huge wad of money but be savvy and calculate what you have just received. Large markets are typically more expensive than street stalls. As a tourist shopping in Vietnam, often the prices in markets will automatically be higher than if you are a local shopping in the same location. This may apply regardless the size of the shop or market. In large markets the prices will almost always be inflated compared to smaller street vendors. However the convenience of having most anything you can imagine in the large markets makes it a one stop Vietnamese shopping experience. Best buys in Vietnam require understanding the price. If a vendor smiles and tells you the Vietnam souvenir you have fallen in love with is 20, ask what 20 means. 20 US dollars? 20,000 dong or is that 20 million dong? Never agree on a price until you are absolutely certain your know what you have agreed to purchase. Nothing is for free in Vietnam shopping. A scam not specific to Vietnam, but also found there, is that of a seller offering a small item for free. Once the shopper has taken the item payment is demanded. Giving the item back is not acceptable to the Vietnamese seller. If someone hands you something do not reflexively take it. Where is your money? In large centres such as Ho Chi Minh City petty theft is common. Wallets should never be kept in back pockets. Always be aware if someone touches you or there is distracting activity around you. In Vietnamese markets the noise and activity is constant so be alert at all times. For more information on staying safe while traveling anywhere in the world you can find our best tips here. Haggling prices in Vietnam At last you see what you want to buy in Vietnam. Now the question is should you haggle the prices in Vietnam? Considered socially acceptable, if not completely expected in markets, Vietnam shopping requires conversation over the purchase. Do note that haggling is not acceptable in department stores. The basic rule is if you see a price tag the price is non negotiable. Here are some tips for haggling the best prices in Vietnam. Can you speak Vietnamese? If you can pass yourself off as someone who lives in Vietnam you are definitely going to get a better price than a tourist. The language is not easy but from my experience of being able to bargain at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul in Turkish, I can vouch for the importance of language. At the very least learning a basic greeting and thank you can be helpful in Vietnam shopping. Be prepared to walk away and find the next stall or Vietnamese market. You likely can find the best souvenirs in Vietnam at more than one market. In the large cities like Ho Chi Minh City the opportunities to buy Vietnam souvenirs are endless. If you are not getting the price you feel is reasonable be prepared to walk away and don’t look back. That may bring the seller running to you to accept your offer if it is within reason. What should you pay for a Vietnam gift? Getting comfortable with haggling can be a struggle for those not used to the process. Larger markets may have a bit more room for discounts than smaller Vietnamese markets. Start by offering half of the quoted price. Then it is reasonable to settle around two thirds or three quarters of the cost, depending on how you feel about what you are buying and your budget. Body language is important in Vietnam bargaining. Likely even more important than what you say while shopping in Vietnam is how you look. Appear ambivalent or disinterested in the silk painting or conical hat. However appearing angry or unfriendly is not likely going to help your cause in the search for a bargain. Smile and be pleasant with an I-could-care-less attitude if I ever bought a souvenir from Vietnam. Raising your voice or becoming angry is not suggested. When is the best time of day to buy your Vietnam souvenir? some of the best advice comes from those who have spent a great deal of time on Southeast Asia. Peta from EmptyNesters on a Green Global Trek advises, “Usually if you are the first buyer of the day, you are considered to be good luck for the store and as a result can usually get a good deal because of that. Lucky Lucky!” Or you can always buy some Vietnamese snake wine….. How about some snake wine as a Vietnam souvenir? Read these shopping guides in other locations around the world. Best NYC Souvenirs Savvy Shopping For Peru Souvenirs Smart Souvenir Shopping in Mexico Savvy Shopping in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar