No matter where you travel to in Vietnam, a keen sense of adventure follows you everywhere you go. Whether you are crossing the road in Hanoi, joining on a culinary adventure in Hoian, or even shopping in the busy market and being enchanted by all the beautiful souvenirs. It’s full of the unexpected but we can be certain about one thing: you won’t return home without stock up on souvenirs to bring back home.
Don’t worry, we got you covered. This 2 part series will take you with us on your shopping adventure in several top spots for shopping in major cities.
Hanoi
1.Lacquerware
You can find good quality lacquerware here with a great variety of high gloss tableware with beautiful design. Be aware of other small shops which sell mass produced, low quality lacquerware at a very cheap price.
Add: Marena Hanoi – 29 Nha Chung Street, Hoan Kiem Dictrict, Hanoi
Minh Tam – 2 Hang Bong, Hoan Kiem Dictrict, Hanoi
2.Handicraft
Craft Link is NGO organization which helps traditional craft producers to revive their tradition and improve their livehoods through handicraft production. If you are not planning to go to Sapa, this is the best place to buy handicrafts from accessories to embroidery of ethnic minority groups there.
Add: 43 Van Mieu Street, Dong Da Dictrict, Hanoi
3.Bamboo shop
Bamboo and rattan weaving has taken place in the commune for hundreds of years in which products are made manually and required significant skill from the artisans. You can buy furniture, trays, chopsticks rest – actually literally anything that you may think can be made out of these two materials.
Add: 4b Hang Manh Street, Hoan Kiem Dictrict, Hanoi
4.O Mai Hong Lam
Originally used as an effective remedy for sore throats in Vietnam, O Mai now becomes a special treats during Tet holidays. It is, however, available on a daily basis. It is made from dried seasonal fruits mixed with salt, sugar, chili and ginger in perfect harmony.
Add: 11 Hang Duong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
HCM City
1.An Đong Plaza
The market is the paradise of textiles for its great variety of choices at reasonable prices. It gathers many merchants with the specialization in fabrics varied from colors to patterns. Hence later you can go for a proper craftsman to get quality tailored clothes at a reasonable price.
On the top floor, there are many crafts stalls, making this one of the best places in Ho Chi Minh to buy handicrafts from the skilled artisans. You can see various options of Vietnam’s best-represented heritages in lacquer and woodwork so make sure to leave an extra space in your suitcase to stock up for souvenirs to take home.
Add: 18 An Duong Vuong, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
2.Chau Anh Silk
With the specialization in silk scarves, you can easily find high – quality silk products from everyday tones to more vibrant colours, from plain to pattern.
Add: 175/9 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
3.Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee can be found in any corner of Ho Chi Minh city. However, if you don’t want to buy coffee in Trung Nguyen store at considerably high price, Ben Thanh Market is another suggestion. Although the quality isn’t guaranteed like Trung Nguyen, there are still some good coffee shops which sell beans and coffee powder. Try coffee shop in small lanes rather than ones at the big roads because the lower rental expenses reduce price.
Other than Vietnamese coffee, you can find all kind of products in the market from fashion items, jewelry to foods and beverages. Keep in mind that the price in Ben Thanh Market is relatively high compared to other shopping centers due to its favorable location and frequency of tourist visitors. Don’t hesitate to bargain for more than 10 – 20% discount of the goods.
Add : Cua Nam (situated between Phan Boi Chau – Phan Chu Trinh – Le Thanh Ton – Public school Quach Thi Trang) – Ben Thanh Ward – District 1
Sapa
1.Indigo Cat
It is a special boutique run by a local Hmong women which offers beautiful choices of batik and embroidered items for gifts and great variety of art pieces from the region. There is no hard sell here unlike several stalls on the street side.
Add: 046 Phan Xi Pang Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province
2.Wild Orchid
Similar to Indigo Cat, the shop specializes in handicrafts. You can find all styles of minority people’s costumes, specializing in H’mong and Dzao people here.
Add: 029, Cau May Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province
3.Sapa silver
The shop offers a good selection of silver jewelry from ear rings, necklaces, bracelets and every things of that kind with highly competitive prices.
Add: 019, Muong Hoa Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province
Hoian
1.Tailor
For most visitors who visit Hoi An, the main shopping draw is the plethora of cheap tailor suppliers downtown. There are some reputable tailor shops offering the professional service and finest quality tailor clothes. The products are made in a timely manner hence, you can expect for three days to a week.
Add: A Dong Silk – 62 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An
Mr Xe Tailor – 71 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An
Peace Tailor – 6 Le Loi Street, Hoi An
2.Couleurs d’Asie Gallery
If you are interested in photography, Rehahn’s gallery is a must visit. Most of his photographs revolve around traditional Vietnamese life through beautifully captured portraits and unforgettable stories.
Add: 13 Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, Hoi An
Réhahn, 2014
3.Friendly Leather Bags
The shop offers handmade bags, wallets with high quality of the leather and stitching. Additionally, you can have the chance to visit their factory with free entrance and witness how the products are made by the skillful locals
Add: 44 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hoi An
Hue
1.Gia Huy Silk
If you look for a tailor shop in Hue, Gia Huy is well worth a visit. All clothes are made of excellent quality and delivered in a timely manner. The services are delivered professionally.
Add: 50 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Hue City
2.Healing the wounded heart shop
You expect to find various choices of delightful recycled products such as bags from plastic and picture frames from beer cans which are made by the deaf to raise money for heart operation for the local children who cannot afford them. There is no denying that it is a great opportunity to support a worthy cause while getting yourself and your beloved ones beautiful gifts.
Add: 23 Vo Thi Sau Street, Hue City
3.Truc Chi Garden
Well-established shop selling bamboo-paper handicraft. Each sheet of paper made out of bamboo pulp can stand alone as an art of work, showing the exquisite craftsmanship. The paper has inspired the creation of many other related products that use bamboo paper as the input including lanterns, wall paintings and so on.
Add: 4 Trieu Quang Phuc Street, Hue City
Which ones are your favourite? Let us know in the comment section below!
