Vietnam is one of the best holiday destinations! There is so much beautiful scenery to explore, historic sites to visit, amazing food to try and incredibly friendly people to meet. Returning home from your Vietnam holiday, your friends will want to hear about your travels- and what better way to share your experiences than with a souvenir! When packing for your Vietnam holiday, be sure to leave plenty of room in your suitcase as there are lots of great items to buy and bring back home as souvenirs for you and your friends.
In this blog, KIX – the Best Saigon Scooter Tours- shares our picks for the best souvenirs from Vietnam!
SILK- Vietnamese silk is among the finest in the world. The tradition of silk in Vietnam dates back to the 6th century and although these days there are many cheap alternatives, high-quality Vietnamese silk is still being produced in a few villages. The best place to buy Vietnamese silk is in Van Phuc village outside of Hanoi or Ma Chau village near Hoi An but you can also find authentic silk items in textile shops in Hanoi and Saigon. Pick up a scarf or two to take home for you and your friends!
QUIRKY T-SHIRTS: Vietnamese have a great sense of humor and some clever printers started making funny, Vietnam-inspired t shirts for tourists. For example, shirts splashed with slogans such as ‘I heart Pho’ and ‘Good morning Vietnam’ or featuring sketches of the tangled electrical wires found throughout the country. There are, of course, more classic designs of beer labels on shirts and shirts printed with the five-pointed yellow star from the country’s flag.
LACQUERWARE- Coming in all shapes and sizes, lacquerware is a great souvenir from Vietnam to bring home. Cups, bowls, platters, bracelets and more are on offer decorated in a range of colors and patterns. Traditional Vietnamese lacquerware takes many months to make, with layer after layer being added and dried to ensure durability, then hand-painted – a process you can still see done in rural villages in Vietnam. Lacquerware is sold in markets throughout Vietnam as well as some high-end craft shops in big cities.
AO DAI- Vietnam’s national dress, the Ao Dai, is an iconic symbol of Vietnam! Bringing home an ao dai will serve as a fond memory of your Vietnam holiday. The costume consists of a fitted tunic-style shirt that extends past the knees and features slits up the side. The top is worn over a pair of silk trousers of the same pattern or a different one. The elegant combination can be bought as a ready-made set or you can get one tailored to the perfect fit! Pick up an ao dai at any market or clothing shop and take home a beautiful memory from your Vietnam holiday!
COFFEE- No trip to Vietnam would be complete without sampling the locally-grown coffee! With bold flavors and a strong caffeine kick, it is no wonder that locals and tourists love Vietnamese coffee. Take home a bag of beans or ground coffee to enjoy back home. You may also wish to pick up a phin, the small cup-size filters used in Vietnamese cafes to brew strong cups of coffee. It’s cheap, lightweight and easy to pack in your bag- making it the perfect souvenir and gift for friends and family back home.
Planning your Vietnam holiday? Be sure to include a KIX Tour on your stay in Saigon. Click here to discover more about our Saigon scooter city tours!
