The vacation is ending, the day of departure is approaching, and it’s time to think about what to bring with you from your vacation in Vietnam. Of course, this resort country, like any other, is oversaturated with all kinds of magnets and souvenirs. But we are not talking about this rubbish here - there are many bright things that you will not find analogues in another country during the day.

Vietnam is a country with a rich national culture, which continues to live not only in remote villages, but also in major cities. Because of this, some products that would cost a fortune in Russia can be bought for next to nothing in this South Asian country. Anyone who wants to be 100% sure of the authenticity of a souvenir can buy it in a normal store or shop, but on the market the same thing is much cheaper and will come to you first-hand - as they say, from the manufacturer.

Here are the top 9 best ideas of what to bring from Vietnam:

For women:

  1. Cosmetics.
  2. Brand clothes.
  3. Decorations.

For men:

  1. Coffee.
  2. Clothes, shoes.
  3. Reptile leather products.

For children:

  1. Sweets.
  2. National dolls.
  3. Flashlights.

Quick navigation on gifts that can be brought from Vietnam:

National souvenirs

Fan

As a souvenir from Vietnam for yourself or loved one You can bring a fan. You can find a variety of specimens in souvenir shops, small shops or markets.

The Vietnamese fan is a real work of art. Miniature fans can be used for their intended purpose, large ones are suitable for interior decoration.

Each fan is unique and unique. Many copies are hand-painted. The base of the fan is sandalwood. This natural smooth surface is ideal for painting. Connoisseurs of original things will pay attention to fans with elegant silk embroidery. The main motives of the artistic compositions applied to the fans are national natural landscapes, strange flowers and plants, and the work of ordinary peasants in the fields.

Please note: even a large fan can be folded compactly and brought home without damaging it.

Han doll

Vietnamese artisans create dolls from wood, ceramics, and make them using patchwork techniques. The most expensive specimens are made from ivory. The dolls are presented in costumes of various peoples of Vietnam.

A bright wooden doll can be an excellent gift for a child, and an avid collector’s collection will be decorated with a rare ivory doll in a national Vietnamese costume.

Maracas

No, these are not Mexican maracas. Vietnam has its own wooden maracas. They are usually painted by hand. As a design, ornate patterns and views of nature are applied to the surface of a musical instrument.

Vietnamese maracas produce a pleasant soft sound. This gift will be appreciated by music lovers, musicians, children and all lovers of overseas souvenirs.

Maracas can also be used as home decoration.

Mask

You can bring a mask as a souvenir from Vietnam. Souvenirs look bright and reflect a variety of emotions. Craftsmen make them from coconut and bamboo, then paint the “faces” by hand.

A mask from Vietnam is a spectacular interior gift.

Sticks

Fans of oriental cuisine will certainly like Vietnamese chopsticks. They are hand painted and each pair is unique. You can give the sticks to a gourmet friend or keep them for yourself. A set of chopsticks is the choice of practical tourists: the souvenir can be used, and not just left “idle.”

Statuette

The national religion of Vietnam is Buddhism, which is reflected in the souvenirs. On the shelves of shops and benches you can find figurines of a laughing Buddha or Hottei. Small and large figurines are made of wood and bronze.

According to the teachings of Feng Shui, a Buddha figurine brings good luck and success to the owners of the house in all matters, which means it is an excellent gift for any person.

Casket

When choosing souvenirs and gifts that you can bring from Vietnam, you cannot ignore jewelry boxes. Large and small, painted and plain, the boxes are made of wood and natural stone. The inner surface of the products is lined with natural silk. It is better to purchase boxes in specialized souvenir shops so as not to buy a fake.

Flashlight

The attention of tourists will definitely be attracted by the voluminous colorful Vietnamese lanterns, different in shape and size. They are especially impressive in the form of a fire-breathing dragon. In some products you can see moving images inside.



In the photo: Lanterns in shops in Vietnam © bambooland / flickr.com

They are available in any souvenir shop or department. The most popular specimens among tourists have 4 or 6 sides.

Lanterns in Vietnam are made like Chinese ones. The tradition of making these souvenirs came from there. The technology for creating lanterns involves soaking a bamboo base. This is done in order to give the product strength and prevent rotting.

The Mecca for craft production of Vietnamese lanterns is the village of Hoi An.

An original flashlight brought from Vietnam will decorate any interior and delight you with its attractive and elegant appearance.

Nonla Hat

The cone-shaped straw hat "Non la" is the national headdress of Vietnam. With the help of such a hat, peasants protected their heads and faces from the scorching rays of the sun and from rain, or used them to carry crops or as a container for water. A thin silk thread holds the hat on the head.

Vietnamese Nonla hats are made from unripe bamboo leaves (cataphylls). They are cut into strips and soaked. Palm leaves are also used as material for creating hats. They are cleaned with sand and dried in the sun. The products acquire a snow-white color, which is protected with a layer of sulfur. Next, the craftsmen level the surface, divide it into strips and stitch it together.

The Nonla hat is a typical national item and an example of a wonderful gift from Vietnam.

junk boat

Visiting Vietnam and not sailing around Halong Bay on a traditional Vietnamese junk for a couple of days is a real crime for any traveler. And everyone should bring an old junk boat as a souvenir or gift from Vietnam.

Clothes and shoes

World brands

Vietnam is a country where the world's largest clothing and footwear manufacturers have their production facilities: Converse, Nike, Adidas, etc. Original branded items from well-known brands can be bought here at the lowest prices. However, there is a high probability of purchasing counterfeits, so you should carefully consider the choice of store and products.

Traditional Vietnamese clothing

A chic gift from Vietnam would be items of national clothing, for example, woman suit Ao Dai, which includes a long shirt with an accentuated waistline, slits on the sides and wide silk harem pants.

As a gift for a man, you can choose a Vietnamese traditional casual suit: a brown shirt, white trousers and a cloth to wrap the head. A more solemn image is created thanks to long dress with slits on the sides in combination with a cotton or silk turban, made in black or brown.

Silk ties and scarves are of high quality and exclusive design.

These and other wardrobe items can be purchased in stores and markets.

Tailoring of clothes and shoes to order

A popular and inexpensive service in Vietnam is custom tailoring. Needlewomen in Hoi An will quickly and efficiently sew a dress or kimono with embroidery. To do this, you need to choose your favorite style, fabric and provide your parameters.

Flip-flops

Of course, you can’t leave the country without traditional flip-flops. This one is light and comfortable shoes indispensable for the warm season. Just think about it: real Vietnamese flip-flops. Any person will be happy with such a gift.

Silk and fabrics

Vietnam - perfect place for the purchase of natural silk and products made from it. You can't take your eyes off these shiny, flowing fabrics. The silk here is of high quality and affordable. Shops and markets in Vietnam are replete with silk robes and pajamas, rich bedding sets, scarves and stoles, dresses, and blouses.

It is also better to purchase valuable fabrics in branded stores and factories to avoid the disappointment of buying a fake. There you can also learn about the fabric manufacturing process and order tailoring.

Reptile leather products

Mainland Vietnam is a humid, hot jungle, a great place for all kinds of reptiles. Vietnamese leather craftsmen make a variety of items and accessories from reptile skin: bags, wallets and purses, business card holders, belts and bracelets. A high-quality leather item is a good gift that will always be relevant.

But the most interesting thing in Vietnam is the crocodiles. The Vietnamese have long caught them for their very valuable skin - clothes, bags, and local ritual masks were made from it. You may be able to find a mask at the market, but you won’t be able to bring it with you. You'll have to settle on a more modest product made of crocodile skin. The prices are ridiculous; for just fifty dollars you can buy a handbag or a luxurious cigarette case.

Fruits and how to bring them correctly

Vietnam is the birthplace of exotic fruits: mangosteens, lychees, rambutans and the more famous mangoes, pineapples, bananas. Tourists bring them home fresh, candied, in the form of candied fruits and chips.

How to bring fruit from Vietnam correctly? Just follow the rules: they should not be washed, separated from each other with wrapping paper and natural fabric. It is better to eat ripe bananas and mangoes on the spot as they are difficult to bring in intact.

Crocodile meat

As surprising as it may be for us Europeans, in Vietnam people also eat crocodile meat. Not to say that crocodile meat is sold here at every turn, but trying an exotic dish in a good restaurant in Danang or Nha Trang is not a problem. If you want to find something that you can easily bring from Vietnam, and so that this something makes a great impression on your friends, then buy dried or frozen crocodile meat. You are guaranteed a corresponding reputation among your friends.

Coffee

Vietnam is the world leader in coffee exports. The main deliveries are made to EU countries. In Russia, Vietnamese coffee is very rare. This country is a real paradise for coffee lovers. The drink is not boiled here, but brewed using metal filters.

The coffee here is inexpensive and of high quality. For $4 you can buy 1 kg of good coffee. The best place to buy coffee in Vietnam – coffee plantations near Dalat. Here you can try different types of drink and go on an excursion.

In Vietnam, you can try and bring back kopi luwak - the most expensive type of coffee in the world. The technology for the “production” of such coffee is very unique: a small animal, the musang, eats the fruits of the coffee tree (coffee cherries), digests the shell in the stomach and then excretes coffee beans as its waste products. This is kopi luwak. This gift is suitable only for true aesthetes; for everyone else, it is better to choose classic coffee, presented here with more than 30 varieties. For example, the Nguyen Trung and Arabica varieties have a particularly mild taste. The Robusta variety contains a high percentage of caffeine and has a sharp taste, which is not for everyone.

Tea

Vietnamese people drink green tea. One of the most popular varieties is Thai Nguyen, which comes from the province of the same name in Vietnam. The drink is served hot or cold. In branded tea stores you can taste the drink before purchasing.

The taste and aroma of tea is often enriched with additives in the form of jasmine and lotus petals. The cost of tea without additives starts from $4; aromatic – from 6.5.

Green tea lovers will appreciate the local drink, and for a sweet snack you can buy Vietnamese toffees with coconut milk.

Sweets

Natural Vietnamese sweets without chemical additives are in perfect harmony with tart tea:

  • candied local fruit slices;
  • nougat sweets;
  • tender coconut milk;
  • peanut;
  • lotus seeds.

Candy with seeds

Any store or shop will offer you candies that are very popular in Vietnam and contain a lotus seed inside. In appearance and consistency they resemble our glazed peanuts, but the taste! To put it mildly, he is not at all the same, few people can get used to him. If your loved ones have a healthy sense of humor, then bring these sweets and treat them. Naturally, there is no need to warn about their unusual composition.

Exotic tinctures

As mentioned above, there are countless kinds of reptiles in the jungles of Vietnam. There is little benefit from them, and there is practically nothing to eat there, except that the skin can be used to make something. But the cunning Vietnamese finally found a worthy use for snakes as the main ingredient for medicinal tinctures. Don’t be lazy, go to the market, look for a traditional medicine shop. You may not dare to bring such a drink with you, but the very contemplation of all these jars and bottles on the shelves, in which it is unclear what is marinated, will impress you.

Cosmetics

Vietnamese cosmetics for hair, face and body care are famous for their natural composition. They include: aloe vera, turmeric, coconut milk and oil, snail mucus, etc.



In the photo: Cosmetics in Vietnam © Haru2212 / flickr.com

Peels are effective and therefore very popular in Vietnam. They are based on fruit acids, and hair masks are used with natural extract of orchid flowers.

The most popular samples of skincare cosmetics that can be brought from Vietnam:

  1. Korean gel Holica Holica: the product soothes the skin after adverse effects, consists of 99% aloe. This gel can be bought in Nha Trang.
  2. Acne 25+ by Mentholatum: cleansing gel for washing with granules for gentle peeling. The product can be purchased for $4.
  3. Skin care mask with turmeric or aloe vera and cucumber: has a liquid consistency, forms a film after application, can be removed after 15 minutes.
  4. Pearl powder: Suitable for improving skin condition and whitening teeth.
  5. Film mask based on activated carbon: deeply cleanses the skin, eliminates imperfections.
  6. Scrubs and peelings with charcoal: These can be found in local cosmetic stores in any city in Vietnam.
  7. Product with collagen and algae seeds: after its use, the skin becomes matte, more elastic and healthy.
  8. Snail slime cream Helix Aspersa Ohio: for exotic lovers.
  9. Creams AHA Collagen Snail, Snail Gold: just a godsend for fans of Asian cosmetics.
  10. Day and night cream Ocsen Ban Ngay: a product with snail secretion from the famous brand Thoracao.

In general, cosmetics from Thoracao are in great demand among Vietnamese and European women. Hair care products from this brand are also popular, for example, shampoo with saponin soap bean pods. Thanks to its natural composition, it is also suitable for children.

As a gift for yourself and your loved ones, you should buy Vietnamese coconut oil. This is an incredibly beneficial product for hair and skin.

Jewelry and gemstones

Silver has the lowest price in Vietnam, and jewelry made from this metal amazes with its beauty and grace. Pearls and pearl jewelry are always popular. Beautiful and high-quality jewelry with black, pink and white pearls can be bought for $10-20.

You can find cheap silver and ivory jewelry in the markets. For an expensive and exclusive gift, it is better to go to Nha Trang branded stores. Prices there are correspondingly higher.

Jewelry stores have a huge selection of precious stones. They are sold with a certificate that guarantees the authenticity of the treasures. When buying jewelry you need to beware of fakes.

Porcelain

Connoisseurs of porcelain will find remarkable examples in Vietnam: hand-painted bowls and vases of various shapes and sizes, plates, dishes and entire sets. Vietnamese porcelain products are unique. National motifs are reflected in the drawings.

Dishes, as a household item or a product for interior decoration, are always a valuable and effective gift.

The constant advice to tourists is to be careful and not buy counterfeit copies.

What to bring specifically from each city in Vietnam

Now we will tell you what souvenirs and gifts you should look for in a specific city in Vietnam.

What can you bring specifically from Nha Trang?

There is a museum in Nha Trang where you can admire the most beautiful paintings, buy them and bring back the ones you like. Their stories are conveyed using hand embroidery on silk cloth. It looks very impressive. Here you can see the process of creating works of art and purchase them. The cost of products depends on the degree of complexity of the work and their size. Nha Trang is also famous for its high-quality and inexpensive reptile leather products, jewelry, silk, and cosmetics.

From Mui Ne You can bring pearls and jewelry home.

If you are in Phan Thiet, then bring from this city: leather goods, branded clothing and traditional Vietnamese goods.

To the brave souls who went to Hanoi You can bring: sweets, dolls, lanterns, interior items. It’s all very easy to find on local streets at low prices. Also pay attention to branded clothing, shoes, coffee and tea, jewelry and interior items.

From Ho Chi Minh City Bring home leather goods, jewelry, sweets, and fruits.

What cannot be taken out of Vietnam

We have compiled full list souvenirs and gifts that you cannot take with you from Vietnam. It includes the following items:

Gold. Gold jewelry is sold in jewelry stores and in specialized departments at the bazaar. Products made from this precious metal are cheap in Vietnam, but you will have to stop when the total weight of the jewelry is 300 g. If a tourist intends to purchase more, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the National Bank of Vietnam.

Souvenirs made from local inhabitants. This list includes: products made from animals and reptiles, stuffed sea turtles, products made from bones, teeth, wool of rare animals, feathers rare species birds, rare Vietnamese plants, natural corals.

Antiques. Without special certificates, you cannot export art and antiques, precious stones and jewelry with them from the country.

You can bring shells, but in very small quantities.

  • watermelons (they can crack and stain passengers and the aircraft cabin);
  • coconuts (the shell of the fruit is not transparent, therefore, there may be prohibited things inside);
  • durian (if the skin is damaged, an unpleasant odor occurs).

You cannot take more than 3 bottles of alcohol in glass containers with you from Vietnam (per person).

In Vietnam you can find exquisite national souvenirs for every taste and budget, thereby taking with you a piece of this diverse country.

Decide for yourself what is always worth bringing with you from Vietnam: banal souvenirs, interest in which will evaporate in a week, or something non-standard. There are no Vietnamese comrades to taste or taste.

From any trip you want to bring something back that would remind you of the bright days of your trip. In this regard, Vietnam is a real paradise for lovers of shopping and exotic souvenirs. Tourists will be pleased not only with the abundance of souvenirs, but also with very affordable prices.

Like any other tourist country, Vietnam has a list of items that are officially prohibited from being exported from the country.

Of course, the temptation is very great to smuggle some souvenirs secretly. But you should know that for non-compliance with customs rules, tourists bear administrative penalties(and in some cases – criminal) liability.

The list of prohibited things includes:

  • Antiques. Even if you are exporting a copy of an antique figurine, you must have with you a sales receipt or a receipt from the store where this item was purchased. True, if a pseudo-antique item is made with high precision and quite skillfully, customs officers may doubt its authenticity and seize it.
  • Gold jewelry. When purchasing any gold product, you must be given a purchase certificate in addition to the receipt. But as practice shows, customs officers can ask to present such certificates only if the total weight of gold items exceeds 300 grams. In this case, you will need to obtain a permit to transport gold jewelry from the National Bank of Vietnam. Such restrictions do not apply to silver products.
  • Weapon. If you are interested in a skillfully made dagger in a souvenir shop, you can only admire its elegance and take a photo as a souvenir, because such souvenirs are strictly prohibited from being exported from the country. Even if it is a toy weapon made in a handicraft way, it is also subject to seizure during customs inspection.
  • Exotic animals, especially endangered and rare ones. You cannot take dogs of the local Fukuoka breed out of the country.
  • Corals (raw). They are under state protection, so even the smallest coral shoot is prohibited from export. If it is discovered during inspection, tourists may be in serious trouble (the fine can reach $500).
  • Exotic fruits with strong smell. This is especially true for durian - they will not be allowed to take it out of the country under any pretext (or rather, the problem is not so much in taking it out of the country, but in the fact that durian is not allowed to be carried on board the plane). Watermelons are also not allowed.
  • National currency(VND or Vietnamese Dong). It is better to exchange the local currency for rubles or dollars before leaving the country.
  • Drugs, narcotic drugs. If you took such medications on a trip, you should have an accompanying document from a doctor confirming the need to take such a drug for medical reasons.

Gift ideas from Vietnam

Visiting so exotic countries, I would like to bring unusual souvenirs, and not the standard set of magnets from the nearest souvenir kiosk. What can you bring from Vietnam?

Coffee. Almost every tourist brings fragrant packages of tea or coffee from their trip, since the country is famous for these drinks. The Vietnamese are well versed in coffee and are true connoisseurs of it. Hence the variety of varieties and tastes of this divine drink (about 30). Popular varieties are robusta ($25 per kilogram), arabica ($19/kg), green ($30/kg), Moka Bourbon ($26/kg). The rarest and most expensive varieties of coffee in Vietnam are chon and luwak with an aftertaste of chocolate (beans fermented in the stomachs of small animals). The price for a 150-gram package of coffee ranges from $25 to $30.

Tea. The variety of tea varieties will delight any gourmet. Green tea with jasmine or ginger, with ginseng or lotus, black tea with petals and pieces of fruit... The most popular varieties of tea are “Blao” and “Than Nguyen” (price - approximately 6-6.5 dollars per pack). Pure tea, i.e. without additives and additional flavors it costs $4 per package. The most expensive tea will cost $98-100 (made from small leaves growing on the ground), but it has a very specific taste, which not everyone is ready for.

Among tea connoisseurs, medicinal teas are valued, which should be purchased only in specialized stores (to avoid low-quality counterfeits). Medicinal tea reduces blood pressure, normalizes metabolic processes in the body and promotes its overall strengthening.

Brewing tea in Vietnam is a ritual. Therefore, connoisseurs of this drink can bring as a gift special sets for brewing tea - infusers and beautiful bowls, stylized tea sets or painted trays for the tea ceremony.

Medicines. The East is the secrets of alternative medicine. Desired gifts from Vietnam will be ointments and balms based on tiger and snake fat. The most purchased medicines are “Zvezdochka” balm, “White Tiger” balm, snake venom tinctures, and potency enhancing products.
Cosmetics. A separate category You can highlight medicinal cosmetics. Especially valued are medicinal cosmetics based on natural ingredients - pearls and snail mucus.

It’s better to go to Dalat province for it.

Natural freshwater pearls have irregular shape, but products made from it are very much appreciated by tourists.

Those who want to pamper themselves and their relatives with exotic fruits should take care of the correct transportation of such cargo. It is better to purchase them a few hours (maximum one day) before departure. Fruits can be packed in special plastic baskets (sold at fruit markets) and wrapped cling film or special tape. Such baskets are transported to hand luggage, not forgetting about its maximum permissible weight. Prices for fruit abundance (indicated per kilogram): dragon fruit - 1.2-1.5 dollars, rambutan - 1.3 dollars, mangosteen - 0.9 dollars, lychee - 1.1 dollars. The photo shows only a small part of what you can buy in Vietnam:

The only thing you may have problems with is finding the right size. Even size 48 is difficult to find, not to mention plus size.

Products made from natural silk. This is not just clothing, it is a work of art. But when asking the price for silk products in tourist markets, you can run into a fake. Therefore, for the best natural silk, you should go to a factory in Dalat. Here you can buy silk by the meter (the cost of 1 meter of natural silk is $80) and products made from it: robes (will cost about $80-$130), bed linen, paintings and panels on silk canvas (from $15 to $160) , scarves and shawls ($15-45). If the issue of the percentage of silk in a product is not important, then you can buy similar things on the market, spending about 20-25 dollars per product. By the way, many people advise purchasing clothes a size larger, since the fabric may shrink when washed.

Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet: shopping features

Phu Quoc Island is famous for its pepper plantations. Here you can also buy a variety of spice sets, which will give the dishes a specific taste and will remind you of the days spent in Vietnam.

Nha Trang is a popular tourist area, so the issue of a gift for friends and colleagues can be resolved quite quickly by bringing them traditional Vietnamese souvenirs.

In various souvenir shops and tourist markets you can buy flip-flop slippers (1 dollar per pair), traditional Vietnamese non hats made from palm leaves ($1), belts ($5-7), bags and purses made of crocodile leather. or ostrich leather ($15-20). The best products leather in Nha Trang can be purchased at Anh Thu, Kchatoco or Tonphat stores.

Fashionistas will be delighted with hairpins and jewelry made of shells, corals, coconut shells. An excellent gift option would be carved mahogany boxes, bamboo products (photo frames, stands), incense burners, and stylized porcelain dishes. Prices for such products range from 1 to 15 dollars.

Children can purchase traditional masks or national dolls in colorfully embroidered costumes. They will also be interested in paintings made from multi-colored sand.

Phan Thiet is famous for its famous fish sauce, which has a very specific smell, but this sauce is prized among gourmets. You can buy it in the markets. You can also find in Phan Thiet products made from real crocodile leather - belts, wallets, handbags, shoes. The prices, of course, are rather high, but in any case they will be lower than for similar products in Russia.

Tourists are happy to go to Vietnam not only to get to know this amazing country, but also to indulge in profitable shopping. This country is known to shopaholics for its low prices and high quality of popular goods. This rare combination attracts numerous flows of shopping tourists to Vietnam. They experience certain difficulties in choosing: there are a lot of goods and they are so good that you are simply at a loss: to buy this time or leave for the next. And you can buy so much that you won’t be able to take it away later.

In Vietnam people usually buy jewelry, including precious stones, as well as silk, shoes and clothing, ceramics, coffee and tea, dwarf bonsai trees, crafts made of stone, wood, balms based on snake venom and medicinal herbs, including “Zvezdochka”, which was brought from here back in Soviet times.

In order not to spend extra money on purchases, you need to know how to bargain. Sellers usually ask for an inflated price, hoping that during the bargaining process it can be reduced somewhat. This method of trading allows you to get mutual pleasure: the seller is happy that he got what he got, and the buyer is happy that he lowered the price.

Souvenirs

It is necessary to bring gifts for friends and acquaintances. It’s better to think about this at the beginning, when not all the money has been spent and there is time to choose inexpensive and original items. There are many such things everywhere you go. They differ only in price: in places where tourists gather they are more expensive, but as they move away they become cheaper.

Very good gift– hand-embroidered paintings and tapestries. Old hand-made technologies are used here, and we must hurry to acquire such things before talented human hands have not yet replaced impersonal sewing machines.

Handmade items made from bamboo, mahogany, ivory, silver or ceramics are beautiful. They also buy vodka with cobra in it, and other exotic things. Tourists wear opium pipes, characteristic Vietnamese non hats, items made from natural silk, traditional T-shirts and caps with a local interpretation.


Digital technology

Various electronic products are sold inexpensively here, as in many countries located closer to China. The problem is that it is almost impossible to find a Russian keyboard. Also with a license for the Kaspersky anti-virus product - it is five times cheaper here than in Russia, but there is no Russified version.

Specialized stores have a large selection of laptops and smartphones of all types. DVDs with movies, games and music are sold for $1 per disc.

Many people buy the iPhone 5. If you buy it in Ho Chi Minh City, you will have to pay about 29 thousand in rubles for the iPhone 5 32GB. In dollars it is $950, and in dong – 16-19 thousand. In Nha Trang, the same purchase will cost 50-100 dollars more.

Clothes and shoes - cheap and high quality

In Vietnam there are production facilities of such well-known companies as Adidas and Nike, as well as other companies that are no less famous. This suggests that the country is slowly but surely taking a leading role in the list of countries - the world's sewing workshops. Vietnam has already risen to second place after China on this list. Here they sew clothes, make shoes and bags, and produce other goods, and the materials are natural and the work is first-class. Therefore, shopping tourists from Western Europe come here for the best combination of price and quality.

Vietnamese goods are exported to Europe, Japan, Russia and America. These are, first of all, clothes made of natural silk and linen, leather goods (often under popular brands).


Pearls of Vietnam

In Vietnam, pearls are both mined and grown. The best is on the island of Phu Quoc, on a farm there, but there are many farms that deal with pearls. Interested parties travel to the coast, closer to the producers. It’s bad that only those who understand pearls can afford such purchases. In Vietnam, there is no guarantee for sold pearls; they don’t give it in stores, much less in the market. Therefore, everyone either buys at random or turns to a local expert; in Ho Chi Minh City there is such a service. At the same time, Vietnamese pearls are approximately 20-30% cheaper than in other countries.

Precious stones and metals

In Vietnam, it is worth buying precious items, especially inexpensive ones made of silver and gold. They are decorated with sapphires, pearls, or ivory. These are, for example, various beads, earrings and pendants, silver rings with ivory.

Furniture

The furniture itself is of good quality, with hand-made elements, forging and inlay, and wood carvings. It costs much less here than in other countries, but the problem is the delivery of such bulky and heavy items.

However, if you travel by sea, this is quite doable. Many Russian tourists who bought furniture in Vietnam send the purchase on some cargo ship, and then return home lightly and wait for its arrival.

You can also make useful and interesting purchases for your home in Vietnam. These are, first of all, reed mats, household items made from fabric or bamboo. For example, different types of kitchen utensils.


HAI DUONG, VIETNAM, SEPTEMBER, 8: people at Market selling bed mats on September, 8, 2014 in Hai Duong, Vietnam

Ceramic objects

In the Hanoi suburb of Bat Trang, there are many enterprises that produce porcelain and ceramic products. These include large factories and small workshops. Here they produce tableware and decorative items, both useful and amazing.

If you are driving from Hanoi to Halong, it is worth stopping along the way for a small market. He specializes in ceramics. There is a very large selection of similar products here, and the price is much lower than in other places.

What not to buy

Plant products purchased here may be confiscated by Russian customs if the cargo is not accompanied permits. Alas, if products are bought on the market, no one, including the buyer himself, thinks about such documents. Risky categories include indoor flowers, vegetables, fruits, seeds, sweet potatoes and ginger, palm and lotus leaves, and greens.


Places for profitable shopping

There are many such places in the country. True, if you want to buy goods cheaper, you should not go to shopping areas intended for tourism business, and to those stores where the local population prefers to shop. There prices are significantly lower, and the quality is excellent. You can contact your guide with such a request, he will not refuse you. There are, however, cases when the guide has an agreement with a certain store owner he knows and takes clients to him. Here, depending on your luck, you can make a successful purchase from such a seller. Here are some favorite shopping areas among tourists:

  • The old town in Hanoi is good for buying all the souvenirs at one time and forgetting about this problem for the rest of the trip. There's a huge selection and good prices. At the same time, you can look into modern shopping centers, of which there are also plenty. So a trip through this area will be extremely productive.
  • The Diamond shopping mall will provide an opportunity to have a pleasant rest between purchases. There is a large selection of fashion products for wealthy clients.
  • Tax Trade Centre, on the contrary, offers inexpensive goods, imported and local. The quality of the products is excellent, so there are a lot of tourists here who want to buy good things inexpensively.
  • Mong Khai and Lang Son, towns on the Chinese border, also attract seasoned shopaholics. Here, at the border crossings, there are markets that are interesting and profitable to walk through. The goods are mostly local, inexpensive and of high quality.
  • The small town of Hoi An, with narrow streets and small shops, is very attractive to tourists. It is famous for its sewing machines designed for express sewing. They are inexpensive, work like a clock, so people come for them from everywhere. Here, on the spot, you can order custom tailoring. 4-6 hours after taking measurements, you will receive an almost finished product that needs minor modifications.
  • Ben Thanh market, in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. The shopping areas here are vast and expensive, but the goods are extremely cheap. In essence, this is a huge bazaar, a great place for shopping. Tourists do not deprive it of their attention.

Tax free in Vietnamese

If you want to receive a tax free refund, your purchase must be a check for at least VND 2 million and be brand new. Refunds are made when flying home from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, but 15% of the amount to be refunded will be withdrawn as a service fee.

You must also remember that a tax free check is valid for 30 days, after which the right to a refund is lost. And not all products purchased in Vietnam are eligible for return. In particular, there is a list of names of goods that are prohibited for export or withdrawn from circulation. Here the matter already smells not only of the loss of VAT refund, but also of direct losses. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with this list in advance.

It will be more pleasant to communicate with market traders and shop assistants if you learn at least a few words in Vietnamese. This:

  • "muah" means "purchase";
  • “deputy for” – “discount”.

If you know at least these 2 words, you can let the seller know that you think his price is unreasonably high. True, sellers, as a rule, speak English, and some have not forgotten Russian. Interest in the language was born during the war with America, when the Russians fought on the side of the Vietnamese, and therefore the attitude towards Russian tourists is still colored with sympathy.

Bonus for the curious. What to try from local cuisine

The dishes are local cuisine, which is unique, although it borrows a lot from Indian, Thai and Chinese.

Vietnamese dishes are not too greasy or spicy. They will not create any particular heaviness for the stomach. Rice is one of the main products for many dishes. The cuisine also includes a lot of seafood, and fruits are actively involved. There are also exotic dishes, for example, from cobra, other snakes and lizards. This dish is considered a delicacy and is served in famous restaurants in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet and other cities.

Delicacies are offered in expensive establishments, but the country has a wide class of trade and catering establishments that are designed for poor clients.


There are many such establishments among cafes and restaurants, and among hotels. Here you can get dinner for a couple of dollars per client. Small restaurants that are not particularly popular serve deliciously prepared food. Lunch for four can cost 10-15 dollars. Coffee in Vietnam is very popular, it is drunk always and everywhere, hot and cold, in its pure form or adding milk and spices.

The famous Dalat wine is produced in Vietnam using Italian technology and is of excellent quality. Connoisseurs rate it higher than many French brands, despite the fact that the Vietnamese version is much cheaper.

In addition, supermarkets and street shops offer for sale a large assortment of alcoholic beverages, liqueurs, beer, and soft drinks, locally produced and imported from other countries.

Pearls and silver, as well as hats and slippers.

What fruits to bring from Vietnam

Fruits and vegetables in Vietnam are quite cheap, and most of them are exotic for the Russian stomach. Therefore, tourists love to bring home and treat their family and friends with overseas delicacies. It is better to buy fruits at the market, but if you don’t want to bargain, they will do. You can also buy a fruit basket there for 40-50 thousand dong (115 rubles).

Vietnamese green tea and coffee

Today, Vietnam shares first place in the world with Brazil in terms of coffee imports. And all because here, perhaps, is the best in the world.

Be sure to buy several packs of ground or beans with you. We usually buy from - it's cheaper there. We are bargaining for 40,000 dong (115 rubles) - (with the image of an animal) and 50,000 dong (144 rubles) - Me Trang coffee. Prices are slightly higher in supermarkets and Me Trang branded departments.

There are many varieties of green tea in Vietnam, here it is inexpensive and of high quality: jasmine, lotus, artichoke, ginger, pu-erh, oolong, etc. The Vietnamese generally do not drink the black tea we are accustomed to, believing that it is not healthy. A pack of tea will cost you from 6 to 30 thousand dong (17-86 rubles). In Nha Trang they can offer you whole sets of different varieties, which is very convenient.

Jewelry: pearls, silver

You can buy pearls in Vietnam 30-40% cheaper than, say, in Europe or Russia. The same goes for silver jewelry. There are many jewelry stores in Nha Trang that offer discounts of up to 70%, but compare prices and quality of goods everywhere.

If it's a pearl, don't be afraid to check its authenticity. You can rub the beads on glass or each other. A fake will immediately peel off its enamel. You can subject the earrings to a more severe test - bring a lighter to them. The plastic will char and melt.

Because of low price for pearls, we bought beads and earrings for our relatives. We bought jewelry made of black and pink pearls, their cost was the same, whereas in Russia black pearls are valued much higher than white, pink and blue. A set in the form of a pearl necklace (short beads) and silver earrings with a pearl matching the color of the beads cost us about 800-900 thousand VND (2300-2600 rubles), and earrings for a girl - about 300 rubles. What you should not buy in Vietnam is gold. Here this metal is very expensive and is almost not sold.

What medicines to bring from Vietnam

The average life expectancy of a Vietnamese is about 80 years. And all because diseases are often treated with natural traditional medicines. Ointments and tinctures based on snake venoms, balms and all sorts of extracts are popular here. Consider the famous balm “Zvezdochka” with a wide range of applications. In pharmacies they sell it in small jars and whole packages.

The warming ointment Cobrotox with snake venom has a fairly effective effect. Its analogues - balm “White Tiger” and “Red Tiger” are inexpensive - about 10-15 thousand dong per tube (28-43 rubles).

We drank a course of artichoke extract, which, according to the Vietnamese, completely cleanses the body of toxins in a month. Also in supermarkets you can find energy drinks based on ginseng, as well as drinks for insomnia made from mulberry.

Clothes made of silk, cotton, ostrich and crocodile leather

Silk items, including clothing, are popular in Vietnam. We took silk robes as a gift. Three long silk robes cost 430,000 dong (1,240 rubles). You can also bring a silk painting, fan, tie, scarf, etc. as a souvenir. You can also buy cheap leather accessories made from crocodile or ostrich skin in Vietnam. A bag or wallet will cost you $10-15.

What national souvenirs to bring from Vietnam

Perhaps the most popular Vietnamese souvenir- National palm hat Non. It is light and practical - it protects from the scorching sun and pouring rain. It will also look spectacular on the wall as decoration.

A common souvenir among Russians is a strong tincture (whisky or vodka) based on cobra and scorpions. It is believed that snake tincture helps with diseases of the liver, stomach and biliary tract. Caution: you need to take it in very small doses, in no case with glasses as a snack! I personally doubt the medicinal properties of the drink. It’s better to bring regular Vietnamese rum (from pineapple or) for 30 thousand dong (86 rubles).

What else can you bring as a souvenir: flip-flops, bronze Buddha figurines, handmade masks, coconut scoops, paper cards with carved silhouettes, chopsticks, forged iron figurines, boxes and much more.

They say that there is an official list of prohibited goods from Vietnam. These include the aforementioned jackfruit and durian, as well as coconut and watermelon. It is also prohibited to export any sauces (including the famous fragrant fish sauce). Alcohol above 41 degrees alcohol may be seized from you at the border.

In addition, you can be fined for carrying shells, coral and even sand in your suitcase. But usually border guards turn a blind eye to these prohibitions.

What to bring cosmetics from Vietnam

A lot has been said about and, but for some reason there is still little information on the Internet about Vietnamese. However, almost every woman, going to Vietnam, is looking for what she can bring from there.

Vietnamese collagen mask from brown algae seeds

It turns out that Vietnam actually has a lot of high-quality cosmetics and traditional medicine. But understanding them is not so easy. Read on for the most popular Vietnamese cosmetics.

In this article we will talk about what can be brought from Nha Trang and what tourists from Vietnam usually bring. In the article you will find useful information about the places in Nha Trang where an unforgettable shopping experience awaits you - shops, markets, shopping centers and supermarkets Nha Trang.

What to bring from Vietnam
Standard souvenirs of Vietnam

Hat "Non"- this is exactly the hat that everyone remembers when it comes to Vietnam. Typically, hats are made from dried palm leaves. It can be bought absolutely everywhere from ordinary street vendors to large shopping centers. (Price from 35,000 VND - from 100 rub.)
Magnets and keychains- wooden keychains in the shape of a map of Nha Trang, with a girl in national costume. There are also keychains and magnets in the shape of the national currency - dong. (Price from 15,000 VND - from 45 rub.)
T-shirt with the inscriptions “I pho you”, “Vietnam”, “Coffee Vietnam” etc. (from 100,000 VND - 300 rub.)
Postcards- a regular postcard with images of famous landscapes or attractions (from 10,000 VND - 30 rubles), a postcard with a pattern made of fabric (from 15,000 VND - 45 rubles), voluminous postcards (from 40,000 VND - 120 rubles)

Medicines (creams, ointments, tinctures)

Vietnam is famous for its traditional balms and tinctures, which are made with herbs, with natural ingredients and with the participation of various living creatures (snakes, scorpions, various roots, etc.). Such Vietnamese medicines are valued for their high quality not only in the country, but also abroad.
Here is a small list of medicines, ointments and much more that you should pay attention to when Shopping in Nha Trang:
Cobra ointment- a warming agent, helps with bruises, back pain and joint pain. (approx. 20-25,000 VND - 60-75 rub.);
Ointment “Tiger” / “White Tiger”- helps with colds. (approx. 20-30,000 VND - 60-90 rub.);
Ointment "Star"- helps with headaches and colds. It also saves you from annoying insects. The product is actively sold in Russia. (approx. 8-10,000 VND - 24-30 rub.);
Preparations based on Ling zhi mushrooms- It is believed that mushrooms can rejuvenate the body. Improve memory, attention, hearing, vision, smell. (approx. 110,000 VND - 330 rubles);

Tinctures

Tinctures with scorpions, snakes, turtles and other living creatures - are of a general strengthening nature, strengthens potency. Consume no more than 30-50 grams per day. In general, it can be used as a souvenir, as it looks quite specific.
Tincture "Cobra and Scorpio"(0.5 liters) - a strong aphrodisiac that strengthens potency. The price of one bottle is about 1000 rubles, and you can export no more than two bottles. (from 600,000 VND - 1200 rub.);
Meringa capsules- increase immunity. (approx. 323,000 VND - 975 rub.);
Mulberry tincture (500 mg)- a remedy for insomnia (approx. 65,000 VND - 200 rubles).
You can buy it almost everywhere: in pharmacies, shopping centers, small shops.

Tea and coffee

Vietnam today is one of the largest exporters Coffee in the world, so there is no doubt about the quality. It is quite logical to bring delicious coffee from Vietnam as a gift to friends or yourself.
In Vietnam you will find 3 main types of coffee: Arabica, Robusta and Luwak(obtained by a specific processing method).
The Vietnamese only recognize green tea in all its variations (with lotus, jasmine, lemon balm, etc.). As we found out, black tea is considered dirty tea by the Vietnamese, so they don’t drink it, but black tea is sold.
Prices for tea and coffee largely depends on what variety you buy and where you buy, the approximate price for 100 grams of tea is from 25,000 VND (75 rubles), coffee from 50,000 VND (150 rubles).

Where to buy coffee and tea in Nha Trang:

actually everywhere, as it is a very popular product in Vietnam. They are most often purchased in Nha Trang markets, since prices there are lower than in stores and supermarkets.

Pearl

Vietnamese pearls g is one of the popular souvenirs brought from Vietnam. In Vietnam, the price of pearls is 30-40% lower than in Russia and Europe. The most popular pearls are freshwater pearls; they are easily recognized by their imperfect shapes and minimal price.
Places where you can buy pearls in Nha Trang: the most flattering reviews from tourists about the gemological center “Treasures of Angkor” (Opposite the Galina Hotel, at 24B Hung Vuong.) with Russian-speaking specialists, about “Princess Jewelry” (Addresses: 46 Nguyen Thien Thuat; 30B Nguyen Thien Thuat; 86 Tran Phu; 03 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai.)

ATTENTION!

Be careful when purchasing pearls in Nha Trang- They like to sell fakes to tourists. There are various ways to test pearls, for example, rubbing two pearls and if it is fake, the enamel will wear off, leaving marks. If you decide to buy pearl beads separately, then throw them on the floor from a height of a meter and a half, natural pearls will bounce well, but artificial pearls will not be able to do this and will roll. For a full guarantee, large stores provide appropriate quality certificates.

Leather Products

Another worthwhile gift that you can bring from Vietnam for friends and family is Leather Products(belts, wallets, shoes, bags, paw keychains and much more). The skins of crocodile, python and ostrich are mainly used.
Many stores can give a long guarantee (1-2 years). So, if you don’t want the item you bought, you can safely send it back by mail and demand a replacement for the defective item.
Price examples: leather wallets from 800-1000.000 VND (2400-3000 rub.), leather belts from 1000-1300.000 VND (3000-3900 rub.)…
Where to buy leather items in Nha Trang: We have selected 3 of the most popular stores with positive reviews: Kchatoco (address: 70 Tran Phu, Nha Trang, Vietnam), Tonphat (address: 607A Le Hong Phong Street, Phuoc Long Ward, Nha Trang City), Anh Thu (address: 96 Tran Phu, Nha Trang).

Paintings (silk, sand, popular print and varnish)

Silk paintings can be called amazing works of art. Each painting can take months to complete. Sometimes one painting takes several years.
Cost of silk paintings: from $40 - $20,000 (price mainly depends on the size of the canvas, pattern, and the number of threads used).

Where to buy silk paintings in Nha Trang:

Where to buy paintings from silk in Nha Trang: very flattering reviews from tourists about the Silk Factory - XQ HandEmbroidery (address: 64 Tran Phu, Nha Trang Vietnam, Nha Trang, Vietnam).
Paintings made of colorful sand- another talent of the Vietnamese people. The paintings are created from different shades of sand or from colored sand. The technology of creation is that sand of one color or another is poured into the gap between two small squares of glass.
Cost of a sand painting: from 150-250.000 VND (450–750 rub.)

Where to buy sand paintings in Nha Trang:

often sold near various attractions in Nha Trang, for example, a large selection near Cham towers (Tyamkikh).
You can also buy in Nha Trang Popular prints and varnish paintings. Lubok paintings are considered national works of art. Such paintings are painted with natural colors and usually depict a simple plot. To create varnish paintings, special paints are used that change their shade under the influence of varnish.

Silk clothes

You have the opportunity to bring silk clothes from Vietnam as a souvenir. Choice products are huge: You can find traditional clothes of Vietnam (“Ao baba” - traditional Vietnamese pajamas, “Ao dai” - a silk tunic with slits on the sides), or you can find more modern options. In Nha Trang a large number of various sewing studios, so you can place an order for individual tailoring.
Where to buy silk clothes in Nha Trang: Silk Factory - XQ Hand Embroidery (address: 64 Tran Phu, Nha Trang Vietnam, Nha Trang, Vietnam), Silk & Silver (address: Tran Quang Khai, building 6), Nha Trang Shopping Center

Markets of Nha Trang

Night market

Schedule: from 18:00 to 11:00
In Vietnam it gets dark quite early; at six o’clock in the evening the sun disappears below the horizon. Actually, it is for this reason that this market is called a night market.
Here you can find clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, various accessories and, of course, souvenirs. Prices here are initially high, as it is calculated that buyers will bargain. Personally, we don’t like to haggle, so we simply turned around immediately; the traders reacted to this behavior by reducing the price by 2 times.
Concerning edible shopping, then here you can experience the national cuisine. Local cafes offer a wide selection of seafood, snake and frog dishes, as well as many other exotic dishes.

Cho Dam Market (Chợ Đầm)

Considered quite large city market com, you can even find it on excursion routes. Most often it appears on tourist maps as a local attraction.
At the market you can find clothes, shoes, dishes, household items, you can also buy a lot of bright fabrics, the choice here is very large. Among all this splendor, connoisseurs of exotic fruits and seafood will be able to successfully do edible shopping and leave the market with full bags of various goodies.
Prices here are low but some are also a little overpriced, so decide for yourself how much you are willing to spend.

Cho Xom Moy (Chợ Xóm Mới)

Schedule: from early morning to 20:00.
This market is popular primarily with local residents; tourists also come here, but there are much fewer of them here. Prices here are low, some of the lowest in the city, but not for all goods. You can mainly buy seafood here, meat, fruits, vegetables, greens. Shoes and clothes here Hardly ever.

Shopping centers and supermarkets in Nha Trang

Nha Trang Center

Schedule: from 9:00 to 22:00
Nha Trang Center is the most famous shopping center in the city, it is located on the first line within walking distance from all hotels.
Represents a large shopping mall, where you can buy clothes and shoes of famous brands, cosmetics of European brands, jewelry, various accessories, children's toys, books, furniture, in general, everything your heart desires.

Prices are mostly high.

On the ground floor you can find ATMs several banks, where you will also find a small information corner. On the top floor there is an entertainment area with billiards, bowling, 4D cinema And slot machines, there you can also find a small corner with souvenirs for a reasonable price, we bought a T-shirt and a couple of souvenirs there, we wear them with pleasure, we were especially pleased with the quality.
On the third floor you will find a supermarket AEON Citymart. There is an extensive selection of products, both personal care items and food products; we especially liked the section with fruits and drinks. We were quite regular customers here. The prices for the products are very good. You can also find inexpensive souvenirs here, from key chains and magnets to paintings, dishes and famous Vietnamese hats.

MaxiMark

Schedule: from 8:00 to 20:00.
Large supermarket, which offers a large selection of food, household goods, and clothing at a relatively low price. There are also a couple of boutiques in the building with children's and adult clothing, bags and various accessories.

METRO

Schedule: from 6:00 to 21:00.
This is a truly impressive hypermarket with a large selection of different goods; here you can buy to your heart’s content. First of all, here you will find clothes both locally produced and foreign, a large assortment of food products, in particular fresh seafood, household chemicals and much more.
The main disadvantage of the store is its remoteness from city ​​center, you'll have to drive a bit to get to the store.

Big C

Schedule: from 8:00 to 22:00
Big C is a large shopping center with many shops, boutiques, here you can find souvenirs, equipment, clothes, cosmetics - in general, anything you want. The Big C supermarket has its own small bakery, where you can buy various delicacies for ridiculous money. We also note that on the territory of the shopping center there are entertainment places, including bowling, which will cost amateurs a small amount, and for hungry clients there is an impressive food court, but the prices here are slightly higher than in street cafes.
The shopping center was open in November 2014, the Big C brand itself is quite popular in Asia. More details about the Big C shopping center can be seen in the video below.
You can get to Big C by bus No. 1; 2; 7 and also No. 6.