1. **Ao Dai**:
This traditional Vietnamese attire is a long tunic worn over pants, usually by women. It's elegant, culturally significant, and available in a variety of styles and fabrics.
2. **Handicrafts**: Vietnam is known for its intricate handicrafts, including lacquerware, ceramics, wood carvings, and silk products. These make for beautiful and meaningful souvenirs. Handicraft products are usually small and not too heavy, suitable to buy as gifts for family, friends, and relatives.
3. **Conical Hats (Non La)**: Iconic to Vietnamese culture, these traditional hats are both functional and stylish. They offer protection from the sun and rain and are often beautifully woven from palm leaves. You can buy conical hats directly at processing factories and conical hat making villages such as Dong Di village (Phu Vang), Da Le (Huong Thuy), Truong Giang (Nong Cong), especially Phu Cam conical hat village. (Hue), Chuong village (Thanh Oai - Hanoi) or can be bought from street vendors.
4. **Coffee**:
Vietnam is one of the world's largest coffee producers, renowned for its robusta beans. You can buy freshly roasted coffee beans or sample Vietnamese coffee blends like egg coffee or coconut coffee. One of the most famous places for egg coffee is Hanoi. In Hanoi, you can enjoy delicious egg coffee at Cafe Giang, one of the first cafes to make this dish.
5. **Silk Products**:
Vietnam produces high-quality silk, and you can find a range of silk products including clothing, scarves, ties, and accessories. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns are exquisite. You should buy silk products directly from silk producing villages so you don't have to worry about product quality. Currently, Vietnam still has traditional silk weaving villages that are thousands of years old such as Co Do, Van Phuc (Hanoi), Nha Xa (Ha Nam), Co Chat (Nam Dinh), Duy Duyen, Ma Chau (Quang Nam), Tan Chau (An Giang)... Especially Bao Loc (Lam Dong) - the silk capital of Vietnam.
6. **Vietnamese Ceramics**:
Vietnamese ceramics have a rich history spanning over a millennium, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and cultural influences. The craft of making ceramics in Vietnam dates back to ancient times, with evidence of pottery production dating as far back as the Neolithic period. Vietnamese ceramics are known for their diverse styles, techniques, and exquisite designs, influenced by various dynasties, neighboring cultures, and trade routes. In Vietnam, there are many famous pottery villages that still retain the traditional features of ceramic art, which have existed for thousands of years. We can name a few villages such as: Bat Trang Pottery Village, Lai Thieu Pottery Village, in Bac Ninh there is Phu Lang Pottery Village, Tho Ha Pottery Village, in the South there is Cay Mai Pottery Village, Bien Hoa Pottery Village, etc. ..
7. **Local Spices and Herbs**:
Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its complex flavors, and you can bring some of that magic home with you by purchasing local spices and herbs like lemongrass, star anise, cinnamon, and turmeric.
8. **Hand-Embroidered Items**:
Vietnamese embroidery is highly intricate and beautiful. You can find hand-embroidered clothing, tablecloths, bags, and more, often showcasing traditional motifs and designs.
9. **Tailored cloths**:
Because there are so many tourist-oriented tailor shops in Hoi An, tailoring is quite popular here. A special feature is that tailor shops in Hoi An only take one to two days to sew and repair costumes to fit the customer's body. The excellent and quick sewing techniques of skilled workers have made a strong impression on customers.
10. **Rice Paper Products**:
Rice paper is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, used for making spring rolls, wrappers, and more. You can buy high-quality rice paper to bring home, along with other rice-based products like rice noodles or rice wine.
When shopping in Vietnam, remember to bargain at local markets for the best prices, and always check the authenticity and quality of the products before making a purchase. Enjoy your shopping experience!
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