Unique Hanoi Souvenirs to Bring Home

Unfortunately every trip has an end, but fortunately, you can take home souvenirs from Vietnam to have a memory of your trip to Vietnam forever. You can buy as a souvenir of Vietnam the famous conical hat, an amulet that is sold in the temples, traditional clothes like the Ao Dai, cards or even coffee or tea for example. In this article, I propose you some unique Hanoi souvenirs, more specifically, that you can bring back during your stay in Vietnam.

1. What kind of souvenir can we find in Hanoi? 

Silk

Silk items are made from natural filaments, are of very high quality and extremely beautiful. The most popular product is the silk scarf. The silk technique in Vietnam began in the 9th century, and continues to be passed down from generation to generation. Silk garments, Ao Dai and accessories are still made by craftsmen in craft villages. 

An address in the old quarter of Hanoi: Hang Gai street.

Products from silk and brocade are popular souvenirs in Hanoi

Ceramics

Visit the different traditional villages, learn how ceramic objects are made and why not create one yourself? Several villages still exist and propose you ceramic and pottery objects of all kinds, for all tastes and all budgets. You will find for example, vases, cups, various pots,... All unique, original, local and beautiful.

The only advice I can give you is to buy small objects because you have to remember that they have to fit in your suitcase and not break in the plane.

Ceramic is among best things to buy in Hanoi

Lacquer

Lacquer is a resin that is put on bamboo or wood, which protects from insects and moisture. Today, the village of Ha Thai near Hanoi, use lacquer to make art objects by adding shells or other decorations. 

If you don't want to go out of Hanoi, here are 2 stores where you can find some good quality:

• Marena Hanoi: 28 Nha Chung
• Minh Tam: 2 Hang Bong

One of the best Hanoi souvenirs is lacquer

Paper and prints

I will introduce you to 2 different styles of paper:

• Dong Ho village prints

Made from traditional "do" paper, shell powder and colors are added for a nice and aesthetic result. This art has almost disappeared but continues to exist thanks to tourists who buy them. If you want to find some in the capital, I advise you the following address: 10 rue Dien Bien Phu, you will find a small store along the rails.

• Paper lamps

In Hanoi, there are many different arts around paper, one of them is making beautiful paper lamp. A combination of light and image, it is a perfect gift for your loved ones, a light, small and cute souvenir. 

The price for these little wonders varies a lot depending on the size, the model,... It is more or less between 500,000 and 1,300,000 VND and you can find them in Binh Xa village, Binh phu commune, in the Fox design store.

Embroidery

Hand embroidery was a sign of royalty during the different dynasties of the time. Some villages have managed to keep this art through time, they keep a traditional technique and make perfect works. The villages are located in Thuong Tin district. What tourists like most are embroidered pictures, the prices also vary according to different criteria, it may even be a little expensive but it is unique and beautiful. Prices vary from 800,000 to 3,350,000 VND. In Hanoi, a store to recommend is: Ha Son Embroidery, 2nd floor, 290 Pho Hue street.

Paintings

You like painting? Hanoi is the perfect place for you then! In Hanoi, just walk around and you will realize that many paintings and pictures are displayed in small independent stores. However, even a small painting can be difficult for you to carry on the plane. I recommend the art objects in Dong Ho village, you will find small illustrations of the daily life of Vietnamese people, illustrations of the peaceful and typical setting of northern Vietnam.

It is ideal for small budgets and you can find them at the following address: 19 Hoang Hoa Tham street, Ba Dinh district.

Jewelry

You will have a very easy time finding all kinds of jewelry during your stay in Hanoi, but do you know which one is ideal as a typical Vietnamese souvenir? The jade. You will find bracelets, necklaces, rings,... with jade, it is a symbolic jewelry in Vietnam. The prices also vary according to the type of jewelry but count more or less 900.000 VND for a real jade bracelet. Be careful with fake jewelry, go to the real jewelry store in the capital, those which are not expensive are surely fake.

Food and drink

There are many culinary specialties in Vietnam, but unfortunately you can't take your favorite Vietnamese dishes in your suitcase. 
So here are some foods that you can easily take with you:

• Vietnamese Tea

vietnamese tea comes from tea plantations in northern Vietnam (Thai Nguyen, Thanh Son, Moc Chau) and central Vietnam (Cau Dat, Lam Dong) where the soil and climate favor the best quality tea buds. Tea in general is drunk everywhere in Vietnam and there are many different kinds of tea but lotus tea, the symbolic flower of Vietnam, is a specialty of Hanoi. Like for example, lotus tea, produced in the Ho Tay region.

• Vietnamese Coffee

Introduced in Vietnam during the french colonization, coffee spread all over the country and became one of the best beverages of the country thanks to the varieties that grow only in Vietnam. Robusta more precisely, the central plateau is ideal for coffee plantation thanks to the fertile soil and the favorable climate. In the East, Robusta is grown and in the North, Excelsa. Vietnamese coffee is twice as strong as the coffee you can find at home, so drink it in moderation especially if you are not used to strong coffee. There are many kinds of coffee in Vietnam, although it is not produced in Hanoi, it is still widely consumed and there are many stores specializing in different types of Vietnamese coffee. If you are a coffee lover, I advise you to buy some bags of home-made coffee in Hanoi because you won't find such a good one elsewhere.

• Ô mai - Sweet dried fruits

Did you know that sweet fruits, named "Ô mai" in Vietnamese, come from Hanoi? The making of these dried fruits comes from traditional medicine. Nowadays, sugar and other ingredients are added to it to make it an appetizing sweet. The fruits are very diverse like apricots, plums,... They are usually accompanied by a good tea when you talk with someone. They are practical as a souvenir because they can be kept for a long time. O Mai stores are easily to find in Hang Duong street. There are up to 100 types of O Mai, most of stores let customers try a bit of them before buying.

Want to know more about Vietnamese cuisine? >> Vietnamese coffee - a Must Try for Food Lover

2. Where to buy a souvenir in Hanoi? 

Souvenir shops in Hanoi

You can buy your souvenirs in the specialized stores of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. There are really a lot of them in the Old Quarter, just walk around and you will find a store on your way. But personally, I don't recommend you to go to the big tourist stores if you really want something different and original. Go to small artisanal stores, you will be very well received and will please the locals and moreover it is not expensive. 

Some examples of ideal stores to buy souvenirs in Hanoi:

• Collective Memory: at 12 Nha Chung street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• aN Store: at 8 Ly Dao Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Mékong Quilts: 13 Hang Bac street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Craft Link: at 43 Van Mieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Indigo Store: at 33A Van Mieu, Dong Da, Hanoi
• Tired City: at 11A Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• VUI STUDIO: at 3C Tong Duy Tan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• MAISON MAROU (first 100% Vietnamese chocolate factory): at 91 Tho Nhuom street, Hoan Kiem district and 64 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho district
• MasterTan: at 35 Ly Quoc Su

In these stores, everything is mostly made in Vietnam, ecological, local, and quality. Sometimes when you buy a product, the money is donated to associations for children's aid or the conservation of a traditional village for example. So by pleasing yourself, you help others, it's wonderful.

Local Hanoi Markets

Another way to buy souvenirs in Hanoi is to go to local markets, where you can find a variety of affordable gifts. Here are some of them:

• Night market of Hanoi old quarter

Night markets are a must during your trip to Vietnam, especially in Hanoi. You will immediately fall in love with the atmosphere near the Hoan Kiem lake at nightfall. Hanoi is different depending on the day and night.

The market is open from Friday night to Sunday night from 6pm to 11pm. But I advise you to come for 6 - 7PM to enjoy it as much as possible.

You will find all kinds of objects like figurines, clothes, jewelry, wooden sculptures, toys for children,... You will be able to buy all types of souvenirs. Know that negotiation is possible so do not hesitate to negotiate with the seller when an item seems too expensive. You will also be able to discover the street food, do not hesitate to taste one of them during your shopping. You will find for example, meat skewers, fruit juices, "che" (a typical Vietnamese dessert), original ice creams, fruit sellers or other Vietnamese desserts that I let you discover by yourself. Try them, you won't be disappointed.

Address: Starts in Hang Dao street, in the center of the old quarter, in front of Hoan Kiem lake.

• Dong Xuan Indoor Market

This is one of the biggest indoor markets in Hanoi, behind it is the local market called Bac Qua - Cau Dong, it is the perfect place to do business, cheap shopping. 
The Hanoi night market I mentioned just before is also named Dong Xuan, which might lead to confusion, but actually it is because this one ends right in front of the big building of Dong Xuan indoor market.

• Cho Gioi Flea Market

This is one of the oldest temporary markets and you will find many different items. Want to know more about unmissable Hanoi Markets to explore? Click here.

Tip: if you want to go shopping in Vietnam, go to the markets or small stores because even if there are many shopping malls in Hanoi, the prices are much higher in the big stores.

Hanoi handicraft villages

If you want something really authentic and original, you have to go to small craft villages which are just next to Hanoi. You just have to drive a maximum of 1 hour, get out of the capital and discover, during one or half a day, these unique villages.
For example:

• Bat Trang village for ceramics, pottery
• Van Phuc or Ha Dong village for silk
• Phu Vinh village for bamboo products
• Ha Thai Village for lacquerware
• Dong Ho Village for dó paper paintings

Of course, there are many more villages, let us know if you want an article entirely dedicated to different traditional villages around Hanoi. Learn more about one of the handicraft villages: Explore A Traditional Bamboo Fish Trap Craft Village near Hanoi

Another way to immortalize your vacation in Vietnam is to take pictures, so don't forget your camera because it is one of the best memories!

As you can see, if you want a unique souvenir in Hanoi and its surroundings, it is quite possible. So don't forget to buy one, you can keep it for life and never forget your trip to Vietnam. Have a good shopping!