Shopping in Vietnam

Vietnam is an exotic land with so many things to offer its visitors — especially those who love to shop.

One would probably never think of Vietnam as a shoppers’ destination, but it is! This land of green rice fields, fascinating monuments and conical hats is actually a shopaholic’s paradise, and the offerings are not just vast, but are easily found in virtually every street corner. So much so that it can get a little overwhelming at times, as the streets lined with shops and stalls, presenting their wares at ridiculously cheap prices.

Though you can get just about anything in Vietnam, you should look out for some of Vietnam’s distinctive and unique traditional handicrafts such as silks, lacquerware, embroidery, ethnic minority products, buffalo horn, wood, bamboo and rice paper and ceramics. There may be a few specialty objects that are a little difficult to find unless you know exactly where to go and what to ask for, so for items like this, it will save you time and money to first get some advice from the hotel staff. They are a good resource especially if you want to find something special.

Ironically, impulse buying can be quite a good thing in Vietnam. I know that normally, we like to mull over things a bit before actually spending on it,

Gimme Vietnam!

but if you’re trip is short, my advise is: if you do see something you like a lot, do go ahead and buy it because with if you do have other places to visit and are somewhat pressed for time, it wont be quite as easy to find it a second time.

The best souvenir shops can be found in the picturesque Northern city of Hanoi. Superior traditional, hand—made quality goods are found in this charming city. The shops here are definitely are worth a browse, with their tasteful displays beckoning incessantly, lined haphazardly along old but atmospheric narrow streets.

. Decorated with silk lanterns, incense, wonderful art and large vases filled with exotic blooms, such as birds of paradise and lotus flowers, most shops here are as beautiful as the products they sell. Delicate pale green tea—sets, velvet handbags with bamboo handles and maybe some interesting gongs are just a few of the many items you’ll soon be longing to take home.

Looking for a new suit? Just head down to the port town of Hoi—An where experienced tailors eagerly await your order. You can choose a tailor on your own or you can ask for a recommendation from the hotel staff, as they usually have decent feedback from previous guests. You can also create your own design and within a day or two, you’ll be a proud owner of a fabulous suit or a luxurious silken garment. And best of all, the prices are so reasonable, almost unbelievable so.

Almost all of the markets in Vietnam sell the famous conical hat. But if you are looking for amazing hats that can almost be considered an art form, you must definitely visit the beautiful Royal City of Hue.

For designer clothes like Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, then Saigon is where to look. Western style shops, malls and international products are found here. Electrical equipment, cameras, and trinkets are also in abundance amid the countless stalls and temples in the busy city.

If you are in the mood to shop, are looking for a bargain, but don’t quite know where to begin then simply head down to the local market. Every town or city in Vietnam has one. Vietnamese markets sell every conceivable item you can think of. However, the real bargains are found inside the main market. Here, you can find goodies that are priced considerably less than those found in standard souvenir shops.

Some of the shops in Vietnam have prices marked in US Dollars and you are expected to pay in the same currency. In the markets, prices are usually in Vietnamese Dong. One of the best things in shopping in Vietnam is the bargaining. No matter what currency the prices are marked, you can usually bargain especially if you are buying more than one item. Another wonderful thing about shopping in Vietnam is that there are loads of restaurants and coffee shops found in the streets so you can easily take a break from shopping and enjoy some of the potent local coffee.

After all that shopping in Vietnam, make sure that you have an extra bag or excess baggage allowance for your departure. You most probably will be needing it as the prices in this shopper’s paradise are so good that your dollar or dong, is bound to go a very, very long way.