In Vietnam, a country with many fruit-growing regions, banana chips are a classic snack souvenir. One bite fills your mouth with the sweet aroma of banana and a light, crisp texture. They're light, cheap, and available in both supermarkets and markets, which makes them an easy pick as a giveaway souvenir for coworkers or friends. The texture changes a lot between the high-temperature fried type and the vacuum-fried (VF) type made under low temperature and reduced pressure, so choosing to match your taste is part of the fun.
What are Vietnamese banana chips?
Characteristics
Vietnamese banana chips are a snack made by thinly slicing locally grown bananas and then frying or drying them. There are sweet and salted types, with thin slices turning out crisp and thick slices crunchy. Vacuum frying (the VF method, sấy chân không in Vietnamese) "fries" at a low 80 to 120 degrees under reduced pressure, versus the roughly 160 to 180 degrees of ordinary frying, which keeps oil absorption down while preserving color and sweetness. Because it is still a low-temperature frying method, the result differs from the cold-air drying method (sấy lạnh).
Why it's chosen as a souvenir
- Light and cheap, and not bulky even when you buy in bulk
- Differences in sweet, salty, and texture make it easy to match the recipient's taste
- Easy to buy at supermarkets and markets, and you can buy just what you need by weight
- Easy for everyone to eat regardless of age, so you needn't be picky about who you give them to
Types and how to choose
Banana chips are easier to sort out if you choose by "method" and "flavoring." The type you pick changes depending on whether you like something richly sweet or something light to eat.
Type
| Fried type | Deep-fried to a crisp finish. Enjoy the toasty, firm texture |
|---|---|
| Vacuum fried (VF method) | Fried briefly at low temperature and reduced pressure to keep the oil down. Characterized by the ingredient's natural sweetness and a light mouthfeel |
| Sweet type | The sweet type coated in sugar or syrup. Easy to eat like a treat |
| Salted type | The type seasoned with salt. Suited to people who dislike sweets or as a drinking snack |
- Thin-sliced type — crisp and light. Easy to eat by the handful
- Thick-sliced type — a crunchy bite with real chew
Points for choosing
- Method— Go vacuum fried for lightness, or the fried type for toasty flavor
- Flavoring— Sweet type for those with a sweet tooth, salted type to pair with drinks
- Texture— Choose thin slices for crispness or thick slices for crunch, to taste
- Packaging— They soak up humidity easily, so a resealable bagged package is a safe bet
Major brands and labels
The standard brands you'll spot in the supermarket snack aisle are as follows. Among them, Vinamit is a major maker of dried fruit and chips with consistent quality.
| Vinamit | A dried-food maker that represents Vietnam. A rich lineup of vacuum-fried products |
|---|---|
| Visan | A maker that handles a wide range of foods. Easy to obtain at reasonable prices |
Dried snacks made by the same makers such as Vinamit also include cashew nuts. They're an option when you want something salty and snackable.
Recommended ways to eat and enjoy
Eating them as is is the basic way, but a little extra effort broadens the range of treats.Guide to Vietnamese sweets and snacksUse it as a reference to enjoy them combined with other souvenirs.
- Nibble them as is alongside coffee or tea
- Top yogurt or ice cream with them to add texture
- Mix them with nuts and dried fruit for a trail-mix snack
- Pair the salted type with beer or other drinks as a snack
If you're making a mixed snack, choosing dried fruit and coconut candy from the same snack-souvenir lineup lets you cover a wide range of recipients' tastes.
Where to buy and price ranges
The supermarket snack aisle is the go-to for banana chips, but at a market you can buy as much as you like by weight.
- Supermarket snack aisle— Bags are lined up, making it easy to pick a brand and buy
- Markets— Buy just what you need by weight. You can check freshness as you choose
- Souvenir shops— Many products come in nicely packaged form, good for gifting
- Airport duty-free shops— You can top up before departure. Prices run a bit high
Price range
| Bag (small) | About 80 to 200 yen |
|---|---|
| Bag (large) | About 200 to 400 yen |
| Market, sold by weight | Roughly 60 to 120 yen per 100g |
Tips for making it a souvenir
They're light and easy to hand out, but weak against humidity, so paying a little attention to packing and storage is appreciated.
- Packing— Surround the bag with a box or clothing so it doesn't get crushed, press out the air, and seal it
- Keeping quality— Being a dried food, it keeps relatively well. Check the best-before date on the back of the container
- Customs / in-flight— Snack foods are easy to bring along and fit readily in your carry-on
- Dividing among people— Buy several small bags, or divide the by-weight purchase into portions, to make handing them out easier
The fruit-rich Mekong Delta is an area lined with fruit-based souvenirs. Work it into your itinerary and you'll also come across fresh treats unique to the growing region.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between the fried type and vacuum frying?
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The fried type is deep-fried for a toasty, crisp texture. Vacuum frying fries briefly at low temperature and reduced pressure, so it absorbs little oil and is characterized by a light mouthfeel that retains the ingredient's natural sweetness and color.
- Can I eat these even if I don't like sweets?
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If you choose the salted type, the sweetness is restrained and it suits not only snacking but also pairing with drinks. Since it differs from the sweet type in texture and use, it's good to choose to match the recipient's taste.
- How long does it keep?
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Being a dried food, it keeps relatively long, but it soaks up humidity after opening. Put it in a resealable bag and finish it before too long to preserve the crisp texture.
- Are they good as a giveaway souvenir?
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They're light, cheap, and hard to go wrong with on taste, so they're very well suited as a giveaway souvenir. Buying several small bags, or portioning out a market by-weight purchase, makes them easy to hand out.
