SOUVENIR GUIDE
Vietnamese souvenirs
chosen by who gets them
In Vietnam, coffee and tea alone filla whole shelfat the supermarket. Are you handing them out at the office, giving them to a friend who loves coffee, or using them in your own kitchen? We've gathered the classics and where to buy them so you can choose by who gets them and how they'll be used.
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FINDER
Choose by recipient
Prices are rough local retail prices as of September 2026 (1 yen = about 168 dong). They change with the shop and the exchange rate.
Individually wrapped and easy to share
- G7 instant coffee (black comes in 15 sachets for around 40,000 dong = roughly 250 yen; the sweet 3in1 comes in 18-21 sachets for around 80,000 dong = roughly 500 yen)
- Cozy tea bags (40,000-50,000 dong a box = roughly 250-300 yen)
- Coconut candy
Beans or ground coffee, with the gear to brew it
- Highlands Coffee beans (90,000-150,000 dong for 200g = roughly 550-900 yen, depending on the product and the shop)
- LA VIET Arabica beans (120,000-130,000 dong for 250g = roughly 750 yen)
- A phin (Vietnamese coffee filter)
Lotus tea from a specialty shop
- Lotus teaswings widely in price depending on quality, so the safest bet is to ask at a specialty shop before you choose
Seasonings chosen by where they're made
- Nuoc mam、Phu Quoc pepper、Chili sauce
- Supermarkets are the affordable option; for regional specialties, try an upscale supermarket
Vietnam-only merchandise
- Mugs, tumblers, and Bearista bears. The lineup changes through the year.
- Vietnam-only Starbucks menu items and merchandise
Handmade crafts
- Plastic basket、Bat Trang ceramics、embroidered accessories
- Prices vary with the size and the craftsmanship
Coffee: instant to hand out, beans or ground to give as a gift
Vietnamese coffee is mostly Robusta, and its character is a strong bitterness and body. Drinking it sweet with condensed milk is the local standard. If the person you are buying for prefers Arabica, a brand using Arabica from the Central Highlands around Da Lat is a safe pick.
G7
Individually wrapped instant coffee. The standard choice to hand out at the office, and there is a sweet 3in1 version too.
Where to buySupermarkets, souvenir shops, airportsHighlands Coffee
Beans and ground coffee sold by a nationwide café chain. You can take home the taste you had in the shop.
Where to buyTheir shops, airports, large supermarketsCONG CAFE
Instant coconut coffee and bac xiu. Also for people who choose by the packaging.
Where to buyTheir own cafés, souvenir shops aimed at Japanese visitors, large supermarketsMR.VIET
Robusta, Arabica, and flavored ground coffee. It is a fine grind, so pair it with a phin (the Vietnamese coffee filter).
Where to buySupermarkets, souvenir shopsLA VIET
Arabica from the Central Highlands. Bright and mellow, so it works even for people who dislike bitter coffee.
Where to buyTheir own cafés, souvenir shops aimed at Japanese visitorsSTAR KITCHEN
A souvenir brand aimed at Japanese visitors. Beans, ground coffee, and drip packs are all there.
Where to buyTheir own shops, souvenir shops aimed at Japanese visitorsCAFE
To take the shop's taste home, start from the café guide
Most of the chain cafés sell beans and packaged products at the counter.
Tea: lotus tea andLotus seed teaare not the same thing
Many have aromas you will not find in Japan, and tea bags have the advantage of being light and easy to hand out. The two that get mixed up are lotus tea and lotus seed tea. The first is green tea scented with lotus flowers; the second is made from lotus seeds.
Green tea scented with lotus flowers. The finest grade is said to be the one made with lotus from Hanoi's West Lake (Ho Tay).
A tea made from lotus seeds rather than tea leaves, with a gentle sweetness. Some are blended with green tea, so check the label.
Thai Nguyen province is the famous growing area. Toasty, with a firm astringency.
Green tea scented with jasmine flowers. Clean and easy to drink.
A specialty of the highland town of Da Lat. A plain, earthy tea made from artichoke flowers and leaves.
- For something quick, pick up Cozy or Phuc Long tea bags at a supermarket. From about 40,000 dong (roughly 250 yen) a box.
- If you are choosing on quality, go to a specialty shop. The Hanoi Old Quarter has lotus tea specialists, and Ho Chi Minh City has tea leaf shops such as HATVALA.
- If it is for someone else, buy a sealed package at a specialty shop or a supermarket.
Sweets and food: tropical fruit and nuts
Mango, jackfruit, and more. Vacuum frying and air drying give completely different textures.
Where to buySupermarkets, markets, confectionery shops, airportsOne of the world's leading producers. You will find preparations rarely seen in Japan, such as salt-roasted nuts still in the shell.
Where to buySupermarkets, nut specialty shops (sold by weight), marketsMarou, Pheva, and Alluvia are known for single-origin cacao. In summer, pack them so they do not melt on the way home.
Where to buyMaison Marou (their own shops), upscale supermarketsA specialty of Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. You can mix the flavors and hand them out.
Where to buyWorkshops in Ben Tre, markets, the sweets aisle of supermarketsDeep-fried or vacuum-fried, sweet or salted. Small bags are available too.
Where to buySupermarkets, markets (sold by weight), airportsThe national dish, ready with nothing but hot water. There is pho bo with beef and pho ga with chicken.
Where to buySupermarkets, convenience stores, marketsSeasonings and goods, for yourself as well
The fish sauce best known from Phu Quoc island. The aroma changes with the grade. It is a liquid, so put it in checked baggage.
Where to buyUpscale supermarkets, Ben Thanh Market, airports, workshops on Phu QuocPhu Quoc pepper is the famous one. It comes in black, white, red, and green, and whole peppercorns keep their aroma far longer.
Where to buyMarkets and farms on Phu Quoc, upscale supermarkets, marketsThe sweet-and-spicy sauce served with spring rolls. Standards like Cholimex are cheapest at supermarkets.
Where to buySupermarkets, convenience stores, marketsFrom the plastic baskets popular on social media to natural materials. They crush easily, so take them as carry-on.
Where to buyHang Chieu Street in the Hanoi Old Quarter, select shops in Thao Dien, marketsCeramics painted in indigo with dragonfly and lotus motifs. Carry tea sets and small plates in your hand luggage.
Where to buyWorkshops in Bat Trang village, the Hanoi Old Quarter, ceramics shopsHand embroidery in silk thread. From small items like pouches to XQ's double-sided embroidered pictures.
Where to buyXQ (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Lat), Hang Gai Street in Hanoi, specialty shopsSon mai lacquerware inlaid with eggshell or mother-of-pearl. Chopsticks and small plates are an easy size to take home.
Where to buyCraft shops on Dong Khoi Street, the Hanoi Old Quarter, airportsThe conical hat woven from bamboo and palm leaves. Pieces from Hue's craft quarter are often the finely made ones.
Where to buyHue's craft quarter, Ben Thanh Market, the Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoi An Old TownVietnamese honeychanges aroma with the nectar source,Rice bran soapis mostly handmade, andCoconut oilfrom Ben Tre is the best known.
Where to buySupermarkets, markets, natural cosmetics shopsWHERE TO BUY
Where to buy?Four kinds of shopsand when to use each
Supermarkets
For stocking up on coffee, tea, sweets, and seasonings. Prices are marked so it is easy to compare, but there is little handmade craftwork.
Markets
For goods, and for dried fruit and nuts sold by weight. The first price quoted is high, so bring small bills and look at a few stalls before you buy.
specialty shop from Tsukiji, Tokyo,
For high-grade tea, chocolate, and brand-name coffee. Gift wrapping is part of what you are paying for, so prices run above the supermarkets.
Airport
For picking up the standards you forgot. Prices are higher than in the city and the selection sticks to the classics.
Liquids and breakables: decide how you will pack before you buy
- Liquids in containers over 100 ml (nuoc mam, honey, coconut oil and the like) cannot go in the cabin. Seal the opening with plastic wrap, double-bag it, and put it in your suitcase.
- Wrap ceramics and glass in clothing and set them in the middle of the suitcase. Baskets and non la keep their shape if you carry them on.
- Coffee beans and tea get heavier than you expect once you buy a few. Decide on your suitcase size with the trip home in mind.
How to pack souvenirs in your suitcase See our pre-departure checklist
A suitcase rental service. Even on a trip where you plan to buy plenty of souvenirs, you avoid keeping a large suitcase at home that you rarely use.
See sizes and pricing
For souvenir shops, cafés, and brands
You can list your shop and products on this page, in the café guide, and on the individual souvenir pages. If you are a business looking for a coffee bean supplier in Vietnam, please also see our company overview.
