When it comes to Vietnamese basket bags, the colorful plastic baskets (PP-band march\u00e9 bags) are the standard, but the souvenir candidates broaden to four types, including rattan baskets, hemp bags, and embroidered totes. In this article, from the viewpoint of a Vietnam resident, we cover the features by type, famous brands and shops like MONET, HANA, and Saigon Swagger, purchase spots on Hang Chieu Street in Hanoi\u2019s Old Quarter, price ranges, and even mail-order routes in Japan. They\u2019re sometimes written \u201ckagobakku,\u201d but they\u2019re all the same basket-bag-type souvenir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Vietnamese goods other than basket bags,the Vietnamese goods guide<\/a>andand the stylish-souvenir guide<\/a>also sum them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The central presence among Vietnamese basket bags, the \u201cplastic basket (march\u00e9 bag),\u201d has three features that make it easier to choose once you know them. Rattan, hemp, and embroidered totes have different material characteristics, so we\u2019ll sort them out individually in a later section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common \u201cplastic basket\u201d originates in weaving polypropylene packing straps (PP bands) that come out as waste. It\u2019s drawing attention as a sustainable material, and it\u2019s excellent on the practical side too\u2014lightweight, washable, and durable. Rich in color, the sight of them lined up colorfully at markets leaves a strong impression on travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are over 20 patterns just in the weave\u2014checkerboard, check, small flowers, diagonal, plaited, four-strand, and more. Even the same plastic basket looks completely different depending on the weave, so on the ground it\u2019s a fun shopping experience to compare the actual items closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are mass-produced items, but many workshop-made ones hand-woven by artisans in the Hanoi outskirts and southern villages are also in circulation. The one-of-a-kind feel\u2014\u201cdifferent even in the same design\u201d\u2014by the color combination and the evenness of the weave is the charm. As a personal bag or eco-bag, fans who use them daily in Japan are also increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A precaution before use<\/strong>: brand-new plastic baskets may have a distinctive plastic smell, so airing them in the shade for 2\u20133 days after purchase makes it stop bothering you. Also, the corners of the weave can snag on stockings or lace-fabric clothing, so on days you pair them with delicate materials, either avoid them or use an inner cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The items collectively called \u201cbasket bags\u201d in Vietnam fall broadly into four types. Their material, use, and price range differ, so choose by the recipient and how you\u2019ll use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n3 features of Vietnamese plastic baskets (march\u00e9 bags)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It originates from reusing PP bands (packing straps)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A rich variety of weaves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Often handmade and close to one-of-a-kind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The four types of basket bags by kind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n