31 Best Things to Buy in Vietnam: Complete Shopping Guide for Indian Tourists (2026)
Vietnam offers Indian tourists 31 essential things to buy across 6 product categories, with prices 40–70% lower than Indian retail. Shopping destinations span Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, each with distinct product specialisations.
Table of Contents
- Vietnamese food & drink gifts
- Vietnamese coffee
- Vietnamese tea
- Spices and sauces
- Vietnamese clothing & textiles
- Vietnamese silk
- Custom Ao Dai in Hoi An
- Handicrafts & home décor
- Skincare & health products
- Vietnam vs India price comparison
- Where to buy authentic products
- Bargaining at Vietnamese markets
- Scam products to avoid
- Shopping FAQ
Vietnamese Food and Drink Products Best for Gifting
The 3 primary food and drink categories worth buying as gifts are coffee, tea, and packaged spices and sauces — the highest-priority gifting purchases for Indian tourists.
Vietnamese Coffee
Vietnamese coffee divides into 3 types that suit different Indian buyer preferences:
- G7 Instant Coffee (Trung Nguyen): ₹138–₹250 per box of 15 sachets — the most popular gifting option, requires no equipment, available at all supermarkets and airports.
- Trung Nguyen Ground Coffee: ₹380–₹400 per 340–500g pack — for households with filter coffee machines or French press; Robusta-dominant blend.
- Ca Phe Chon (Weasel Coffee): ₹1,700 per 100g — premium gifting, naturally processed beans with lower bitterness.
Vietnamese Robusta suits Indian palates better than Arabica — stronger, darker, less acidic, closer to South Indian filter coffee. Indian tourists who drink Bru or Cothas find Vietnamese Robusta immediately familiar.
Airport duty-free at Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat (HCMC) is 15–20% pricier than Big C or Co.opMart supermarkets in the city. Buy coffee in the city, save the airport allowance for items unavailable elsewhere.
Vietnamese Tea
3 tea varieties offer distinct novelty value for Indian recipients accustomed to Assam or Darjeeling:
- Lotus Tea (Tra Sen): ₹1,000–₹3,000 per gift box — green tea scented with fresh lotus flowers, strongest novelty appeal.
- Da Lat Oolong: ₹800–₹1,000 per 200g — grown at 1,500 m elevation in the Central Highlands, mellow and light.
- Artichoke Tea: ₹200–₹250 per box — herbal tea marketed for liver support, popular with health-conscious buyers.
Vietnamese Spices and Sauces
Processed and packaged food products are permitted under Indian customs regulations.
- Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: ₹200–₹400 per bottle — made from anchovies fermented on Phu Quoc Island.
- Chili Garlic Sauce: ₹80–₹120 per bottle — thicker than Sriracha, suited to Indian spice tolerance.
- Instant Pho Packets: ₹80–₹120 per serving — packaged rice noodle soup kits.
Instant pho packets contain fish extract — not suitable for strict vegetarians. Vegetarian-safe picks: rice crackers (banh trang), coconut candy from Ben Tre, and Vietnamese green tea.
Vietnamese Clothing and Textiles
Silk fabric, Ao Dai custom tailoring, and embroidered home textiles — the highest-spend category for Indian female tourists.
Vietnamese Silk
Genuine Vietnamese silk costs ₹800–₹3,000 per metre on Hoi An's Tran Phu Street (Silk Street), the benchmark pricing location with 40+ silk shops.
- Burn test: real silk chars and self-extinguishes with a protein smell; synthetic melts.
- Ring test: real silk slides through a finger ring; polyester snags.
- Price floor: genuine silk is never below ₹350 per metre anywhere in Vietnam.
Custom Ao Dai in Hoi An
Hoi An tailors produce custom Ao Dai in 24–48 hours, total cost ₹1,500–₹10,000 depending on fabric grade and design.
Vietnamese Handicrafts and Home Décor
Lacquerware, Bat Trang ceramics, bamboo crafts and silk paintings — durable souvenirs that complement Indian interiors.
Genuine Vietnamese lacquerware involves 10–25 hand-applied layers of tree resin, each layer drying for 24 hours. The layer count determines weight and price.
- Bowls: ₹500–₹1,500
- Serving trays: ₹800–₹2,500
- Decorative wall panels: ₹3,000–₹8,000
Bat Trang ceramic village, 30 minutes from Hanoi's Old Quarter, sells direct to visitors at 40–60% below Old Quarter shop rates — and the pattern and size selection is much wider.
Vietnamese Skincare and Health Products
Highest-novelty, lowest-weight purchase category — under 200g, ₹80–₹500, no direct Indian equivalent.
- Star anise warming oil: ₹150–₹250 per bottle — topical pain relief.
- Ginger warming oil: ₹150–₹200 — cold and sinus relief, familiar use case.
- Hoa Linh peppermint headache balm: ₹80–₹120 — equivalent to Tiger Balm but stronger menthol.
- Cold-pressed coconut oil 500ml: ₹250–₹500 — 30–40% cheaper than Indian premium brands.
- Rice water shampoo: ₹200–₹350 — not commercially available in India at equivalent price points.
Vietnam vs India Price Comparison
| Product | Vietnam (INR) | India (INR) | Saving % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee (250g ground) | ₹350 | ₹900 | 61% |
| Silk fabric (per metre) | ₹800 | ₹1,800 | 55% |
| Lacquerware bowl | ₹900 | ₹2,500 | 64% |
| Bat Trang ceramic tea set | ₹1,200 | ₹3,000 | 60% |
| Cold-pressed coconut oil 500ml | ₹350 | ₹600 | 42% |
| Hoa Linh herbal balm | ₹100 | ₹250 | 60% |
| Ao Dai custom tailoring | ₹2,500 | ₹7,000 | 64% |
| Vietnamese lotus tea gift box | ₹325 | ₹800 | 59% |
| Bamboo rattan basket | ₹400 | ₹900 | 56% |
| Silk painting (40×60cm) | ₹1,500 | ₹4,500 | 67% |
Average prices across Hanoi, Hoi An, and HCMC vendors (Jan 2026).
Where to Buy Authentic Vietnamese Products
Three purchasing channels — night markets, specialty shops, and airport duty-free — with distinct price levels and operating hours.
| Channel | Price | Authenticity | Bargain? | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night markets | Lowest | Variable | Expected | 5 PM – midnight |
| Specialty shops | Mid (fixed) | Guaranteed | No | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Airport duty-free | Highest +15–25% | Guaranteed | No | 24 hours |
Bargaining at Vietnamese Markets
Vendor opening prices at Vietnam night markets are typically 2–3× the final fair price. The correct counter-offer starting point is 40–50% of the asking price — lower than the Indian bazaar convention of 60–70%.
The walk-away technique works in 80% of cases: begin walking away after your final offer is declined, and the vendor calls back within 5–10 seconds with a 20–30% reduction.
Scam Products to Avoid
Three product categories carry the highest scam risk for Indian tourists: fake silk sold as genuine, counterfeit electronics (legal import risk into India), and Old Quarter ceramics charged at 200–300% above Bat Trang village source prices.
Vietnam Shopping FAQ
Common questions Indian travellers ask before shopping in Vietnam.
Frequently asked questions
Co-founder of vietnamtour.in. For me, travelling is an intense passion and promoting the charming beauty of Vietnam to international friends is a glory mission.