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.

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.

[Image] G7 instant coffee and Trung Nguyen ground packs

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.

[Image] Hoi An tailoring shops on Tran Phu Street

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

[Table] 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.

[Table] 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.