Conical bonnet
Called nón tơi, nón chằm lá or more commonly nón lá, this is the country's emblematic hat, generally worn by farmers to protect themselves from the sun and monsoon rains. Simple, practical and very light, its use has become widespread. The conical hats used by the locals are mostly of natural color. You'll find beautiful nón lá, painted in shimmering colors and decorated with motifs depicting scenes from rural life, animals or the country's historic sites, in all tourist towns. These hats make good souvenirs and are used as ornamental objects. If you'd like to buy a top-quality nón lá, be sure to visit the village of Chuông, in the Red River delta, which has specialized in its manufacture for over three centuries. The Mekong Delta region and the city of Hué are also renowned throughout the country for the quality of their conical hats. In particular, Hué craftsmen make nón lá from water hyacinth leaves. Here you can admire the meticulous work of the craftsmen who make this iconic Vietnamese object.
Silk
Vietnamese silk has a long tradition. Many villages still produce silk, and many locals still own a loom. The country's traditional women's garment, the ao dài, is often made from silk, and tailors are also able to fashion bespoke silk garments for you: scarves, skirts, shirts, ties, pants, etc. With the advent of modern machinery, handmade silk is gradually disappearing in favor of artificial silk made from viscose yarn. Be sure to check the labels on all products, as natural silk is often mixed with artificial silk to reduce production costs. In Hanoi, visit the aptly named "silk street", Hang Gai Street in the Old Quarter. On the outskirts of the Vietnamese capital, the village of Van Phuc produces silk called the, which is fine and transparent, yet very strong. Hôi An lies on the ancient maritime silk route. The city has kept this tradition alive, and is home to an important fabric market (Hôi An Cloth Market) where you can buy silk by the metre, then have it cut at one of the city's many renowned tailors, such as Yali Couture. The Silk Village (làng lụa Hội An) showcases the history of silk in Hôi An and allows you to witness the weaving process. Quality items are also on sale. In Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville, avoid overly touristy markets such as Bên Thành market, and favor the fabric markets or Cholon market.
Ceramics and pottery
The art of hand-crafting ceramics and pottery is still alive and well in Vietnam. The skills of craftsmen are expressed in tableware, dishes, bowls, vases, statuettes and other ornamental objects... In the Red River delta, the villages of Bat Tràng and Phù Lang are internationally renowned for the exceptional quality of their porcelain wares, which are exported all over the world. For traditionally crafted pottery, don't miss the Phuoc Tich Ancient Village , near Hué. Its craftsmen once had the privilege of making clay objects for the kitchens of the Forbidden City of Hué under the Nguyen dynasty. Near Hôi An, Thanh HaPottery Village specializes in the production of clay pottery for export. A visit to these villages is an opportunity to observe the craftsmen's skills and see them create a unique piece from A to Z. In many cases, you can even get hands-on with your own pottery!
Lacquer
An emblematic local craft, the use of lacquerware dates back over 2,000 years. Derived from the lacquer tree(cây son), this vegetable substance is transformed and used to embellish and enhance a variety of objects: paintings, decorative wall panels, screens, statues, chests, jewelry boxes, furniture, tableware... In the Red River delta, the village of Ha Thai is nicknamed the "lacquer capital of Vietnam". The lacquer-making village of Tuong Binh Hiep, some 20km from ancient Saigon, also specializes in the refined art of lacquerware. In Hanoi, if you're looking for top-quality works of art or souvenirs, visit Hang Bac Street, the Kima and Hanoia stores, and the store of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. The store of the Museum of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City also offers quality items. You can also admire the magnificent pieces on display at these two museums.
Embroidery
The traditional Vietnamese craft of decorating fabrics with embroidered, flat or raised motifs, as well as various materials, is renowned for the finesse of its pieces: clothing, ornamental fabrics, tablecloths, towels, household linen... The colorful motifs generally depict scenes of daily life, work in the rice fields, women in áo dài wearing conical hats, animals, flowers... You'll find quality embroidery in Hanoi's Old Quarter, in the village of Quat Dông to the south of the capital, reputed to be the cradle of embroidery in the country, and in the village of Dong Cuu to the west of Hanoi. The workshops of the Van Lam embroidery village in Tam Côc are an excellent place to visit if you'd like to see the production process in action. The Hmông and Dao minorities of Sapa, Bac Ha and Hà Giang possess unique skills and produce embroidered items of excellent quality. The Hmông ethnic group is especially renowned for its handcrafted indigo fabric. The Indigo Cat boutique in Sapa sells magnificent indigo fabrics handmade by the region's Hmông minorities. If you're passing through Dà Lat, the XQ Embroidery History Center is well worth a visit to learn about the history of embroidery in Vietnam and admire some exceptional pieces.
Hội An lanterns
It's impossible to visit Hôi An without falling under the spell of its lanterns! Introduced in the 16th century by Chinese merchants sailing along the Silk Road, these lanterns are made from colorful silk or satin fabrics cut to the size of the lamp. These fabrics are then glued to a bamboo frame. Lanterns are foldable, so they're easy to carry around and pack in your suitcase! You'll find them everywhere, in all shapes, sizes and colors, and at all prices. The Night Market on Rue Nguyen Hoàng, which takes place every day in the late evening, is undoubtedly the best place to find a beautiful piece. You can also learn how to make your own lantern in several of the city's workshops. If you find yourself in Hôi An on the evening of a full moon, you'll witness a veritable enchantment: the streets and quays of the old town are illuminated by a multitude of colorful lanterns, with no electric lighting whatsoever. Inhabitants gather at the altars of their ancestors, burn incense and place flowering lanterns on the Hoai River.
Basketry
Woven rattan, bamboo and water hyacinth handicrafts are a specialty of the north of the country. This art allows you to fashion useful objects for everyday life: furniture, chests, baskets, bags and fans... Unfortunately, these pieces are often quite fragile, and if you want to bring some back, you'll need to protect them effectively during transport. Water hyacinth bags are an excellent souvenir. They are light, strong and therefore easy to transport. You'll find some very pretty ones with colorful motifs depicting scenes of life, flowers, animals... Near Hanoi, the village of Canh Hoach specializes in the manufacture of fans and birdcages made from bamboo stems, sometimes embellished with decorative elements in buffalo bone, porcelain or semi-precious stone.
Incense
The incense-making village of Thuy Xuan, 7 km south-west of Hué, has specialized in handcrafted incense for over a hundred years. These incenses are renowned for their specific fragrance, a harmonious blend of five essences: cinnamon, cardamom, clove, aniseed and eucalyptus.
Propaganda posters
Although the Vietnamese are not particularly fond of delving into memories of a traumatic past, they have managed to turn this painful period into a lucrative market that attracts the favor of foreign travelers. Military clothing and artefacts, propaganda posters, posters from Indochina's colonial era, T-shirts bearing the image of Uncle Hô or with Communist slogans, magnets and other souvenirs are snapped up in stores and markets all over the country. Please note, however, that the posters on offer are copies; original posters are rare and are sold to collectors at astronomical prices!
Prints & calligraphy
Very widespread before the advent of printing, prints engraved on wooden panels and paper are a very popular art form in Vietnam. In Hanoi's Old Quarter, you can find some superb pieces on Hang Trông Street. The finesse of writing inherited from the Chinese tradition is highlighted in the art of calligraphy, known in Vietnam as thu phap. Considered a sign of good fortune, calligraphy is often seen hanging on walls in homes and workplaces. Every year during the Lunar New Year (Tet holiday), many artists display their works in the streets of Hanoi, Hué and Hoi An.
Beads
Vietnam is famous for its pearl production. In Halong Bay and Nha Trang, Akoya pearls are cultivated, with their white hue and pink and yellow highlights. A visit to one of these pearl farms is often included on your Halong Bay cruise, particularly the fishing village of Vung Vieng. The island of Phu Quoc is internationally renowned for the quality of its black pearls. The village of Tay Ninh, southeast of Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville, also grows pearls in its freshwater lakes. Superb jewelry is made from these pearls, and prices vary according to the quality of the pearl and the material used for the setting (gold, silver).
Food products
Once you've succumbed to the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, you'll no doubt be tempted to bring back some of the food from your stay. The world's second-largest coffee producer, Vietnamese coffee has a distinctive aroma and a high caffeine content. Grown especially in the Thanh Hoa and Son La regions, it is most often prepared with a small, individual stainless steel filter placed on the cup. This essential Vietnamese utensil also makes an excellent souvenir for you or your loved ones. The other national drink is, of course, tea, known locally as tra. Vietnamese tea is mainly grown in the mountains of the north-east (around Hà Giang) and north-west of the country (in the Lào Cai and Son La regions). Cocoa plantations can be found in the Highlands and Mekong Delta. For quality handmade chocolate, visit Maison Marou boutiques in Hanoi, Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville and Hôi An. Spices, including cardamom, star anise, Phu Quoc pepper, lemongrass and cloves, are an essential part of Vietnamese gastronomy. You'll find them in all the country's markets, often at much lower prices than in France. In the south of the country, in Rach Giang, Sokfarm produces products using coconut flower nectar: coconut flower water, oil, nuoc mam, cider vinegar, etc...
