Hanoi Souvenirs: What to Buy, Where to Shop and What to Skip

Featured image: Steven C. Price, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Best Hanoi Souvenirs at a Glance

Start by deciding what you need, then pick the street or market. Our Hanoi markets guide covers the main shopping areas in detail. Prices below are starting figures that Vietnam Tourism lists in US dollars, checked November 2026. Treat them as floors, not what you will pay for good quality.

Crafts and Art

Lacquerware is the standout craft purchase. Vietnam Tourism traces the technique to the Hanoi College of Fine Arts in the 1930s. Artisans seal paintings, inlays and gold leaf under layer after layer of tree sap. Prices range widely, so judge a piece by its finish. A good surface feels smooth and even, with no bubbles or dull patches.

Dong Ho folk prints are made on do paper, which is handmade from tree bark. They are flat and light, so they travel well in a tube. Propaganda posters start from $7 and fit the same tube. Reproductions are common, so buy them as decor rather than as collectibles.

Water puppets and masks are bamboo, palm leaf and lacquer. Paper lanterns start from $4 and fold flat. Bamboo bowls, baskets and bathmats suit every budget, but bulky baskets eat luggage space.

• Lacquerware: fragile, display-worthy, wrap it in clothes
• Do paper prints: flat, light, cheap to carry
• Propaganda posters: flat, from $7
• Paper lanterns: flat, from $4
• Bamboo goods: bulky, buy only one or two

Textiles and Clothing

Silk is the easiest wearable gift to carry. Vietnam Tourism points to Hang Gai as the best place for authentic silk, with tailor shops selling it at about $10 per meter. Our Hang Gai silk street guide goes deeper on the street itself. Fabrics in general start from $15.

One general test helps with quality. Real silk feels smooth and slightly cool, and a blend often feels stiff or slick. Ask to see several bolts side by side before you decide.

An ao dai shirt-and-pants set starts from $25. Tailoring adds time to your itinerary. Order on your first full day and ask the shop how many fittings it needs. Tribal textiles from northern ethnic groups start from $15. Buy them from recognised dealers so the money reaches the weavers.

Food and Drink Gifts

Coffee is the safest food gift. A phin filter plus a bag of local coffee starts around $5. Vietnam is the world's largest exporter of Robusta, so the beans are a fair souvenir of the country. The filter is small and light, which makes it a good gift for coffee drinkers.

O mai are preserved fruits, often apricot, plum or kumquat. Sellers cluster on Hang Duong and Hang Cot streets. Green bean cake, known as banh dau xanh, is another sweet gift. West Lake lotus tea is sold in supermarkets and grocery stores. Herb sachets start from $3.

Food rules differ by country. Check your home customs agency before buying herbs, plants or fresh produce. Sealed, shelf-stable packs are the easiest to carry through.

Cheap and Fun Gifts

Conical hats, called non la, are the classic Vietnamese symbol. They are handwoven from palm leaf. Buy one if you will wear it, because the wide brim is awkward in a suitcase. Skip it if you only want a shelf ornament.

To he are colorful dough toys. Xuan La village is their home, and they also turn up at Dong Xuan Market. Our Dong Xuan Market guide covers what else is sold there. Chopsticks start from $1 a pair and are the cheapest gift for a group.

Magnets and Hanoi T-shirts are everywhere in the Old Quarter. Vendors will dig through piles to find your size. Both are fine for a quick, cheap gift, but neither is local craft. Treat them as fillers.

Where to Buy Souvenirs in Hanoi

Match the place to what you want. The Old Quarter has the widest selection. Wander Hang Gai, Hang Bac and Hang Ma streets for crafts, silk and paper goods. Vietnam Tourism notes that gentle haggling is part of shopping there.

Dong Xuan Market is at 15 Cau Dong Street. A hotel-group guide lists hours of 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday to Thursday and 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM Friday to Sunday. Upper floors sell textiles, clothing and souvenirs, often cheaper than shops. The same guide lists the Old Quarter night market on Hang Dao Street from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM, Friday to Sunday. Check current hours before you plan around either.

For fixed prices and air conditioning, try our Hanoi shopping malls guide. Selection of local craft is thinner there.

Craft Village Day Trips

Bat Trang is the ceramics village. Plates, cups, vases and bowls are sold there, and many Old Quarter shops also stock Bat Trang pieces. Go if you want to see the making and choose from a bigger range. Buy in town if you only want one cup and have limited time.

Xuan La is the source for to he. It is a short trip for a very cheap item you can find at Dong Xuan Market. Check current transport options and opening times before you head out. Ceramics are the real reason to leave the center, and only if you can carry them safely.

Haggling, Payment and Packing Tips

Bargain in markets and street stalls, where gentle haggling is normal. Smile, ask the price, and counter lower. Do not haggle in fixed-price shops or malls. Carry cash in small notes for markets, and expect cards mostly in larger shops.

Wrap fragile items in clothes and carry them in your cabin bag. Ask shops to box lacquer and ceramics. For large buys, ask about shipping and allow extra time.

• Skip mass-produced items sold as handmade.
• Skip bulky bamboo and baskets unless you have luggage space.
• Do not accept the first price on silk or ceramics.
• Do not order tailoring on your last day.
• Ask what a fabric is made of before paying silk prices.