Vietnam Tourism
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Vietnam Tourism
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Shopping In Vietnam Shopping in Vietnam is a fun and interesting experience, and guarantees good bargains to those who know what to look for. It is true to say that you can find nearly anything in Vietnam. Markets vary from high class shopping malls, supermarkets to bustling open market, galleries, boutiques and street stalls. Furthermore, what's doubly enticing is that most goods are ridiculously cheap, many low-budget travelers considered Vietnam a heavenly place because in many shopping situations they can bargain the prices down to as much as a third of the original cost.
In terms of shopping for tourists, Vietnam is most famous for its handicrafts, war souvenirs, authentic clothing, art, antiques and gems. The list of Vietnamese bargains is seemingly endless and features bespoke tailoring and the national dress, the 'Áo dài' from high-quality silk and many other types of material and textiles while many shoppers cannot get enough of the local handicraft, art and jewelry. Art Both traditional and modern paintings are a popular item. The cheaper mass-produced stuff (US$5 to US$20 per piece) is sent mostly to souvenir shops and street vendors. Works of a higher standard are displayed in art galleries. Prices for paintings range from US$50 to US$500, but some of the hottest Vietnamese artists now fetch up to 10 times that. It's important to know that there are quite a few forgeries around - just because you spot a painting by a 'famous Vietnamese artist' does not mean that it's an original, though it may still be an attractive work of art. Clothing Clothing varies greatly from tourist T-shirts to beaded handbags and traditional Áo dài (the traditional costume) made to fit your size. Items made from silk are a popular buy, with prices varying depending on the material and tailor. Pre-made traditional dresses are sold in many places. However, it is more recommended to have the dress made to fit your body, which takes more time and slightly more money. Áo dài (ow-zai in the north, ow-yai in the south) is the national of dress of both Vietnamese women and men and is a popular item, especially for women. Ready-made ao dai cost from US$10 to US$20, while the custom-tailored sets are notably more. Prices vary by the store and material used. If you want to buy custom-made clothing for your friends, you'll need their measurements: neck diameter, breast, waist, hip and length (from waist to hem). As a general rule, you get best results when you're right there and are measured by the tailor or seamstress. There are ao dai tailors nation-wide, but the ones in places like HCMC, Hoi An and Hanoi are more accustomed to dealing with foreigners. Shoes, slippers and handbags made from traditional materials (silk and bamboo) can also become unique gifts and accessories. T-shirts are ever popular items with travellers. A printed shirt costs around 20,000D while an embroidered design will cost maybe 50,000D. However, 'large' in Asia is often equivalent to 'medium' in the West. If you are really large, forget it unless you want to have your shirts individually tailored. The Vietnamese traditional conical hat Nón lá, can be found everywhere throughout the country, but hats made in Hue are most famous as they have a poem embroided on the inside. Women all over the country wear conical hats to keep the sun off their faces, though they also function as umbrellas in the rain. If you hold a well-made conical hat up to the light, you'll be able to see that between the layers of straw material are fine paper cuts The best-quality conical hats are produced in the Hue area. Gems and jewelry Vietnam is rich in gemstones. The jewelry business is also increasing during current years, and sophisticated works are produced by both big businesses and traditional crafstmen. The quality of the gemstones sold is sometimes doubtable, so it is recommended that you buy gems at prestigious locations and be ware with cheap prices. Vietnam produces some good gems, but there are plenty of fakes and flawed ones around. This doesn't mean that you can't buy something if you think it's beautiful, but don't think that you'll find a cut diamond or polished ruby for a fraction of what you'd pay at home. Some travellers have actually thought that they could buy gems in Vietnam and sell these at home for a profit. Such business requires considerable expertise and good connections in the mining industry. Handicrafts Vietnam has got its very own distinctive and unique range of traditional handicrafts and goods to buy, especially silks, lacquerware, embroidery, ethnic minority products, plus buffalo horn, wood, bamboo and rice paper and ceramic items. Other popular handicrafts in Vietnam include lacquer ware, wood-block prints, and oil and watercolor paintings, blinds made from bamboo, reed mats, carpets, and leatherwork Both traditional and modern paintings are a popular item. The cheaper mass-produced stuff (US$5 to US$20 per piece) is sent mostly to souvenir shops and street vendors. Works of a higher standard are displayed in art galleries. Prices for paintings range from US$50 to US$500, but some of the hottest Vietnamese artists now fetch up to 10 times that. It's important to know that there are quite a few forgeries around - just because you spot a painting by a 'famous Vietnamese artist' does not mean that it's an original, though it may still be an attractive work of art. Hot items on the tourist market include lacquerware, boxes and wooden screens with mother-of-pearl inlay, ceramics (check out the elephants), colourful embroidered items (hangings, tablecloths, pillow cases, pyjamas and robes), greeting cards with silk paintings on the front, wood-block prints, oil paintings, watercolours, blinds made of hanging bamboo beads (many travellers like the ones that have a replica of the Mona Lisa), reed mats, carpets, jewellery and leatherwork. Stamps Postage stamps, already set in a collector's book, are readily available either inside or near the post office in major cities Or at some hotel gift shops and bookshops. You can even find stamps from the now-extinct South Vietnamese regime. It is not recommended that you buy imported, famous branded products such as clothing, perfume or electronics in Vietnam as tax makes these items more costly than neighboring countries. War souvenirs Most war souvenirs sold today in Vietnam (for example, Zippo lighters engraved with platoon philosophy) are fake reproductions. Be careful while transporting these items as many airlines do not allow weapons, even fakes to be carried on their planes. In places frequented by tourists, it's easy to buy what looks like equipment left over from the American War. However, almost all of these items are reproductions and your chances of finding anything original are slim. Enterprising back-alley tailors turn out US military uniforms, while metalcraft shops have learned how to make helmets, bayonets and dog tags. The fake Zippo lighters engraved with 'soldier poetry' are still one of the hottest-selling items. You can pay extra to get one that's been beat up to look like a war relic, or just buy a brand-new shiny one for less. One thing you should think twice about purchasing are weapons and ammunition even if fake. It's illegal to carry real or fake ammunition and weapons on airlines and many countries will arrest you if any such goods are found in your luggage. Art and Antiques: Vietnam has very strict regulations about exporting real antiques. Most “antique” and art pieces sold to tourists are fake or copies of the original. Be careful and check your sources for certificates if they claim to sell you an original or antique piece.There are several good shops to hunt for art and antiques, but Vietnam has strict regulations on the export of real antiques, so be sure that what you buy can be taken out of the country legally. Please don't buy souvenirs taken from historical sites, or made from endangered wildlife such as turtle shells. Electronics: Electronic goods sold in Vietnam are actually not such a great bargain. You'd be better off purchasing these in duty-free ports such as Hong Kong and Singapore. However, the prices charged in Vietnam are not bad, mainly due to the black market (smuggling), which also results in 'duty-free' goods. Music Across Vietnam, especially in larger cities, you'll find an astounding
collection of CDs, VCDs, DVDs and audio tapes for sale, 99% of which are
pirated. The official word is that this illegal practice will be 'cleaned up' by
the authorities, but don't hold your breath waiting. Bargaining TricksAs a general principal, items sold in touristy areas, with no visible price tags, must be bargained for - expect the vendor to start the bidding at two to five times the real price. Tagged items may be negotiable, but more often than not the prices are fixed. Try to master key Vietnamese words for bargaining such as:
Where to Shop
Hanoi Shopping (Read More)If you're particularly enthusiastic about quality textiles, clothes and handicrafts, shopping in Hanoi will not disappoint. The city also has a good range of day and night markets, both indoors and outdoors and you'll find that night markets are more of a social than shopping occasion but that doesn't preclude finding bargains at night. Ho Chi Minh City Shopping (Read More)Ho Chi Minh City is a fun place to shop for bargains. Some goods can be unique and fascinating – old propaganda posters, for example; we found one that exhorted people to plant garlic for export. Clothing includes silks and hand-woven fabrics with a reputation for high quality. Hue Shopping (Read More)A must-buy item in Hue should include the Vietnamese Nón lá, the conical-shaped hat made by woven palm leaves. The hat has been around almost as long as the country and is worn by men and women everywhere. The lighter the hat is the more elegant the look. In Hue especially, the hat makers insert poems into the weaves and the poem can only be seen when the hat is held up to the sunlight, making it even more special.
The shoppers can browse through the wares of the
various shops that are located in the main streets of Tran Hung Dao, Phan Dang
Luu, Le Loi and Mai Thuc Loan. A number of fashion shops, souvenir shops and
galleries are concentrated on these large streets in Hue City.
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Vietnam Tourism
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