A country of all kinds of exoticism, unusually hardworking people who skillfully use the gifts of generous nature, gives tourists not only a lot of stunning impressions. For a long time, the whole world has known the famous healing balm "Star", which is widely used for colds, burns, and joint diseases. Meticulous Vietnamese have learned to extract maximum benefit from the surrounding nature, sea spaces and depths. You will not see so many unique products, goods, products in the Vietnamese markets. In order not to get confused when choosing purchases, you should decide in advance what to bring from Vietnam as a gift.
Fruits
Few countries can rival Vietnam in the amount and variety of fruits. The climate with year-round warm weather allows harvesting fruits for 8 months. Among Vietnamese garden gifts, there are specimens whose name is even unfamiliar to many, not to mention the taste. Of course, there are certain types of them in Russian supermarkets in large cities, but they are sold at fabulous prices and of dubious quality.
Therefore, being in Vietnam, where exotic fruit is offered for "pennies", it will be unforgivable not to buy Vietnamese fruits. The best time to buy is before departure in the morning, when the fruits have not lost their freshness, and the traders are not tired of being helpful and can give up in price. If you want to surprise your relatives, buy a longan (dragon eye) - a fruit with a dense skin and transparent juicy pulp, rich in calcium and phosphorus.
Chinese plum "lychee", containing a complex of vitamins, with a beautiful skin and sweet delicate contents should also interest you. It is impossible to resist the superexotic "hairy" rambutan fruit of bright red color and curved thorns. Jackfruit is a breadfruit, sapodilla (sweet pear taste), noina (sour cream apple), etc. - a rich choice.
Cosmetics
As mentioned above, the Vietnamese are famous masters of preparing all kinds of potions based on natural products. This applies, first of all, to cosmetic products, both medicinal and decorative. From decorative means, for example, rice powder mixed with pearl powder. Creams, lotions, masks, foams, natural-based shampoos are presented in large quantities. In Vietnamese stores, you can buy not only domestic cosmetics, but also other Asian countries: Japan, Korea, Thailand.
Of the plant components, turmeric, coconut, aloe vera, ginseng, tea leaves, chamomile, etc. are widely used here. Animal additives are popular in the production of cosmetics: snail mucus (allantoin), python fat. For skin care, here you can buy creams with the addition of turmeric (turmeric) of a wide range of applications: nourishing, moisturizing, to eliminate pigmentation and acne, from wrinkles under the eyes, etc.
According to reviews, creams with turmeric and python oil are very effective. A good purchase would be a foam for washing, a film mask (especially for oily skin) with turmeric or activated carbon. The Wondera plant-based face wash with the addition of allantoin and the collagen mask with gold deserved a good rating. It's unforgivable to leave Vietnam without coconut oil (200 ml for $ 1.50). Oriental Herb bamboo salt toothpastes are in demand - worth buying.
Medicines
If the Vietnamese balm "Zvezdochka" has been popular in Russia for a long time, other medicines are little known. In terms of quality and medicinal properties, they are not inferior to balm, but surpass it, so some of them are worth bringing. But you do not need to immediately run to the nearest pharmacy located next to the hotel - prices there will obviously be higher. Every city has a municipal pharmacy, where all medicines are cheaper, and some medicines can be purchased in a kit at a wholesale price.
You will not regret buying a cold set: Lozena syrup and Xoanq herbal sprays for the common cold and Vina Ho for throat ailments. It is worth purchasing Thien Thao Baim herbal balm with a pleasant aroma. An excellent anti-inflammatory agent is the White Tiger balm, which contains 7 oils, menthol and wax. Pocket inhalers that help eliminate a runny nose, headache, motion sickness symptoms will be a good useful gift.
The exotic acquisition of Mo Tran (python oil) will save you from burns and frostbite, and Tamanu Oil (Alexandrian laurel) heals any wounds and irritations on the skin, relieves inflammation of the damaged areas. BAA Euqica Fort - soft capsules based on essential oils and plant extracts actively fight colds. The antibiotic Clamentin, a universal bactericidal agent, will not be superfluous.
Ointments
The choice of medicinal ointments in pharmacies in Vietnam is simply huge - for almost all types of pain. Salonpas gel with essential oils has proven itself well. The ointment is quickly absorbed through the pores of the skin and soothes pain. The drug began to be produced in the form of plasters and in liquid form. Cobrataxan ointment with cobra venom helps to cope with sciatica, arthritis, arthrosis perfectly - it is good to have it in your home arsenal. Bear bile ointment has a similar effect.
You should definitely buy a universal ointment with cobra venom and with essential oils of plants Honq Linh Cot. This is a real savior for a variety of joint pains. Miraculously antibacterial sterilizing effect of Bao Phn Knang ointment with turmeric. For those who treat psoriasis, Explaq ointment is suitable, which effectively cleanses, nourishes and aromatizes the affected skin. Kesermfa ointment will be indispensable for burns and bruises. Healing ointments are a great gift for everyone.
Silk
For many centuries, natural Chinese silk has been highly valued in European countries. But Vietnamese silk is not inferior in quality to Chinese silk fabrics, becoming an increasingly popular commodity among foreign tourists. Now Vietnamese silk material can be bought in Russia, but its cost is very high. Where, if not in Vietnam itself, you can buy silk practically at cost. Here in Lam Dong province is the largest silk production center.
On the Baolok plateau are concentrated mulberry plantations for breeding silkworms and large factories for the production of fabrics. Local fabrics (20 types) are characterized by soft elasticity, uniformity of threads and do not become electrified. A wide variety of colors, original design, affordable prices will make the purchase of Baolok silk a pleasant surprise. Especially if you buy it in special stores at silk factories, where it is sold directly, without intermediaries.
There are such shops in all major cities of the country. It is the cheapest in the north of Vietnam, which produces fabric in huge volumes. If you are a fan of handicrafts, go to the Hanoi neighborhoods of Van Phuc and Chin Tien villages. Here you can buy fabric, ready-made clothes, and a picture embroidered with silk at very reasonable prices (from € 3 to € 20).
Crocodile leather products
It's no secret that crocodile leather products are a symbol of luxury and respectability of their owners. Bags, briefcases, wallets, crocodile leather shoes cost a lot of money, which confirms the high material status of their purchasers. However, in Vietnam, such things can be bought at more moderate prices.
Crocodiles, caimans, alligators are found here in the wild and are raised in large numbers on crocodile farms. There are 7 crocodile leather companies operating in Hanoi, one of them, Hoang Long, is engaged in the cultivation of alligators. 2 modern companies producing crocodile bags, shoes and products from other natural materials are open in Hanoi.When choosing some kind of crocodile product, you need to know that things made of alligator skin are most valuable, and items from a caiman will be cheaper.
In general, the range of prices for handbags from a crocodile is from $ 100 to $ 900, for a purse - $ 40-120, for shoes - $ 110-220. In order not to allow yourself to be deceived by scammers, it is worth buying goods in the brand stores of the above-named companies (An Fu, Ti Pi Crocodile, Seanchan, Vintra Vina, Vietnam Nam Nrok, Hoang Long) Carefully examine the product, look at the patterns, feel the bumps: they should be solid. Thanks to modern dyeing technologies, leather can be of any color.
Hat non
Traditionally, hats have become a sign of people's nationality. Indivisible, for example, Mexicans and sombreros, Americans and baseball caps, French and berets. English aristocrats are unthinkable without intricate hats - an example of this is Queen Elizabeth. It is also difficult to imagine the Vietnamese without the cone-shaped non hat, which has even become the object of legend. Initially, this headdress, which protected the head from the scorching sun and rain, was worn by Vietnamese peasants.
Rain streams flow down the sides of the cone, protecting not only the head, but also the shoulders. It can be used as a basket for picking vegetables and as a container for water. Now the non hat has become a fashionable accessory for city dwellers. Coquets tear off their curious glances behind her fields, fan her like a fan in the heat, lovers hide behind her when kissing.
These cute items are made from straw, bamboo and palm leaves. From a working panama hat, a non turned into an exquisite headdress. It is decorated with patterns, embroidery, rhinestones, ribbons, beads. The production of non-hats is a painstaking business that requires colossal patience. Despite this, non hats are sold at a low price (from 0.5 € to 5 €) in any souvenir shop.
Silverware
Tourists visiting Vietnamese cities for the first time are surprised by the large availability of silver jewelry. Export of gold items is prohibited. Probably, this is correct, because gold, according to Buddhists, is the metal of the devil's temptation, and silver is a symbol of divine mercy. All over the world, gold is the equivalent of money, and carrying money on yourself is not ethical. Jewelry stores in Nha Trang, Hanoi, Da Nang, Mui Ne have a huge assortment of silver items with pearls, sapphire, topaz and other stones.
There is a great opportunity to buy both individual jewelry in the form of a ring, earrings, pendant, and sets. For example, a luxurious set (ring and earrings) in a silver setting with topaz costs 24,000 rubles here, which is half the price in Moscow. In all jewelry stores, the sales leaders are silver items with pearls. The Vietnamese love jewelry with this stone, both sea and river.
Price from 1.5 thousand rubles. up to 4 thousand rubles. Similar jewelry with sapphire will cost more (from 8 thousand to 20 thousand). Special posters-tables hung in stores help to choose a stone according to the sign of the zodiac. But professional sellers will also provide useful advice. It is difficult to resist the temptation with such a rich selection of jewelry.
Pearl
The sea country Vietnam is the world leader in the extraction and cultivation of pearls. Farms producing quality pearls are not uncommon here. Pearls have been cultivated in Vietnam since the 30s of the last century, stimulating shellfish to release nacre. But natural extraction in rivers and seas does not stop. Therefore, there is no shortage of pearl products here.
The Vietnamese, who are sensitive to this divine gift of nature, produce a lot of all kinds of pearl jewelry. Moreover, it is presented in different shades: dazzling white, milky cream, pink, gray, blue and even black. The most expensive items with rare black pearls. Natural stones come in different sizes, shapes and colors. Natural pearls (cultured and natural) do not have a perfectly round shape, which distinguishes them from a fake.
Pearls are sold everywhere here: on street stalls, on market stalls, in souvenir shops, in elite boutiques. Buying a bead or necklace from a tray, you can "run into" a fake. In jewelry stores, pearl products are more expensive, but with a guarantee of quality. Some tourists specially go to Phu Quoc Island, where there is a pearl farm, and there they buy earrings, beads, bracelets, as they say, first-hand.
Porcelain
If you are even a little interested in porcelain, you should definitely buy something from Vietnamese porcelain. First of all, because it is unique in composition, it is made from special types of clay, which is only found in Vietnam. Secondly, the firing process takes place according to old technologies, which make the product thin and durable (meaning manual production). Painting and drying of objects is also distinguished by its originality.
In addition to industrial porcelain production, the traditional craft of hand-made porcelain items is still held in high esteem in Vietnam. In dozens of villages today there are about a thousand kilns and hereditary dynasties of porcelain masters. You can buy various souvenirs, items of practical use made of porcelain in specialized stores in all major cities.
Tea and table sets, tea sets, decorative and table vases with the finest designs in an exotic key, graceful figurines of animals and birds - for every taste and wallet. If you want to buy an exclusive, you should go as part of an excursion to the "ceramic" villages (Batchang, Tkhoha, Fulang). They can offer you truly unique porcelain items. Between Hanoi and Halong, there is a large ceramic market by the road with a rich selection of ceramics and porcelain.
Vietnamese oil
Like other Asian countries, Vietnam is an active producer of various oils, both food and medical and cosmetic. Palm oil, which has become the talk of the town in Russia, is produced here from coconut and is very popular. Coconut oil smells good, contains acids important to the body and has a wide range of uses. By purchasing Thien Thao medicated oil, you will provide yourself and your loved ones with an excellent prophylactic remedy for colds, headache and joint pain treatment.
The essential oil from oud (scarlet tree) has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and the heart, the nervous system, but it is very expensive. Those to whom you present Truong Son oil, sold in all Vietnamese pharmacies and shops, will be happy. Its therapeutic effect is universal: cough, runny nose, motion sickness, bruises, insect bites, toothache and headache, etc. It is used only externally, without leaving any stains, although it looks emerald green. The most modern drug in the line of ointments is Ginger based on ginger, complete with other herbal ingredients.
Spice
Tropical nature has endowed Vietnam with a mass of spicy plants, from which various spices are prepared. Their selection is truly great, and if you wish, you can bring from here a whole set of aromatic spices for almost all dishes. Unlike Mexican spices, Vietnamese spices are not as hot and hot, but have a milder spicy taste. The most common spice is pepper: black, white, red, chili.
Whole plantations are planted by local farmers: Vietnamese pepper accounts for 48% of the world's supply. It is better to buy it in peas so that it does not lose its properties. And chili comes in the form of pods and powder. In total, about 30 types of spices are grown in the country, many of which are unfamiliar to Russians. Star anise (star anise), lemongrass, cinnamon have a very pleasant taste and unique aroma.
A wide range of spices are sold in Viet Farm shops. In them you can buy ginger, turmeric, cardamom, fennel, mixtures: lemon with black pepper, mashed dried shrimp with red pepper.For the exotic, buy lemongrass, lotus seeds, shrimp, peanut sauce. Indian spices are also sold here: curry, lime, sesame, dried herbs - all at low prices. Tourists visiting Phu Quoc Island buy spices directly from farmers.
Tea
Although Vietnamese tea is not as widely known in the world as Chinese, Ceylon and Indian, some of its varieties surpass the famous brands of recognized teas in taste and health. The main varieties of the main drink of the Vietnamese are of 3 colors: green, black, red. Green tea plantations are located high in the mountains, when brewed it has a whitish tint, therefore it is otherwise called "snowy".
This is the most popular drink among the local population. Black tea has a high fermentation, tart, bitter taste. Red tea drinks are characterized by a delicate fruity taste and a unique aroma. In addition to the main varieties, milk tea (oolong tea) is sold here, which contains a lot of vitamins and useful microelements. Oolong ginseng, jasmine oolong is offered.
It is only here that spicy lotus tea is prepared: tea leaves are mixed with lotus flowers and crushed. In specialized stores, you can buy tea made from artichoke and ginseng, which is prepared in the same way as from lotus. From green varieties, choose Thai Guy tea with a special taste. There are several types of pu-erh tea pressed in the form of pancakes. Each variety of a unique drink is useful in its own way, but you should not take it on an empty stomach.
Coffee
Despite the fact that Vietnam ranks second after Brazil in the export of an invigorating drink, Vietnamese coffee is practically unknown to Russians. If you wish, you can order it in the online store, but you will have to pay 4 times more. Being in any Vietnamese city, it would be logical to buy here an authentic drink produced in the country. This is the only way to appreciate the taste and quality of pure Vietnamese coffee.
The Vietnamese grow several varieties of the popular product: Robusta, Arabica, Cooley, Royal Special, Mocca. Large coffee plantations are located in Dalat. Ground coffee, sold in packages, is traditionally made from a mixture of different varieties, which is very popular with connoisseurs of this drink. If you want to feel the taste of a particular type, buy coffee beans.
The Robusta variety is distinguished by a rough, bitter taste, rich in caffeine. Robusta seeds are a rounded oval with a straight cut. Arabica has a more refined taste, but it costs more. Its grains have an oblong shape with an uneven strip in the shape of an S. There are also elite varieties Luwak and Weissen in stores, imported from Indonesia and now grown here.
Alcohol
Unlike Thailand, alcoholic beverages in Vietnam are much cheaper and are sold in almost all retail establishments. However, the Vietnamese cannot be called an over-drinking nation. The selection of alcoholic beverages can hardly be called very rich, especially wine. But on the other hand, the beer produced in Ho Chi Minh City was highly appreciated by the resort visitors. Dozens of its varieties are sold everywhere. It is worth buying a bottle of Lager or Special, or Red, or Saigon, Hanoi as a gift.
The approximate cost is 60-70 rubles per bottle. Vietnam cannot boast of winemaking: there are no large wineries here. Wine is produced only by small private enterprises in Dalat, Ninthhuana, specializing in French winemaking traditions. Good grape wines Cardinal, Cabernet Sayignon, Syrah, Chenin Blanc, which can be taken as a gift, are made under the Vang Phan Rang brand.
Popular apple wine Tao Meo, with a pleasant taste of cider. Strong rice wine Ruou Nep Cam is considered a masculine drink. Present to friends - a bottle of rice vodka (from 100 rubles), Chauvet rum (120 thousand dongs). The most exotic alcoholic souvenir will be a tincture on a snake, gecko or scorpion. But you can drink them only in a strictly metered dose.
Sweets
The peculiarity of Vietnamese sweets is that most of them are prepared on the basis of fruits, which are "a dime a dozen" here. Fruit chips are the most common sweetness and are very healthy. They are made from coconuts, pineapples and other exotic fruits. They are very tasty, low in calories, but they support the body's tone well. Another variety is candied fruits sprinkled with ginger, powdered sugar, licorice and coconut flakes.
Local sweets with a pronounced taste are made from natural ingredients: peanuts, ginger, sesame, coconut, etc. Vietnamese call all fruit sweets with one common word "myt". Products are packed in beautiful boxes and sold in stores. You can bring washed from a lotus: its seeds are covered with caramel balls.
Coconut or ginger flesh, cut into pieces, boiled in syrup and sprinkled with powdered sugar (coconut myt) will also please the family. Will delight friends with jam from noina or rambutan, dried exotic fruits. You will be surprised by the extraordinary rice cookies, where, in addition to rice flour, there is beef and soy sauce. Tofu soy cheese - an indispensable product for every Vietnamese - will also not be superfluous.
Crocodile meat
It is hard for Russians to imagine that crocodile meat in Vietnam is a common food product along with chicken or beef. Of course, it is not sold here everywhere and everywhere, and it is not always possible to find it in every store. But in every self-respecting restaurant you will definitely find dishes from crocodile meat. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the taste of this unpleasant-looking reptile and decide whether to take its meat as a gift.
In recent years, more and more European countries have begun to import crocodile meat due to the increasing diseases of pigs and cattle. It tastes like chicken with a fishy flavor and is environmentally friendly. Crocodile meat is rich in vitamin B 12, proteins and monounsaturated fats, activates leukocytes, therefore it strengthens the immune system, promotes the full penetration of oxygen into the cells. You can bring this exotic delicacy in dried form.
Clothing
In Vietnam, where garment production is developed, you can buy good quality clothing made from natural fabrics. Here they sew sports equipment of the famous world brands Reebok, Adidas Nike, it is sold cheaper than in Russia. Among the Vietnamese clothing brands, Blue Exchanqe and Nino Maxx are listed. Beautiful dresses, blouses made of natural silk; stylish men's shirts, trousers, children's clothing from these companies are in great demand.
The problem can be the lack of the right size: the Vietnamese are guided by their medium-sized physique and small stature. Therefore, it is not easy for Russians and Europeans, especially overweight, to find the right size. Most of the clothes designed for Europeans are in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi. Warm clothes are not for sale in the south, they can only be bought in the northern provinces. If the search for the desired copy is not crowned with success, there is an opportunity to order it from local workshops. In a couple of days, an order made of high-quality natural material will be ready. For a classic-looking suit, you will have to pay from $ 120, for a dress - $ 50.
Footwear
For a long time, Vietnamese shoes were associated with rubber beach slippers, so there was nothing else on the Russian market besides them. Over the past 10 years, more than a billion pairs of various shoes have been produced here annually, which can compete with other well-known brands. Shoe factories with modern, constantly renewed equipment were opened. Strict requirements are imposed on the craftsmen, shoes are sewn from natural materials and leatherette.
10 large firms export shoes, sneakers, clogs, women's sandals, men's sandals to European countries. An original gift for women - clogs or shoes with a wooden block. Leather shoes are quite expensive because 80% of the leather is imported from other countries.But you can easily choose shoes with a top made of silk, cotton, wood, bamboo in local stores. A large selection of sports shoes from famous world brands. The famous national footwear brand - Vina Zyay supplies luxury footwear. A tourist with any wallet will be able to choose a suitable option for some kind of shoes.
Coral
The depths of the Vietnamese coastline are rich in unique living organisms - coral polyps. Dying off, they form organic coral stones. Coral jewelry was known in the Paleolithic era, in Ancient Greece, India and other countries. Corals are pink, red, black, blue. Coral beads, necklaces, bracelets have always been highly valued by women of fashion.
Despite the abundance of corals in Vietnam, it is strictly forbidden to take them out of the country. Even a tiny twig 5 centimeters long faces a customs fine of $ 500. The only way to legally bring them home is to buy polyps from a specialized coral farm. There they are sold legally, packaged in a special way at $ 2 per piece. But it is worth purchasing on the eve of departure in order to bring the polyp alive for the aquarium.
