What unique Christmas gifts can you find in Vietnam? Look no further! Explore the Magic of Vietnamese Christmas Gifts!
A great gift from Vietnam should showcase Vietnamese culture, should take into account the individual preferences of the recipient, should be practical, and should be good quality to boot.
Let’s look at some popular categories for Vietnamese gifts and some specific places you can buy gifts in each category, from the bustling local markets of Ho Chi Minh City to the boutique jewelers in Hanoi’s Hang Bac Street.
Embrace the creativity of local artisans and find exquisite fashion, natural skincare, jewelry, and more! Plus, with the convenience of online shopping, these treasures are just a click away. Vote for your favorite and leave your suggestions with our interactive list – we love your input!
Table of Contents
Vietnam Natural Beauty Products
Asian Beauty products tend to give a subtler, lovelier look than beauty products from Western countries which are more focused on the “sexy” look. The difference is impossible to fully describe, so you’ll have to see it yourself. All you need to know is that cosmetics are a huge business here, and you can pick up some incredible gifts for female friends if you know where to look.
Nau Nau
This place makes all kinds of products from facial creams to shampoos to aromatherapy to perfumes. All the products are all-natural and made from ingredients acquired at farms all over Vietnam.
Addresses:
Floor 5, 42 Nguyen Hue, District 1, HCMC
14 Tran Ngoc Dien, District 2, HCMC
Floor 4, 14 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Photo by Nau Nau
Skinna
Founded by Christie Ho, a Vietnamese woman who lived in the US for nearly 15 years, Skinna is all about going green via raw materials.
Its product line focuses on promoting natural beauty by taking care of your body rather than applying makeup. In fact, lipstick is the only makeup Skinna offers – most of their stuff is lotions and regenerative cleansers for every part of the body.
Address:
431 To Hien Thanh, District 10, HCMC
Cocoon
Cocoon is another vegan and cruelty-free brand that sources from local botanical businesses all across Vietnam. What sets it apart from similar Vietnamese brands, though, is the emphasis it places on rigorous scientific testing. Each of its products is refined in a lab, all the while maintaining its 100% organic roots. The resulting serums are recognized by global agencies like PETA and Leaping Bunny, which adds credibility to the company and helps it stand out from the crowd.
Vietnam Local Clothing Brands
Vietnam may have a lot of low-quality clothing manufacturers that use cheap labor and mass production, but it also has several extremely high-quality manufacturers that really value the ancient art of hand making clothing that looks good and lasts a long time.
Metiseko
As per Metiseko’s site, they “draw from inspiring Vietnamese landscapes and folk traditions to create original fabric designs that capture the essence of this enchanting country.” That’s reason enough to bring the pieces back as Christmas gifts, but the incredible quality of the sustainably-sourced fabrics they use should convince you if the designs don’t.
Addresses:
101 Dong Khoi, District 1, HCMC
And 5 other Addresses in HCMC, Hanoi, and Hoi An
Lykke the Label
Lykke the Label proudly proclaims on their site that they are “slow fashion;” that is, they don’t utilize mass production or cheap labor, instead choosing quality over quantity. The fabrics they use are all-natural and ethical, too.
Address:
14 Tran Ngoc Dien
Profile Man
Profile Man started off in 2018 as a menswear shop with just 10 pieces. It’s grown a bit since then and even added a womenswear line in 2022, but it has always focused on using bright colors and breathable materials in all its clothes. That tropical aesthetic and feel makes it a good choice for gifts that will reflect the climate (both literal and figurative) of Vietnam.
Address:
89/97bis Tran Quoc Toan, District 3, HCMC
Photo by Lykke the Label
Sinhtolina
Sinhhtolina’s mission is to make clothes that make the wearer feel like they’re on vacation. In other words, breezy, colorful, and comfortable are a few of the key attributes they go for. It’s like a specialized womenswear version of the Profile Man brand described above.Sinhtolina’s founder, Leo, is from the beach city of Nha Trang and is dedicated to repurposing cloth instead of buying it new. So Sinhtolina only uses “factory-rejected” textiles and cuts out the imperfections before using it in limited-run clothing lines.
Address:
9/20 Street 64, Thao Dien, District 2, HCMC
Routine
Routine is another menswear brand but with a more rugged and classic aesthetic. Even though the designs are not exactly tropical, however, they do strongly reflect Vietnamese culture. For example, the latest collection entitled Coffee Lovers is and ode to the massive Vietnamese coffee industry and the coffee culture that pervades much of urban Vietnam.
Addresses:
63 Nguyen Luong Bang, Dong Da District, Hanoi
508 Nguyen Thi Thap, District 7, HCMC
And 32 other locations all up and down Vietnam
Vietnam Local Jewelry Brands and Designers
Vietnamese jewelry is distinct from jewelry in other countries for a few reasons:
- Traditional craftsmanship: It’s often handcrafted by skilled artisans, following centuries-old Vietnamese techniques passed down through generations.
- Materials: Vietnamese jewelry designs often lean heavily on materials that Vietnam is famous for, like marble or bamboo.
- Symbolism. Jewelry in Vietnam often carries significant symbolism, such as bringing good luck, health, or prosperity. The designs may include specific symbols believed to have beneficial properties.
Of course, not all jewelry in Vietnam adheres to these values. You have to know where to go.
Eunoia Fine Jewelry
Eunoia specializes in gold jewelry, taking classical and traditional Vietnamese designs and putting a modern twist on them.
It also has a fantastic custom jewelry design service, with professional designers on hand to help you design your own prototype. From there, expert casters will take the design from idea to reality, and you can slip it into your luggage to brink back home as the perfect gift from Vietnam.
Address:
87/51A Le Van Duyet, Binh Thanh District, HCMC
Kat Jewelry
Kat specializes in silver jewelry. It was founded in 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City as a wire art jeweler and, although it has maintained the same no-frills aesthetic, it has upgraded its primary material significantly. Whether you’re looking for a bracelet, a necklace, or a nose ring, Kat uses the best-quality silver available in Vietnam.
Addresses:
450 Hai Ba Trung, District 1, HCMC
And 9 other addresses in HCMC, 1 in Hanoi, and 1 in Da Nang
Shimmer Store
Shimmer also specializes in Vietnamese silver products, but its designs incorporate brightly-colored crystal more heavily than the simpler silver jewelry at Kat. Their catalog also includes lots of fun items like birth stones.
Address:
128 Le Lai, District 1, HCM
Foodies Gifts
The vibrant Vietnamese cuisine is one of the biggest draws of the country for visitors, from street food stalls to coffee shops to fine dining establishments. Unfortunately, you can’t really order takeout foods or fresh fruit and bring them home as gifts. Instead, check out some of these shops that sell specialty foods and drink products.
Maison Marou
The award-winning artisanal chocolate of Maison Marou in District 1 is almost certainly the best chocolate in Vietnam and arguably some of the best chocolate in all of Asia.
Marou specializes in “bean to bar” chocolate, meaning they oversee every step of the process from sourcing cacao beans to producing the final chocolate product. This micromanagement approach to every step of the production process is something you just can’t find in most areas of the world where the agricultural process is more commercialized. The bean-to-bar approach allows Maison Marou to create distinct flavor profiles in the same vein as a “single orchard” wine.
Protip, go to the Maison Marou location, take a video of the chocolate being made there, and include it when you give the chocolate at Christmas! Providing a visual for the origin of the gift makes it even more memorable.
Addresses:
167 Calmette
And 12 other locations in HCMC and Hanoi
Cocoa Project
Cocoa Project is another chocolate-shopping option with a slightly more European style than Maison Marou. Find out why and read more about the Cocoa project here.
Address:
143 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, HCMC
La Viet
Vietnam has a vibrant coffee culture, and for good reason: Vietnamese coffee is absolutely amazing. Thick, strong, nutty, and sweet, the flavor permeates the tastebuds in a way coffee from other countries does not. For that reason, bringing back Vietnamese coffee beans is a great gift idea.
La Viet is the premier brand in Southeast Asia for coffee beans. It’s ethically sourced, packaged in a way that preserves maximum freshness, and it has partnerships with all the very finest coffee plantations in central Vietnam (the area best-known for coffee production).
Not only does it have coffee, but accessories, too. Buying a drip coffee maker so that the gift recipient can make their coffee in the traditional Vietnamese style is a great accompaniment for the beans.
Addresses:
191 Hai Ba Trung, District 3, HCMC
6B Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
And many other locations in HCMC, Hanoi, Da Lat, and Quy Nhon
Photo by La Viet
Langfarm
Langfarm sells all kinds of dried goods, from nuts to dried fruit to traditional tea. You’ll find tons of products that western tourists (and their Christmas gift recipients) will have never tried before, which is ideal for a Vietnamese gift.
Addresses:
6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Da Lat
And 31 other locations in HCMC, Hanoi, and all throughout Vietnam
Photo by Langfarm
Traditional Gifts
Some of the best gifts are the traditional items that Vietnam has been offering for centuries. From silk scarves to wooden ornaments, the items that Vietnamese people actually buy for each other on a special occasion like Tet Holiday or the Mid-Autumn festival make for good christmas gifts, too.
Silk Products
Silk holds a special place in Vietnamese culture, symbolizing wealth, elegance, and cultural heritage. Historically, silk has been considered a prestigious material. It’s used in garments made for special occasions because of its flowing aesthetic.
Today, Vietnam’s silk products are made using a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern stylings. From clothing to scarves to home decor, silk items make excellent Christmas gifts because they offer a piece of Vietnamese heritage and artistry.
Where to Buy Silk in Vietnam
- Ben Thanh Market, HCMC
- Khaisilk, a nationwide brand
- Hang Gai Street, Hanoi
- The Silk Village, Hanoi
Traditional Handicrafts
Go to almost any local market in a touristy area of a Vietnamese city and you’ll find countless vendors selling beautiful but functional items. They’re meant as souvenirs, but they make excellent small gifts as well. You’ll find treasures like:
- Lacquerware
- Bamboo chopsticks
- Ceramic dishware and vases
- Traditional Vietnamese instruments
- Combs
- Woven bags
- Makeup boxes
These are the types of stalls where you can almost always bargain for a better deal, so be bold and don’t be scared to do some haggling! If you’re not comfortable doing so, try to enlist a Vietnamese friend to go to the market with you to get the best deals.
Great markets to try include:
- An Dong Market, District 5, HCMC
- Ben Thanh Market, District 1, HCMC
- Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
- Dong Xuan Market, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An
Alcohol
Like almost every country, Vietnam has a strong tradition of local alcohols. Most local markets in the country (even small ones) will likely have a few stands selling “rượu,” the vietnamese word for liquor. From banana liquor to rice wine to snake whisky, you’ll definitely find some options you won’t find back home. And giving one for Christmas will be a festive surprise that the recipient will enjoy a lot more than another pair of socks.
NOTE: Some of the alcohol sold at markets will come in unmarked bottles. Stay away from those options, as many of them are mixed with dangerously high amounts of ethanol. Stick to the alcohol from actual brands!
There are also more upscale Vietnamese alcohol options that you’ll only find at the supermarket or in brick-and-mortar liquor shops. Some good brands to buy as gifts include:
- Lady Trieu
- Son Tinh
- Song Cai Distillery
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or anywhere in between, Vietnam has tons of products that make for great gifts! We hope this guide has served as inspiration for you to find the perfect gift for your friends and family. And, most importantly, Merry Christmas to all!
