\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>However, it\u2019s still nice to bring home a physical memento to remember these good times by, or some traditional food to share a taste of this beautiful country with friends and family.<\/span><\/p>\n
Here are <\/span>10 souvenirs in Vietnam <\/b>worth getting:<\/span><\/p>\n This traditional form of painting has its roots in the <\/span>\u0110\u00f4ng H\u1ed3 Village<\/b> of Northern Vietnam, hence the name <\/span>\u0110\u00f4ng H\u1ed3 paintings<\/b>. The paper used for the paintings is specially made by cooking the bark of the <\/span>Rhamnoneuron balansae <\/span><\/em>tree, also called <\/span>d\u00f3<\/span><\/em>, in water for months, before coating it with a mixture of rice paste and powdered clamshells. This unique method results in the paper being much more durable and water-resistant.<\/span><\/p>\n The colors all come from natural sources as well. For instance, black is the color of charcoal, green is extracted from tree leaves, and red comes from powdered red gravel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Theme-wise, \u0110\u00f4ng H\u1ed3 paintings are bright and optimistic, conveying the wishes of the ancient Vietnamese people. Some of the popular ones depict a flock of chickens or a herd of pigs, representing prosperity as these were the two main sources of meat back in the day.<\/span><\/p>\n Price:<\/b><\/span> From<\/span> VND150,000 (~USD6.48)<\/b><\/p>\n Find \u0110\u00f4ng H\u1ed3 paintings for sale at:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Hanoi:<\/span><\/p>\n Ho Chi Minh City<\/span><\/p>\n While not unique to the country like some other items on this list, <\/span>Vietnamese lacquerware<\/b> is sought after for its top quality, both in terms of aesthetics and durability. The product is coated in several layers of paint made from the sap of the <\/span>Toxicodendron succedaneum<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>also known as the <\/span>s\u01a1n<\/span><\/em> tree, giving it a smooth and durable exterior.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are interested in the making of lacquerware, pay a visit to the Atelier Pascale company. Just over a 10-minute drive from Hanoi\u2019s center, the venue is home to a workshop where you can witness the creation of the products. Alternatively, if you are in Ho Chi Minh City, Phuong Nam Lacquerware is also a reputable brand to get lacquerware from.<\/span><\/p>\n Where to buy lacquerware in Vietnam:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n In Hanoi:<\/span><\/p>\n In Ho Chi Minh City:<\/span><\/p>\n Of course no list of Vietnamese souvenirs would be complete without the famous <\/span>\u00e1o d\u00e0i<\/b><\/em>. Despite having versions for both men and women, this attire is mostly used by the latter nowadays as its tight-fitted long dress flatters the characteristics of the female body and is seen as a symbol of beauty, elegance, and tenderness.<\/span><\/p>\n Vietnamese women wear <\/span>\u00e1o d\u00e0i<\/span><\/em> on practically every special occasion, from the <\/span>Tet festival<\/span><\/a> to weddings. Schoolgirls at many public high schools are also required to wear this every Monday and on the opening and closing ceremony of the school year.<\/span><\/p>\n Price: <\/span><\/strong>F<\/span><\/span>rom <\/span>VND650,000 (~USD27.89)<\/b><\/p>\n In Hanoi, you can find \u00e1o d\u00e0i at:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, if you are in Ho Chi Minh City, check out these <\/span>12 mom-approved <\/span>\u00e1o d\u00e0i <\/span><\/em>brands<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n As iconic as <\/span>\u00e1o d\u00e0i <\/span><\/em>is the conical hat – or <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1 <\/em><\/strong>as we also call it. Easy to make, light in weight, and offering good protection against both the sun and the rain, it has been a must-have accessory for farmers for centuries, which is why the image of <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1 <\/span><\/em>is often associated with rice fields.<\/span><\/p>\n You can find <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1 <\/span><\/em>available for sale at any souvenir shop in Hanoi\u2019s Old Quarter or the B\u1ebfn Th\u00e0nh Market in Ho Chi Minh City with prices ranging from <\/span>VND20,000 (~USD0.86)<\/b> to as high as <\/span>VND200,000<\/b> (~USD8.65)<\/b>,<\/span> depending on how the hat is decorated.<\/span><\/p>\n If the <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1<\/span><\/em> is too mainstream for your liking and you want something more unique, the <\/span>quai thao<\/b><\/em> hat<\/b> is a solid alternative. A traditional headgear worn by northern Vietnamese women, the bamboo-and-palm-leaf hat is characterized by its flat round shape and silk strap, and can be adorned with embroidery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While the conical <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1 <\/span><\/em>hat is more for everyday use, <\/span>quai thao<\/span><\/em> hats are reserved for special occasions such as festivals and traditional music performances. In the past, they were seen as a symbol of sophistication worn by women of the upper classes.<\/span><\/p>\n Quai thao<\/span><\/em> hats are not as popular as its conical brethren, so you\u2019ll have to go a bit out of your way to the <\/span>Chu\u00f4ng Craft Village <\/b>30km away from the center of Hanoi to find one. <\/span> GPS coordinates:<\/b><\/span> 20\u00b049’34.7″N 105\u00b045’38.6″E<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\nArt<\/h3>\n
\n1. \u0110\u00f4ng H\u1ed3 paintings – traditional Vietnamese paintings<\/h4>\n
\n![\"vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/dong-ho-painting.jpg\")
\n<\/span><\/i>Image credit: <\/span>@kukuluuu<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/dong-ho-painting-2.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@caodon.hairsalon<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n2. Lacquerware – high-quality products in all shapes and sizes<\/h4>\n
\n![\"vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/vietnam-lacquerware.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@<\/span>kalirichmond<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/vietnam-lacquerware-2.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@viet_nikki<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n
\nClothing and accessories<\/h3>\n
\n3. \u00c1o d\u00e0i – traditional Vietnamese attire<\/h4>\n
\n![\"Vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ao-dai.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@aodaisinhvien.20<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ao-dai-2.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@imryle_nnth<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n4. N\u00f3n l\u00e1 – the iconic conical hat<\/h4>\n
\n![\"Vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/non-la.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@paragon_na<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/non-la-2-1.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@janyabam<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n5. Quai thao hat – a less mainstream alternative to the conical hat<\/h4>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/non-quai-thao.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>@nga_fan<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/non-quai-thao-2-1.jpg\")
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Ng\u1ecdc H\u1ea1<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Prices range from <\/span>VND120,000 (~USD5.19)<\/b> for a small, simple hat to over <\/span>VND200,000<\/b> (~USD8.65)<\/b> for a bigger, more beautifully adorned one. In the village, you can also find the common <\/span>n\u00f3n l\u00e1 <\/span><\/em>conical hat and see how they are made with your own eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n6. Woven fabric products by ethnic minority groups<\/h4>\n
\n
![\"Vietnam](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ethnic-clothes-2.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ethnic-clothes.jpg\")