Shopping in Vietnam: what to buy in 2026
Coffee, silk, lacquerware, ao dai, spices and pearls — a concrete list with 2026 prices in VND and rough USD, where to find each (markets, malls, craft villages), how to bargain and what customs will let you fly home with.
Prices checked in March 2026 against Lotte Mart, Big C and brand stores; rough USD at ~25,000 VND = $1. Customs limits are stated in general terms — always confirm your airline's and your home country's allowances before you fly, using sources like your national customs site and the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Coffee — the top thing to buy in Vietnam
Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil and grows roughly 40% of global robusta. A 500 g pack of decent coffee runs 80,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) — a fraction of what you'd pay back home. If you want the full story on varieties, brands and where to buy, we have a dedicated guide to Vietnamese coffee.
The main coffee types
| Variety | Taste | Caffeine | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robusta | Strong, bitter, with a nutty finish | High | Lovers of strong coffee |
| Arabica | Softer, brighter, fruity notes | Medium | Fans of a subtler cup |
| Culi (peaberry) | Arabica-robusta blend, intense | High | Trying something unusual |
| Excelsa | Rare, with a chocolate-berry aroma | Low | Collectors |
Top brands — what to grab
| Brand | Line | Price per 500 g | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trung Nguyen | Sang Tao #1–5 | 100,000–250,000 VND (~$4–10) | The #1 brand, in ascending strength |
| Trung Nguyen | G7 (instant 3-in-1) | 60,000–80,000 VND (~$2.40–3.20) | The most popular instant |
| Trung Nguyen | Legend | 200,000–400,000 VND (~$8–16) | Premium line |
| Me Trang | MC, Ocean Blue | 80,000–150,000 VND (~$3–6) | Strong in Nha Trang, quality robusta |
| Highlands Coffee | — | 100,000–180,000 VND (~$4–7) | Vietnam's answer to Starbucks |
| Vinacafe | 3-in-1 | 50,000–70,000 VND (~$2–2.80) | Budget instant |
Weasel coffee — the truth
Weasel or civet coffee (cà phê chồn, luwak) is the world's priciest coffee. The beans pass through the digestive tract of the palm civet, whose enzymes strip out the bitterness and leave a smooth, caramel-tinged cup.
Real civet coffee starts at about $450 a kilogram (around 10,000,000 VND). Anything cheaper is flavoured coffee with "Luwak" or "Chon" printed on the bag. A $5–20 pack is guaranteed imitation.
💬 "Almost all the 'weasel coffee' sold to tourists in Vietnam is not the real thing — genuine civet coffee is extraordinarily rare and expensive, and much of what's marketed is ordinary beans with artificial flavouring." — summary of coffee-industry reporting, 2025
If you want the flavour without the price tag (or the ethics question), grab Trung Nguyen Legend — an enzyme process with no animals involved, from 200,000 VND for 250 g.
The Vietnamese filter (phin)
The phin is the little metal drip filter Vietnamese coffee is brewed through. It costs 30,000–100,000 VND (~$1.20–4). Compact, light and basically unbreakable — a perfect gift for a coffee lover, and sold in every coffee shop and supermarket.
Where to buy coffee
- Brand stores (Trung Nguyen, Me Trang) — guaranteed authenticity and freshness
- Supermarkets (Lotte Mart, Big C, GO!) — fixed prices, easy to compare
- Markets — cheaper, but higher fake risk. Buy only sealed packs
In Nha Trang, look for Me Trang stores and Viet Farm; in Ho Chi Minh City, the Trung Nguyen brand stores on the central streets. For loose beans, check the shape: arabica beans are elongated with an S-shaped crease, robusta beans are round with a straight one.
Tea from Vietnam
Vietnamese tea is a great alternative to coffee as a gift — cheap, light and long-lasting.
| Tea | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Green Thai Nguyen | The classic, from Thai Nguyen province | 50,000–200,000 VND (~$2–8) |
| Lotus (tra sen) | Prized, scented with lotus | 100,000–500,000 VND (~$4–20) |
| Artichoke (atiso) | For liver and digestion, caffeine-free | 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1.20–3.20) |
| Ginseng | Energising, popular in Da Lat | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) |
| Oolong (highland) | Taiwanese-style, from Lam Dong | 200,000–500,000 VND (~$8–20) |
Artichoke tea and artichoke extract are among the most popular health gifts, and the Da Lat product — grown on the highland plantations — is the one to look for.
Skip the airport queue in 5–10 min
In winter, immigration lines run 60–90 min. With Fast Track you’re met at the aircraft and taken through the priority lane. Arrange it before you fly.
Telegram managerSpices and sauces
| Item | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fish sauce nuoc mam (Phu Quoc) | The best in Vietnam — Chin-Su, Tam Duc | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) |
| Phu Quoc black pepper | Geographically protected, very aromatic | 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1.20–3.20) |
| Chilli sauce tuong ot | The Vietnamese sriracha | 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2) |
| Shrimp paste | For authentic Vietnamese dishes | 30,000–60,000 VND (~$1.20–2.40) |
| Lemongrass, turmeric, chilli | Dried spices for marinades | 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2) |
Phu Quoc fish sauce is to Vietnam what Tuscan olive oil is to Italy. The island makes the country's best nuoc mam, and the factories are open to visitors — you can watch it being made and buy straight from source.
💬 "Phu Quoc black pepper is one of those souvenirs you actually use every day at home — far more aromatic than the supermarket kind, and it costs almost nothing. For fish sauce, buy it in glass bottles; plastic lets the smell into your luggage." — summary of traveller reviews, 2025
Nuts and dried fruit
Vietnam is the world's largest cashew exporter. The nuts are big, well-priced and everywhere — an easy, crowd-pleasing gift.
| Item | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cashews (salted, honey, coconut) | World's #1 exporter, large calibre | 150,000–300,000 VND (~$6–12) |
| Macadamia | Half the price of Australian | 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20) |
| Dried mango | Natural, no additives | 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4) |
| Jackfruit chips | Crunchy and exotic | 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3.20) |
| Coconut candy (keo dua) | From Ben Tre, the coconut capital | 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2) |
| Lotus-seed sweets | Unusual flavour, pretty packaging | 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1.20–3.20) |
Getting set up in Vietnam?
SIM, visas, transfers, tours — our manager sorts it out for you, in English.
Message the managerAlcohol
| Drink | Strength | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane rum (Rhum Chauvet) | 40% | 80,000–200,000 VND (~$3–8) | Smooth, a French Indochina legacy |
| Coconut rum | 25–30% | 100,000–250,000 VND (~$4–10) | An exotic gift |
| Rice wine (ruou nep cam) | 29–35% | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) | A traditional strong drink |
| Apple wine (tao meo) | 12% | 50,000–120,000 VND (~$2–4.80) | Cider-like |
| Sim wine (ruou sim, Phu Quoc) | 12–15% | 80,000–200,000 VND (~$3–8) | From wild sim berries, a local rarity |
| Snake / scorpion liquor | 40%+ | 150,000–500,000 VND (~$6–20) | A bottle with a reptile inside |
Sim wine is a Phu Quoc exclusive — a wine made from the wild sim berries that grow only on the island. Look for it at the Duong Dong night market and in local shops.
Pearls
Vietnamese pearls run 30–40% cheaper than in Europe. Cultured pearls are farmed off Phu Quoc island, in Ha Long Bay and around Nha Trang.
| Item | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Earrings (freshwater) | Pearl farms, jewellers | from ~$50 |
| Necklace (saltwater) | Long Beach Pearl (Phu Quoc) | from ~$150–300 |
| Bracelet | Certified farms | from ~$80 |
| Jewellery set | Official farm stores | from ~$200 |
How to tell a real pearl from a fake
- Tooth test.Rub the pearl along the edge of your tooth. A real one feels slightly gritty — that's the nacre structure. A fake glides smooth
- Check the drill hole. Fakes show flaking paint or a plastic core around the hole
- Rub two together. Real pearls create a little friction and a fine pearly powder
- Temperature. Natural pearls stay cool to the touch even in the heat; plastic feels warm right away
💬 "On the beach they offered a necklace for $10. At the Long Beach Pearl farm the genuine equivalent starts around $150. The difference is plastic versus nacre — and the tooth test works: real pearls feel gritty, fakes are smooth as glass." — summary of traveller reviews, 2025
Balms and remedies
Vietnamese balms and remedies are among the most practical things to bring home — they cost next to nothing and genuinely work.
| Item | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Star balm (cao sao vang) | Headaches, colds, insect bites. Three forms: ointment, liquid balm, inhaler stick | 5,000–20,000 VND (~$0.20–0.80) |
| White Tiger (bach ho) | Muscles, joints, circulation | 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2) |
| Red Tiger | Same, plus a warming chilli effect | 20,000–50,000 VND (~$0.80–2) |
| Cobratoxan | Snake-venom cream for back pain | 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4) |
| Artichoke supplements | For liver and digestion | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) |
| Reishi-mushroom supplements | Immune support | 100,000–300,000 VND (~$4–12) |
The Golden Star balm here isn't just the little tin you might know — Vietnam makes three forms: the classic ointment, a liquid balm and an inhaler stick. The stick is especially handy on the road.
Cosmetics and skincare
Vietnamese cosmetics are natural, cheap and full of exotic ingredients you won't find on European shelves.
| Item | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 100% coconut oil | Unrefined, cold-pressed | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) |
| Face masks | Snail extract, ginseng, mucin | 10,000–50,000 VND (~$0.40–2) |
| Aloe vera gels | Natural, for skin and hair | 30,000–80,000 VND (~$1.20–3.20) |
| Pearl powder | For brightening the skin | 80,000–200,000 VND (~$3–8) |
| Scrubs and peels | Natural ingredients | 50,000–150,000 VND (~$2–6) |
What sets Vietnamese cosmetics apart are the exotic components: noni extract, bird's nest, bitter melon, agarwood. In Ho Chi Minh City, head to the shops near Ben Thanh Market for the local brand Thorakao, which has a good range.
Silk, ao dai and lacquerware
| Item | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ao dai (made to measure) | Hoi An — 1,000+ tailors | from ~$60 |
| Silk (by the metre) | Hoi An, Phan Boi Chau St | 250,000–750,000 VND (~$10–30) |
| Silk scarves | Markets, shops | from ~$8 |
| Lacquerware | Craft villages, art shops | from ~$5 |
| Conical hat (non la) | Everywhere | 30,000–150,000 VND (~$1.20–6) |
| T-shirts, shorts | Markets | 50,000–200,000 VND (~$2–8) |
Lacquerware (sơn mài) is a signature Vietnamese craft — bowls, trays and boxes built up from many layers of resin and often inlaid with eggshell or mother-of-pearl. The best prices are in the craft villages rather than tourist shops. The ao dai, the national silk dress, is worth a section of its own — see our guide to the ao dai.
Where to shop, bargaining and customs
You'll shop in four kinds of place, each with a role:
- Markets (Ben Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Xuan in Hanoi, the night markets in Hoi An and Da Lat) — the widest range and the cheapest prices, but fakes and tourist mark-ups are common. Bargaining expected
- Supermarkets and malls (Lotte Mart, Big C, GO!, Vincom, AEON) — fixed prices, sealed goods, no fakes. Best for food, coffee and gifts you want to trust
- Brand stores (Trung Nguyen, Me Trang, pearl-farm outlets) — authenticity guaranteed, certificates for pearls
- Craft villages — silk, ceramics, lacquer and incense straight from the makers, at the lowest prices
Prices current as of March 2026, at ~$1 = 25,000 VND. Checked at Lotte Mart, Big C, brand stores and markets in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang; they vary by season and venue. Customs figures are indicative — always confirm your airline's and your home country's allowances before travelling.
Ao Dai: Vietnam's National Dress — and Where to Get One Made
What the ao dai is, how northern and southern styles differ, where and for how much to get one tailored in Hoi An, and where to do a photoshoot.
Shopping in Da Nang: Markets, Malls & What to Buy
Where to shop in Da Nang: Han and Con markets, malls, the marble village and what to bring home — bargaining tips, prices and cash-vs-card advice.
Phu Quoc Pearls: Farms, Real vs Fake & Prices 2026
Buying pearls in Phu Quoc: the pearl farms, how to tell real from fake, 2026 prices, where to shop and how to avoid getting ripped off.