Vietnamese handicrafts shopping
Water puppets make adorable souvenirs
The fantastic range of handicrafts available in Vietnam is an indicator of the country’s diverse culture. Until a couple of decades ago, many of these ‘handicrafts’ were made for home use, such as rattan trays or festival masks. But with tourist numbers climbing, many Vietnamese in tourist areas are turning their hand to making souvenirs.
Some of the most appealing handicrafts to take home as souvenirs are lacquer and bamboo trays, coasters and bowls that are both functional and beautiful, and they don’t weigh your bag down too much. These items are usually hand-made, and despite taking a long time to make, their prices are still usually very cheap.
Other typical handicrafts are ceramics and artwork of the type that the Vietnamese would use in their own home, and you can add a definite oriental touch to your abode by purchasing a ceramic elephant or a painting of a market scene with vendors wearing conical hats.
If you are sufficiently impressed by all things Vietnamese, you might want to buy an ao dai (the traditional costume of long tunic over baggy pants) or a conical hat for yourself or your friends. The latter normally cost less than a dollar and add character to any room when hung up, or are quite useful for keeping the sun off whilst gardening.
Other items of home décor that might brighten up your pad are bamboo curtains for use as room dividers, dolls dressed in ethnic minority costume or musical instruments that are unique to the country.
In Saigon, one of the best places to go shopping for handicrafts is the Ben Thanh Market, which is easy to get to from most hotels and stays open from early till late. Here you’ll find everything from a life-sized wooden elephant to a key chain with a miniature conical hat.
Other good areas for handicrafts are along Le Loi, which runs from Ben Thanh Market to Lam Son Square, and the streets of the budget district around De Tham. Markets might be the obvious place to head in search of handicrafts but often the malls are more profitable hunting grounds.
In Hanoi, the Old Quarter is packed with shops that sell handicrafts and other products that might appeal to tourists, and it’s worth checking out the Night Market that takes place every evening on Hang Giay and Hang Dao, when the streets are closed to traffic.
