1. Overview
Hoi An is a beautiful city located in central Vietnam and has a unique blend of architectural styles, including Japanese, Chinese, and European. Therefore, it can be said that Hoi An’s ancient town is a harmonious blend of Western and traditional styles, creating a unique special feature of this neighborhood.
Today, Hoi An is a famous tourist destination with a well-preserved old town, beautiful beaches, and great culinary delicacies and specialties of the old town. Not only can you enjoy delicious dishes here, but you can also buy some Hoi An specialties as gifts for family and friends. Lanterns, silk panels, souvenirs, or ceramics are all gifts that tourists should buy after their long trip to Hoi An. These are not only typical gifts of Hoi An but also souvenirs imbued with the beauty of an ancient and peaceful neighborhood.
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2. The Top 12 Best Things To Buy In Hoi An As Gifts
2.1. Hoi An lanterns
Lanterns are one of the “specialties” of Hoi An’s ancient town. Coming here, you will be overwhelmed by the lanterns hanging throughout the streets and alleys in the old town. This is a traditional handicraft product that is considered a unique cultural feature by local people.
Lanterns are one of the most unique and convenient gifts you can buy in Hoi An Ancient Town. It has many shapes, such as round, teardrop, diamond, etc, and many diverse colors. Lanterns in Hoi An are often made from brocade or silk. It is waterproof and easy to clean, as well as packaged for transport. And to buy lanterns at cheap prices, visitors should go to Hoi An’s old quarters or the Hoi An night market for about 0.62 USD or more.
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Or you can refer to some of the most beautiful lantern shops in Hoi An:
- Ngoc Thu Lantern Factory: 109 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Hoi An lanterns: 276/2 Cua Dai Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Sedge factory: 32 Le Hong Phong Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
2.2. Thanh Ha Ceramic products
Pottery and clay sculptures are interesting souvenirs from Hoi An that you should not miss. Souvenir products are mainly everyday items such as cups, bowls, vases, plant pots, etc. Surely the handmade items and rustic features typical of Thanh Ha, a traditional pottery village in Hoi An, will attract tourists.
Only about 3 kilometers from the old town center. When you come to Thanh Ha pottery village, you are free to visit, make the ceramics you want, or choose to buy some items that you find impressive. Or otherwise, you can also go to the stores in the center to buy.
- Address of Thanh Ha Pottery Village: Along Thu Bon River, Pham Phan Street, Thanh Ha Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
2.3. Hoi An Silk products
Hoi An silk is a typical product of Hoi An that you must definitely buy to take home. Unlike regular fabrics, Hoi An silk is soft, light, and airy, not causing you to feel hot or uncomfortable, especially in the summer. Therefore, silk and silk products are the favorite gifts of tourists when coming to Hoi An. In this place, the product is extremely soft and shiny, and it costs from 6 USD.
You can find silk at shops, markets, and night markets inside and outside Hoi An’s ancient town. If you don’t have much time, you can visit shops in the old town center to buy silk, such as:
- Hoi An Silk Shop is located on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, about 1km from Hoi An ancient town.
- Hanh Store: The store is located on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, near the Silk Sense Hoi An Hotel.
2.4. Hoi An Leather Products
Hoi An is famous as a top destination to enjoy leather products. From stylish leather shoes to exquisite leather bags, you can discover countless items with unique designs and outstanding quality in Hoi An, ensuring maximum satisfaction for every customer, such as leather shoes, handbags, wallets, leather sandals, etc.
Leather goods here are mainly handmade with meticulous and detailed processing techniques that can satisfy every customer. The price is not too expensive for a beautiful, durable product. When it comes to buying leather products in Hoi An, there are some places worth exploring:
- A Dong store: 62 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Yaly Couture: 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Hoi An Night Market: Nguyen Hoang Street, Hoi An Ancient Town.
2.5. Bamboo sculpture – unique handmade statue in Hoi An
You will be surprised to see hundreds of exquisite sculptures, historical celebrities, statues of gods according to religious beliefs, landscape statues with sizes ranging from 25 to 100 cm on display at the store. If you want to buy something new in Hoi An, then bamboo sculptures are a good choice for you. The price ranges from 8.23 USD – 24.70 USD per statue, depending on the difficulty of the product. Displaying products of Huynh Phuong Do Handicraft Bamboo and Wooden Statues Production Facility, address 26 Bach Dang, Tam Ky City.
2.6. Art picture
Hoi An is famous for its exquisite works of art, presenting captivating depictions of everyday life, natural landscapes, and charming residents. You can easily see places selling paintings on the streets in the heart of the old town. To buy Hoi An souvenirs such as paintings and photos of Hoi An’s beauty, you can explore the following locations:
- Réhahn Gallery: 7 Nguyen Hue street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- March Harbor Gallery: 475/38 Nguyen Tri Phuong street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Hoi An Night Market: Nguyen Hoang Street, Hoi An Ancient Town.
2.7. Traditional painted mask
Traditional painted masks in Hoi An are unique and precious gifts, expressing the cultural beauty and rich soul of Vietnam. These masks are exquisitely crafted from paper mache and decorated with vibrant colors, depicting many different characters and evoking many emotions from classic Vietnamese opera. You can marvel at the countless masterpieces and buy these exquisite masks as gifts at the following locations:
- Hoi An Market: 19 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Hoi An handicraft workshop: 9 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Timer mask: 66 Bach Dang street, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
2.8. Hoi An green bean cake
Sweet green bean cake is a familiar dish for Vietnamese people. However, when you come to Hoi An, you will enjoy the extremely attractive salty green bean cake flavor of the old town. This Hoi An specialty has a salty pork filling and a crust covered with a layer of fragrant green beans.
Hoi A green bean cake is divided into two types: dry cake and wet cake; both types are printed with molds and are thin and compact in the palm of the hand. The dry cake is molded with a swastika print and dried thoroughly before packing, so the cake lasts longer than wet green bean cake. The cake tastes quite easy to eat, so visitors can buy cakes as gifts for family and friends. Reference price: 1.24 USD – 1.44 USD/box. Suggested places to buy:
- Mrs. Bong’s green bean cake: 195 Nguyen Chi Thanh street, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province
- Bakery in Hoi An Ancient Town: 19 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Mrs. Trinh’s bakery: 62 Le Loi street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province
2.9. Hoi An chili sauce
Among the specialty dishes of Hoi An, chili sauce is the soul of the cuisine here. The characteristic of Hoi An chili sauce is the spicy taste of chili combined with the aroma of sesame, arousing the taste buds of diners. Chili sauce will also be the perfect choice when you need to buy Hoi An specialties as gifts. The price of chili sauce only ranges from 1.03 USD to 2.68 USD, and you can find it in Nguyen Thai Hoc, Xuan Huong Lake, or specialty stores.
2.10. Grilled coconut cake
Toasted coconut cake is made from fresh coconut, glutinous rice flour, and sugar. It has a golden brown color, is crispy, and has a rich coconut flavor. This is a famous specialty of Quang Nam. Tourists who want to choose Hoi An’s specialty confectionery as a gift will find this the perfect choice. You can buy baked coconut cake at specialty stores in Hoi An. Price: 1.03 USD – 1.44 USD, depending on weight.
2.11. Hong Dao Wine
Hong Dao wine has long become a famous specialty in Hoi An. And many tourists buy it every time they come here to travel. Hong Dao wine is made from cooked rice and aged in jars for about a week to create a passionate aroma. After that, the processor will put the sliced peaches into wine jars and ferment them for another 100 days. Hong Dao wine will be a famous specialty in Hoi An that you should buy as gifts for family and friends during your trip. You can buy Hong Dao wine at specialty gift shops in Hoi An. Price: from 5.35 USD – 6.18 USD.
2.12. Mam thinh Hoi An
Mam Thinh is a typical, traditional Mam Thinh of Hoi An, with a rich flavor, made from fresh, delicious flying fish and scads of firm meat. The fish is cleaned and put into a salt jar, covered tightly, and then dried in the sun for a few days. When the jar of fish smells good, drain the water, then mix the fish with the rice (ground from cooked roasted rice), incubate, and dry in the sun for a few more days.
And when leaving Hoi An, don’t forget to bring home the Mam Thinh as a gift; this is definitely a unique, rustic-flavored specialty that many people love. You can buy Mam Thinh at Hoi An markets or specialty stores. Reference price: 6.18 USD – 8.23 USD/kg.
2.13. Ao Dai
Ao Dai, the traditional costume of Vietnam, is one of the most famous souvenirs of Hoi An because of its unique design that enhances the elegance of women. When visiting Hoi An, you have the opportunity to wear Ao Dai and take beautiful photos among the ancient streets. This is also a great gift containing the quintessence of Vietnamese culture, one of the most popular items you should buy as gifts from Vietnam.
- You can buy Ao Dai at tourist shops in the Ancient Town, markets or any tailor shop in Hoi An. You can refer to the following addresses:
– Yaly Couture Tailor Shop: 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
– Hoi An Silk Village: No. 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Reference price: from 15 USD – 65 USD/set.
2.14. Non la
Non la is a symbol of Vietnamese culture. Non la is handwoven from bamboo, palm leaves and tree bark. It is then decorated with many bright colours and beautiful patterns. Stroll down any street in Hoi An Ancient Town and you will see many tourists dressed in traditional Ao Dai, wearing non la on their heads. These lightweight, cheap and practical hats make great souvenirs, but they are difficult to pack. The best way to take them home is to wear them on your head. You can buy non la in three sizes as well as painted ones.
- Where to buy: Hoi An Ancient Town, markets and souvenir shops.
– Hoi An Central Market: 19 Tran Phu, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
– Hoi An Night Market: Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Reference price: from 1.25 USD – 12.5 USD/hat, depending on material and style
2.15. Round straw bags
In Hoi An, round straw bags are a must-buy. They are handmade, showing the skills of local artisans. Perfect for the beach or a day out, these bags are both fashionable and practical. You will find them in many shops, each offering different designs and sizes to suit your style.
- Where to buy: Markets and souvenir shops in Hoi An.
- Average cost: 7.93 USD to 11.90 USD
2.16. Custom shoes
Another product that is completely customized in Hoi An is shoes, even leather shoes. There is nothing better than a pair of shoes that fits well. Hoi An is famous for its custom-made leather shoes, high quality and affordable. Tourists love the impressive designs of this place, from traditional Vietnamese style to contemporary style. You will be provided with a specific set of shoe samples to choose from, in which you can customize the leather color, stitching, accessories and even size.
- Where to buy:
– Hoi An Shoe Shop Number 9: 65 Tran Hung Dao Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
– Friendly Shoe Store: 18 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Reference price: 50 – 150 USD
2.17. Vietnamese husband and wife cake (xu xe)
Xu xe cake, also known as husband and wife cake, is also a perfect choice when you need to buy Hoi An specialties as gifts. This cake has an outer shell made from flexible tapioca flour, many colors and a fragrant, slightly sweet filling from grated coconut. Xu xe cake is sold quite commonly in Hoi An so you can find it at all the specialty gift shops along the road. The cake is quite cheap so ask to enjoy one before buying it as a gift for friends or family!
- Address: sticky rice cake stall at Hoi An market, 19 Tran Phu, Cam Chau, Hoi An, Quang Nam
- Reference price from: 0.12 USD- 0.2 USD/cake
2.18. Hoi An 3D Cards (Pop-up Cards)
Hoi An 3D cards, also known as pop-up cards, are one of the most notable Hoi An souvenirs, capturing the essence of Hoi An. Each card has a unique theme and features famous landmarks such as the Japanese Bridge, ancient houses, boats, lotus flowers, etc., depicted in vibrant colors. You can easily find them at street stalls and souvenir shops in the Old Quarter.
- Hoi An Night Market: Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Reference price: from 0.59 USD/card
2.19. Vietnamese Coffee & Tea
If you are a drink lover when coming to Hoi An, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the delicate flavors of coffee and tea, as well as buy them as interesting gifts. You can buy cutely packaged coffee sets along with traditional drip coffee makers from any coffee, tea, and gift shop in Hoi An Ancient Town, supermarkets, or any market in Hoi An.
- For authentic coffee and tea as gifts, consider exploring the following places:
– Many Hoi An coffee shops: Phin Cafe at 132/7 Tran Phu or FeFe Coffee in Cam Ha Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
— Heal Organic Farm specializes in producing herbal tea: Thanh Tay Village, Cam Chau Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
– Reaching Out Teahouse where you can find green tea and jasmine tea: No. 131 Tran Phu, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Prices: Coffee from 4USD, depending on weight; Coffee filter from 3USD), depending on size; tea from 2.58 USD depending on weight.
2.20. Banh To Quang Nam
Among the specialties of Hoi An to buy as gifts, visitors should not miss Banh to Quang Nam, a long-standing specialty in Hoi An. the cake is brown or dark brown, made from sticky rice flour, molasses, delicately blended together to create a fragrant, soft, chewy, and irresistible Hoi An snack.
- You can buy Banh to Quang Nam at specialty stores in Hoi An or Hoi An Market: 19 Tran Phu, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Reference price: 1.98 USD – 3.17 USD/cake
2.21. Mam Cam Thanh
The prominent spice in Hoi An cuisine is indispensable is mam Cam Thanh. Mam Cam Thanh goes through many stages of filtering, creating a rich flavor, typical of Hoi An. Mam Cam Thanh is famous from the traditional craft village, is a prestigious brand in the market, and is also a famous Hoi An specialty as a gift known to domestic and foreign tourists. Mam Cam Thanh is divided into many different types such as fish sauce, shrimp sauce, grilled veal sauce, however, fish sauce is still the most popular and bought by tourists to bring back after each trip to Cam Thanh.
- Address to buy: Cam Thanh fish sauce village, Cam Thanh commune, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Reference price: 1.98 USD – 3.97 USD/ 500ml
2.22. Bamboo chopsticks
Chopsticks, an essential item in Vietnamese cuisine, are often made from old bamboo or wood. Nowadays, chopsticks can be made from more materials and the designs are also more diverse. Chopsticks in Hoi An are still sold and chosen by tourists when they do not know what to buy as gifts when traveling to Hoi An? Chopsticks are made very meticulously, each pair of chopsticks is a unique idea. Buy a few sets of chopsticks before leaving here because this is a meaningful item.
- Here are some recommended locations:
– Reaching Out Arts and Crafts: 131 Tran Phu, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
– Hoi An Night Market: Nguyen Hoang Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Reference price: 2.78 USD – 7.93 USD.
2.23. Peanut candy
Peanut candy is a rustic dish. But it is still chosen by tourists to buy as gifts for relatives when coming to Hoi An. The candy is mainly made from peanuts, grilled rice paper and malt. When you put it in your mouth, you will immediately feel the crunchiness of the candy and the fatty aroma of peanuts. If you have the opportunity to visit Hoi An, you should buy some peanut candy as gifts for relatives and children in the house!
- Reference address: Specialty gift shops or at Hoi An markets.
- Price: 0.32 USD – 0.59 USD / piece.
2.24. Embroidery
Embroidery is also a great gift from Hoi An that you should consider bringing home. They come in many colors and patterns, so part of the fun is browsing and choosing specific items. You can buy embroidered key chains, handkerchiefs, blankets, pillowcases, tablecloths, scarves, etc. Embroidery in Hoi An is very diverse in both shape and material with sharp lines.
- Reference address: Little Daisy Hoi An, 14 Nguyen Khoa, Cam Nam, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam
- Reference price: from 7.93 USD
2.25. Banh Thuan
Banh thuan is made from ingredients such as flour, chicken eggs and spices. The cake has an eye-catching golden yellow color, the taste is both fragrant, soft and rich from eggs and spices. To make the cake with a soft and moderately rich taste, the craftsman will have to go through many different preparation and processing stages.
- This cake is typical of Hoi An and you can order in large quantities at traditional cake shops or at specialty stores.
- The reference price of banh thuan is around 2.38 USD – 2.78 USD/500g bag.
3. Recommended places to shop in Hoi An
In Hoi An, every street and alley is a shopping paradise. From bustling markets under the sun to cozy little shops with unique items. You can explore the suggested famous places in Hoi An:
– Hoi An Night Market
- Address: Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Open: 17:00 PM – 23:00 PM
- Things to buy: Lanterns, Jewelry, Textiles, Artworks
– Hoi An Silk Village
- Address: Hoi An Silk Village: No. 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Tan An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Open: 8:00 a.m – 17:30 p.m
- Things to buy: Scarves, Dresses, Ties, Handbags
– Friendly Shoe Shop
- Address: 18 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Open: 9:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m
- Things to buy: Sandals, Boots, Sneakers, Custom Shoes
– Cocobox Farm Shop
- Address: 94 Le Loi, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Open: 8:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m
- Things to buy: Coffee, Tea, Spices, Handicrafts
– Metiseko
- Address: 140 Tran Phu, Old Town, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
- Open: 9:00 a.m – 10:00 p.m
- Things to buy: Silk, Cotton, Home Decor, Accessories
– Hoi An Central Market
- Address: Along the Thu Bon River, 19 Tran Phu, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Open: 6:00 a.m – 18:00 p.m
- Things to buy: Lanterns, Spices, Textiles, Handicrafts
In addition, coming to Hoi An-Quang Nam you can experience many more famous tourist destinations such as Tra Que vegetable village, Bay Mau coconut forest, Thanh Ha pottery, Cu Lao Cham, My Son holy land, An Bang beach, Tam Thanh mural village, etc.
You can experience more of our other Hoi An tours below:
Full Day Cham Island Discovery From Hoian
Mindful Retreat In Island Smiles Hoi An
Farming & Fishing Life In Hoi An Ancient Town
Danang – Hoi An – Bana Hill Classical Tour
My Son & Hoi An Ancient Town Full Day
4. Conclusion
Above are the suggestions Metta Voyage shares about the top 25 best things to buy in Hoi An and easy-to-find Hoi An dishes that you can buy as gifts for family or friends. Hope you have a satisfactory gift buying experience. For any questions or information about the trips, you can contact us immediately.
5. Contact us:
Website: www.mettavoyage.com
Email: [email protected]
Hotline 24/7: + 84 989 383 572
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