Hanoi Souvenirs: Discover Meaningful Gifts from the Capital for Your Trip

Just finished your exciting journey in Hanoi and looking for meaningful Hanoi souvenirs to bring back, sharing a piece of the thousand-year-old capital with friends and family? Or are you planning your upcoming trip and wondering, “What should I buy when traveling to Hanoi?” Don’t worry! Hanoi isn’t just famous for its historical sites, scenic landscapes, and exquisite cuisine; it’s also a paradise for unique Hanoi souvenirs that deeply reflect the city’s culture and spirit.

This article will be a detailed guide to help you choose the best Hanoi souvenirs, from traditional and intricate crafts to unforgettable culinary specialties.

1. Handicrafts Symbolizing Hanoi’s Image

When visiting the capital, you’ll easily find exquisite handicrafts as Hanoi souvenirs that depict familiar images and symbols of Hanoi. These are excellent choices to bring home a piece of the city’s “soul”:

• Ceramic Statues & Wooden Architectural Models: These meticulously crafted small ceramic statues or wooden architectural models replicate famous landmarks like the ancient Turtle Tower in Hoan Kiem Lake, the unique One Pillar Pagoda, or the moss-covered houses of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. They are not just beautiful decorations but also ways to remember the wonderful moments you spent in the capital.
  • Prices: Ceramic statues vary in price, typically ranging from 25,000 – 200,000 VND. Some more elaborately designed and crafted items, requiring greater effort, will have higher values.
  • Where to buy:
    • Red Lotus Shop: 4 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
    • Shop at 28 Cau Go Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
    • Souvenir Gift Shop: 56 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

2. Delicious Culinary Specialties

Hanoi’s cuisine always leaves visitors with special, unforgettable flavors. So, don’t forget to buy these specialties as gifts for friends and family so they can also savor the quintessence of Hanoi at home. Here are the most beloved “edible” Hanoi souvenirs:

• Vong Village Green Sticky Rice (Com): A distinctive dish, deeply associated with Hanoi’s autumn. Hanoi’s Com offers the delicate chewiness of young rice grains meticulously processed by hand, subtly fragrant with the pure scent of lotus leaves. Com can be eaten directly, made into sweet Com soup (che com), fried Com patties (cha com), or Com sticky rice (xoi com) – a gift rich in the flavors of the land and the sophistication of Hanoians.

• Hang Duong Street O Mai (Preserved Fruits): O Mai is a traditional snack of Hanoians, available in many varieties, each with a different taste, from sour, spicy, salty, and sweet to warming ginger, tangy plum, and refreshing dracontomelon. Ginger O Mai, plum O Mai, and dracontomelon O Mai are the three most popular and well-liked by tourists. They’re not just delicious but also aid digestion, perfect for casual snacking and conversation.

• Uoc Le Pork Sausage (Gio Cha Uoc Le): Uoc Le village has long been famous for its traditional gio cha (pork sausage) making. The gio lua (lean pork sausage), gio xao (head cheese), cha bi (pork skin sausage), and cha que (cinnamon pork sausage) here are all made from fresh ingredients, meticulously prepared, and boast a distinctive, delicious flavor, making them very suitable as gifts. These are practical and appealing gifts for any family.

• Dien Pomelo (Buoi Dien): If you visit Hanoi around the end of the year, don’t miss the opportunity to buy the renowned Dien Pomelo. These juicy fruits have golden, luscious segments and a distinctly sweet, refreshing taste, never bitter. Dien Pomelos are not only delicious but also highly nutritious, providing many beneficial vitamins for health.

3. Famous Traditional Cakes

Besides the culinary specialties above, you can also choose to buy traditional cakes, carrying the distinct flavors of Hanoi, as Hanoi souvenirs.

• Husband-and-Wife Cake (Banh Phu The / Banh Su Se): A traditional cake often seen at festivals, Tet (Lunar New Year), or weddings. Banh phu the has a sweet, chewy taste with a coconut and mung bean filling, wrapped in green banana leaves, symbolizing lasting marital love.

• Lam Tea Cake (Banh Che Lam Thach Xa): A rustic but very popular cake, especially in winter. Banh che lam is made from glutinous rice flour, malt syrup, sugar, fresh ginger, and roasted peanuts. The cake has a rich sweet taste, a fragrant stickiness from the rice, and a warming ginger flavor, making it easy to eat and perfect for enjoying with hot tea.

4. Exquisite Hand-Embroidered Items

Hand-embroidered items are Hanoi souvenirs greatly cherished by many tourists, especially foreigners. These products showcase the dexterity, meticulousness, and artistic essence of the Vietnamese people:

• Diverse Products: Hand-embroidered products are quite diverse in type, from embroidered paintings depicting landscapes, lotus flowers, birds, to silk scarves, Ao Dai, handbags, or even decorative rugs with intricate embroidered patterns. Every needle stitch and thread embodies the dedication of the artisan.
• Prices: Hand-embroidered items have flexible prices, starting from around 120,000 VND and increasing depending on the size, complexity of the pattern, and fabric material.

• Where to buy:
  • Thue Viet Shop: 64A Ton Duc Thang Street, Dong Da, Hanoi.
  • Tan My Shop: 61 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi (a famous address).
  • Thu Cong Shop: 23 Hang Thung Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

5. Luxurious Van Phuc Silk

When traveling to Hanoi, don’t forget to visit Van Phuc Silk Village, a traditional craft village famous for its hundreds of years of history. Van Phuc silk has become a renowned brand of silk, widely known and favored:

• Characteristics: Van Phuc silk is notable for its thinness, lightness, softness, colorfastness, and luxurious feel. Products made from silk are very diverse, including scarves, Ao Dai, ties, handbags, hats, various types of clothing… with many sophisticated colors and patterns.

• Shopping: If you have time, you can visit Van Phuc silk village directly to learn about the silk weaving process and shop. If you cannot go far, you can find silk at reputable stores in the city center.
• Suggested addresses:
  • Kenly Silk: 108 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
  • Silky Viet: 5 Hang Bong Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

6. Tay Ho Lotus Tea – “The Foremost Tea of All Ages”

Tay Ho Lotus Tea is not just a beverage but also a quintessential cultural aspect of Hanoians, dubbed “Thiên cổ đệ nhất trà” (The foremost tea of all ages). This is a premium Hanoi souvenir, showcasing the giver’s sophistication:

• Unique Flavor: Lotus tea is hand-scented with fresh lotus flowers, undergoing many meticulous steps to produce a clear, sweet, refreshing tea with a delicate, easy-to-drink aroma. Enjoying lotus tea is not just drinking tea but also experiencing a ritual, a beautiful traditional cultural practice.
• Prices: Lotus tea has various price points, ranging from approximately 200,000 VND to over 600,000 VND depending on the type, quality, and quantity.
• Where to buy: You can directly visit specialized tea shops to enjoy tea and purchase it as a gift:
  • Ninh Huong Lotus Tea: 22 Hang Dieu Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
  • Dong Son Shop: 169 Nghi Tam Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi.
  • Tra Viet: 34 Giang Van Minh Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.

7. Paintings of Hanoi – Unique Artworks as Hanoi Souvenirs

Many visitors choose paintings depicting Hanoi’s landscapes and the life of its capital residents as special Hanoi souvenirs, especially lacquer paintings. Each painting is a work of art, a mirror reflecting Hanoi’s beauty through the artist’s perspective:

• Lacquer Art: Artists must use skillful lacquer techniques, applying many layers and polishing to convey the vibrancy, depth, and unique beauty in every detail of the painting. Lacquer paintings typically have high durability and an elegant, classic aesthetic.
• Diverse Styles: Besides lacquer paintings, you can also explore other typical painting styles such as oil paintings (clearly depicting old quarter corners, Hoan Kiem Lake), gold leaf paintings (with a resplendent beauty), or bronze paintings (suitable for those who appreciate tradition and durability).
• Where to buy: You can find paintings of Hanoi as gifts in streets with many art galleries, such as:
  • Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.
  • Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.

8. Ao Dai – A Special Hanoi Souvenirs for Foreigners

For international visitors, the question “What souvenirs should foreigners buy in Hanoi?” often has one prominent answer: Ao Dai. The Ao Dai is not just a traditional costume but also a symbol of Vietnamese women’s beauty and grace, making it a special gift for foreign visitors to commemorate their trip to Vietnam.

• Choices: Visitors can buy ready-made Ao Dai in various sizes and styles. Alternatively, if you have an extended stay in Hanoi, you can absolutely custom-order an Ao Dai to your measurements for the most perfectly fitting and unique gift.
• Prices: The price for an Ao Dai outfit varies widely, from approximately 200,000 VND to over 2,000,000 VND, depending on the fabric material (silk, brocade, chiffon…), the complexity of the design, and the tailor’s skill.

• Where to buy:
  • Ao Dai Thuy Linh: 190 Ton Duc Thang Street, Dong Da, Hanoi.
  • Tiem Co Cai: 2 Le Van Huu Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.
  • Ao Dai Tulip: 17C Hang Da, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

Useful Tips When Shopping for Hanoi Souvenirs

• Do your research: Before buying, it’s a good idea to research products, materials, and price ranges to avoid purchasing low-quality goods or being overcharged.
• Bargain (if necessary): In some traditional markets or small shops, bargaining can help you get a better price. However, in larger stores or those with clear price listings, bargaining is usually not necessary.
• Inspect products carefully: For handicrafts, paintings, silk, or embroidered items, carefully check the quality, details, and colors to ensure the product is flawless.
• Pack carefully: If buying fragile items like ceramic statues or cakes, ask the store to pack them carefully to prevent damage during transport.
• Prioritize handmade, traditional products: To ensure your gift truly reflects Hanoi’s essence, prioritize products handcrafted by Vietnamese artisans, rather than industrially manufactured items.

Hanoi is not only a destination for deep cultural and historical experiences but also a place where you can find unique and meaningful Hanoi souvenirs to bring home. Each gift, whether a small statue, a fragrant pack of Com, a soft silk scarf, or a graceful Ao Dai, embodies a part of the essence of the thousand-year-old capital.

Let these Hanoi souvenirs be a bridge, helping you share the story of your trip and spread your love and admiration for this city with your loved ones. We wish you a delightful shopping journey and hope you find the most perfect gifts!