Visiting Vietnam is not only for tourism purposes and for the sake of a beach holiday. Among the visitors there are many lovers of local exotics, cheap shopping and bright souvenirs. Believe it or not, but in this country you can buy really unique things, souvenirs and even first-class jewelry. The main advantage of the local shops and stores are low prices and high quality goods.
What products to pay attention to
First of all, we advise you to pay attention to silk products, precious stones, jewelers' works, as well as textile goods. A good selection is presented in local outlets and shoes, which are produced both domestically and imported from neighboring ones. A good selection of first-class teas and coffees, pottery, ancient relics and even exotic medicines, many of which are made from real snake and spider venoms. Well, how to forget about the most famous and universal tool “Asterisk”?
And don't neglect your right to bargain. This is especially beneficial in the circle of street vendors, who, although reluctantly, still make concessions to tourists. The fact is that the native Vietnamese respect bargaining and love people who are ready to use all their abilities in order to reduce the cost of goods.
Food and drinks
We recommend that you set aside a portion of your budget for food. The local cuisine is famous for its unique recipes and dishes, combining the best achievements of the indigenous people of the region. Here you can try the most famous dishes of Thai, Indian and Chinese cuisines. Rice is the main ingredient in all dishes. The Vietnamese love seafood, they actively fill their culinary masterpieces with a variety of fruits. Well, for special gourmets, we recommend trying delicacies from cobras and amphibians living in these parts.
It is noteworthy that trips to the restaurant will be inexpensive. For example, a couple of tourists can eat well in a cafe for a few dollars. A trip to an elite restaurant will cost no more than $15.
Every self-respecting tourist should appreciate the quality of local drinks. The most popular soft drink in the country is coffee, which is prepared according to the most exotic recipes. By the way, Vietnam officially occupies the third position in the world ranking in terms of supplies of different varieties of coffee.
You can also buy pretty good wine here, which is produced in Dalat. An alcoholic drink is sold almost everywhere, but be careful not to buy a high-quality fake. Especially a lot of surrogate is sold on the streets.
Products from pearls and precious stones
If you have a burning desire to buy pearls, you should know that the cheapest prices are on the coast, where they are actually mined. Vietnamese pearls are one third cheaper than those mined in other parts of the world, although they are in no way inferior in quality to their counterparts. But it is worth remembering about the existing “pitfalls”. In particular, no seller will give a guarantee that the pearls are real. It is worth relying only on yourself and your knowledge. Therefore, if you are not sure, we recommend using the services of experts.
Tip: the best pearls are produced and mined on the island of Phu Quoc, where there is a whole pearl farm.
Not a bad choice in an exotic country and jewelry. For example, valuable stones can be purchased at a significant discount. The same rule applies to jewelry. Particularly popular among tourists are products that use different techniques and find a successful combination of precious metals and ivory.
If you have purchased a home, then sooner or later there will be a need to purchase furniture. And here all your desires will be satisfied in full. You can choose from different options for furniture made of bamboo, fabric and wood. Almost every detail is carefully thought out, and many elements boast beautiful hand carvings. Supporters of forged furniture will not remain unsatisfied, which will be a great addition to any interior. If desired, the purchased furniture can be sent to Russia on a cargo ship.
If you have long wanted to buy a brand new phone, digital camera or smartphone, then this desire will be easily fulfilled by local merchants who offer tourists goods of both their own and foreign production. Here you can easily find those models that have just been presented and will not soon get to Russia.
Useful little things
You should not buy any product for which the seller cannot provide guarantees or documents confirming the safety. Most likely, such things will not be allowed through customs.
Also, do not forget that the prices for souvenirs, goods, products are always lower where there are fewer tourists.
Now you know what you can buy in Vietnam, and what purchases you should refuse.
We also recommend reading an article about Fruits of Vietnam.