What to Buy as Gifts When Traveling to Hoi An? Meaningful & Easy-to-Carry Specialty Suggestions

Lanterns are the “soul” of Hoi An Ancient Town, appearing in every sparkling night photo. Handcrafted lanterns are made from bamboo, dó paper, silk fabric, in vibrant colors (red, yellow, pink, blue...). Diverse sizes range from cute small ones for office desks to large ones for home decoration.

• Reference price: 40,000 – 200,000 VND/piece (depending on size and material).

Best places to buy: Along the ancient town (Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Tran Phu streets), or craft workshops like Tue Minh or Tuoi Ngoc Lanterns. Bargain gently and choose lanterns with sturdy bamboo frames.

Hoi An is famous for traditional cakes made from natural ingredients, without preservatives, vacuum-sealed/boxed so they stay fresh when brought far away.

• Hoi An mung bean cake: Mildly sweet flavor, melting right on the tip of your tongue, available in pure mung bean or pork filling. Price: 30,000 – 100,000 VND/box (20-30 pieces). 
• Ramie leaf cake (Bánh ít lá gai): Distinctive black crust from ramie leaves, sweet and nutty mung bean filling, wrapped in banana leaves or paper boxes. Price: 3,000 – 5,000 VND/piece. 
• Banh to (sticky rice cake):Chewy sticky rice cake with sesame aroma, burnt orange color, often used during Tet holidays. Price: 50,000 – 80,000 VND/piece 500g. 
• Su se cake (conjugal cake): Colorful tapioca flour crust, mildly sweet coconut filling, eye-catching and novel. Price: 3,000 – 5,000 VND/piece. 
• Baked coconut cake: Crispy, fragrant with fresh coconut, conveniently vacuum-packed. Price: 25,000 – 50,000 VND/pack.

These cakes are suitable as gifts for all ages, especially older people who love home flavors.

If you want to bring the taste of Hoi An home after your trip, traditional spices and signature liquors are ideal choices

• Pho Hoi Chili Sauce Spicy yet fragrant with sesame, perfect served with cao lau, Quang noodles. Price: 25,000 – 65,000 VND/bottle. Where to buy: Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ho Xuan Huong area.
• Hong Dao Wine Beautiful reddish-pink color, mildly sweet and lightly spicy, good for health. Price: 130,000 – 145,000 VND/bottle 350ml. Where to buy: Specialty stores, night market.
• Mam thinh / Cam Thanh fermented fish sauce Rich in flavor, used for dipping vegetables or cooking soup. Small 500ml bottles are easy to carry. Price: 50,000 – 200,000 VND. Where to buy: Cam Thanh commune (Cam Thanh sauce) or Hoi An market.

Not only convenient gifts, Hoi An's signature spices and liquor also help you recreate the ancient town's flavors right in your familiar kitchen.

Besides culinary specialties, Hoi An handicraft souvenirs are always favored by tourists for their sophistication, rustic nature, and deep cultural richness. Each product is not only handmade, but also embodies the spirit of craft villages and traditional stories associated with the centuries-old ancient town.

• Hoi An silk fabric & ao dai Soft, breathable, with delicate patterns. You can buy scarves or ready-made ao dai. Price: 200,000 – 1,000,000 VND/item. Where to buy: Silk shops in the ancient town.
• Thanh Ha pottery Rustic flower vases, dishes, 100% handmade. You can visit the craft village to make them yourself. Price: 50,000 – 500,000 VND.
• 3D pop-up cards, clay figurines (tò he) Cards shaped like Covered Bridge, lotus flowers; cute small clay figurines for kids. Price: 10,000 – 50,000 VND.

Choosing a Hoi An handcrafted souvenir is not simply buying a gift, but a way to bring home a piece of ancient town cultural memory. Whether it is a piece of soft silk, a rustic ceramic item, or a cute small card, all evoke the slow, delicate, and unique beauty of Hoi An.

Hopefully, the suggestions in this article have helped you fully answer the question “what to buy as gifts when traveling to Hoi An”, from easy-to-carry culinary specialties to handcrafted souvenirs imbued with ancient town marks. Each gift is not just an item handed over, but also a way to preserve the distinct flavor, culture, and slow pace of Hoi An. To make your trip even more complete, you can combine joining a Hoi An Ancient Town tour with a local guide, exploring history and architecture while enjoying authentic specialties and choosing gifts in the right places, making the journey not only memorable but also deeply meaningful.