What to buy as souvenirs in Da Nang – Hoi An: what to buy and what not to buy

This question is something almost everyone about to leave has to think about, usually right on the very last night. Let's answer briefly first.

Most worth buying: beef jerky, bamboo shoots, sesame crackers, squid with tamarind, dried seafood, coffee — and in Hoi An also add foldable lanterns, tailored clothing, Thanh Ha pottery.Don't buy: plastic souvenirs printed with "Da Nang" sold at the airport counter — those aren't made here and cost several times more.

Beef chả is what Da Nang people most love to bring as a gift. Ground beef, wrapped in banana leaves, fragrant with pepper, can be sliced and eaten right away. But this is fresh food — buy it when you're about to head to the airport, don't buy it on the first day and leave it in your room for three days.

Tré is something more unusual and well suited as a gift for those who enjoy drinking: pig's head meat mixed with toasted rice powder, galangal, garlic and chili, wrapped in straw into little cylinders. It has a light fermented sourness, eaten with rice paper. People who have never tried it before are usually surprised.

Sesame crisp cake is truly the original specialty of Da Nang — made in the Cam Le area. The cake is crispy and airy, coated with sesame seeds, hollow inside, and best enjoyed with hot tea. A big advantage: it's dry, light, and keeps for a long time, making it the safest treat to carry on long trips.

Tamarind-braised squid and dried seafood are great for those who love savory flavors. A note about smell: dried seafood packed in a suitcase will make your clothes smell, so wrap it well in several layers.

Coffee — buy beans or ground coffee from local roasters in the city, don't buy the industrially packaged kind at the airport supermarket. The difference is huge.

In Hoi An, it's different. The souvenir most worth bringing back is the lantern, and the reason is very practical: the bamboo frame type with a clasp folds up neatly like an umbrella, fits perfectly in a suitcase, and opens into a lantern when you get home. Remember to ask the seller for the foldable type — the two types look quite similar.

Custom tailoring is what Hoi An is famous for, but it takes time. If you want a well-made outfit, you need to order at least one or two days ahead and have one fitting session. If you're only stopping by Hoi An for an afternoon, don't order tailored clothes — items rushed in just a few hours usually won't fit well.

Thanh Ha Pottery Village is a ceramic village right on the edge of Hoi An, the products are simple and rustic, the prices are affordable, and the great thing is you get to buy right at the place where they're made. Downside: it's fragile, so it has to be wrapped carefully.

A few realities about packaging.

Fish sauce, shrimp paste, and any liquid item can't be carried on the plane — they must be checked in and sealed tightly, because air pressure can cause leaks. Dry goods and cakes can be carried on freely. Fresh items like beef sausage and Hue-style pork roll should be bought close to departure time and kept in the fridge if the hotel has one.

Where to buy. Han Market and Con Market have all of the above items, and you can buy them in bulk, but you should ask the price first. The specialty shops in town have prices already listed, so there's no need to haggle, and the packaging is also done more carefully — great for people who don't like bargaining. See the list of shops in Da Nang if you want to find a place near where you're staying.

Finally, an honest word: the best gifts from Central Vietnam are usually food, not decorative items. A hanging lantern lasts a few months before gathering dust, while a roll of tré or a pack of beef chả you bring home gets the whole family gathered together to eat in one evening — and stays in the memory far longer.

Photo: Christophe95 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons