Top budget-friendly Vietnam souvenirs: Food and drinks edition

Vietnamese food isn’t just a restaurant memory—it’s absolutely packable. If you’re gift-shopping (or stocking your own pantry for the nostalgia hit), these are my go-to treats that bottle the flavor of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Coffee

Bold, chocolatey, and very awake. Mostly robusta beans = big aroma and higher caffeine. Grab a pack of ground coffee and a phin (drip filter). Add sweetened condensed milk at home and—boom—instant cà phê sữa đá vibes.

Save

Coconut Candy (Kẹo Dừa)

Chewy, sweet, and Mekong Delta through and through. Made with coconut milk (sometimes peanuts or durian), often wrapped in edible rice paper. Lightweight, shareable, dangerously snackable.

Fish Sauce (Nước Mắm)

Vietnam’s secret handshake. A splash adds depth to marinades, dips, and stir-fries. Look for premium bottles from Phú Quốc or central Vietnam—clean, balanced, umami for days.

Fried Fruit Chips (Trái Cây Sấy / Mít Sấy)

Crispy, light, and dangerously moreish. Think jackfruit chips (mít sấy), banana chips (chuối sấy), taro, sweet potato—often vacuum-fried so they’re crunchy without feeling greasy. They pack like a dream, survive long flights, and make an easy crowd-pleaser back home. Look for sealed bags at supermarkets or specialty snack shops; bonus points if you snag mixed packs so everyone can pick a favorite.

Save

Rice Paper (Bánh Tráng)

Your ticket to DIY fresh rolls and crispy fried rolls. Pack a stack, grab herbs and protein at home, and you’re rolling gỏi cuốn in minutes. Don’t forget a dipping sauce.

Herbs & Spices

Tiny bags, big payoff. Dried lemongrass, star anise, cinnamon, and local blends make phở, bún bò Huế, and everyday stir-fries taste “right.” Affordable, fragrant, easy to pack.

Salted Dried Fruits (Ô Mai / Mứt)

Mango, tamarind, plum—sweet, sour, salty, sometimes spicy. Not your typical Western dried fruit; this is Vietnam’s beloved bus-snack energy.

Save

Green Sticky Rice (Cốm)

Autumn in Hanoi, wrapped in lotus leaves. Soft, gently sweet, nutty. If you catch the season, buy fresh; otherwise, look for vacuum-packed to bring home a little Northern poetry.

Save

Vietnamese Tea

Green, jasmine, and the elegant lotus tea—light, floral, beautifully packaged. A thoughtful gift for tea people and a soothing daily ritual for you.

Save

Marou Chocolate

Bean-to-bar, made in Vietnam from local cacao. Award-winning flavors and stylish wrappers. A delicious postcard from the country’s growing artisan scene.

Mung Bean Cake (Bánh Đậu Xanh)

Soft, mildly sweet, and comfortingly simple. Often in vintage-style wrappers, popular for gifting during festivals. Travel-friendly and unfussy.

Before You Fly

• Liquids = rules. Fish sauce counts—pack carefully and check your limits.
• Cushion glass bottles, double-bag sauces, and keep everything sealed.
• When in doubt, declare.