- May 22, 2025
Best Vietnamese Souvenirs to Pack for Your Study Abroad Journey
Whether you're studying abroad, visiting family, or traveling for work, bringing a piece of home always makes your luggage feel warmer. Vietnamese souvenirs aren't just simple objects – they carry emotions and the rich culture of our nation.
Have you ever stood in front of a souvenir shop, wondering what to choose? Or seen international friends curious about Vietnamese culture but didn't know where to start introducing it? The answer lies in the charming little gifts we're about to discover!
This article will suggest meaningful Vietnamese gifts that are easy to buy, compact, and culturally rich – from souvenirs to bring from Vietnam when studying abroad to choices suitable for any occasion, so you can travel abroad with confidence.
Choose a souvenir and give your whole heart to the recipient
11 Vietnamese Souvenirs Worth Taking When Going Abroad
1. Vietnamese Coffee – Rich Flavor, Long-lasting Memories
Has anyone ever been able to resist the charm of a drip coffee slowly dropping into a cup on a morning? Vietnamese coffee has become a cultural phenomenon that transcends national borders – from Saigon sidewalk cafes to trendy coffee shops in Brooklyn.
You can choose:
- Traditional drip coffee with perfectly roasted beans
- Convenient ground coffee
- Familiar 3-in-1 instant coffee
Each type offers a different experience, but they all share one thing – an unmistakable rich flavor. Vietnamese coffee is the perfect Vietnamese souvenir to share our unique coffee culture with international friends.
A small coffee package that contains the entire "slow but steady" spirit of Vietnamese people
2. Vietnamese Tea – Gentle and Refined Like Asian Character
If coffee is the bold highlight of morning, Vietnamese tea is the gentle melody of afternoon. What's interesting is that in an age where everything must be "quick and efficient," Vietnamese tea represents a completely opposite trend – the art of slow living.
- Lotus tea from West Lake with traditional lotus-scenting process
- Jasmine tea with fresh petals steeped overnight, creating an unforgettable flavor
- Artichoke tea from Da Lat brings a pleasant bitter taste, very good for the liver
This is an ideal choice for older people who love tranquility, health-conscious individuals, or gifts for foreign friends who appreciate wellness and nature. Vietnamese tea is a type of Vietnamese souvenir that shows refinement and the slow-living philosophy characteristic of Asian people.
A small tea box containing the entire philosophy of slow living and enjoying every moment of Asian people
3. Vietnamese Spices – Small but "Heavyweight" in Cooking
Have you ever seen international food bloggers go crazy over fish sauce? Or Vietnamese Gen Z abroad showing off homemade pho videos on TikTok with millions of views? That's proof of the power of Vietnamese spices in "redefining" global cuisine.
Vietnamese students abroad now don't just cook to "cure homesickness" but also to share culture. When you cook bun bo for your foreign roommate, it's not just a meal but an entire story about your homeland. Vietnamese souvenirs like fish sauce and various spice powders have become ideal student gifts and excellent cultural bridges.
People far from home also find in Vietnamese spices a way to "cook like home" – satisfying hunger while maintaining connection to their roots.
A small spice bag brings the whole family warm flavors from home, turning a strange kitchen into a familiar little corner
4. Vietnamese Snacks – Packed Childhood, Delicious Flavors
Every time someone mentions dried chicken with lemon leaves or mixed rice paper, do you immediately think of those after-school afternoons? Vietnamese snacks have gone beyond the simple concept of food to become special "cultural ambassadors."
Fragrant dried chicken with lemon leaves, sweet dried jackfruit, rich cashews from Binh Phuoc – each type tells its own story about childhood and memories. Mixed rice paper with its bold sweet and sour taste has even become a phenomenon on international platforms when students share their experiences.
This is also an excellent choice for gifts when traveling abroad for work, helping create impressions and start interesting conversations. They truly are Vietnamese souvenirs that carry strong childhood imprints and create interesting connections.
Snacks are perfect when you want to introduce Vietnamese food culture in the most fun and familiar way
5. Traditional Cakes and Candies – Sweet Tet Flavors Year-round
When mentioning traditional Vietnamese cakes and candies, we immediately think of flavors associated with Tet and important holidays.
- Ben Tre coconut candy with gentle sweetness
- Vong green rice cake with characteristic fresh taste
- Crispy sesame candy
- Soft and smooth Hai Duong mung bean cake
You can enjoy them alone during homesick moments or easily share with friends to help them understand more about Vietnamese culture. These cakes and candies are Vietnamese souvenirs for going abroad that carry traditional flavors, helping spread the beauty of national culture.
Each type represents a region, a cake-making tradition passed down through many generations
6. Natural Essential Oils Vietnamese Souvenirs – Small but "Powerful"
Health care culture is booming globally, and interestingly, Vietnamese natural essential oils are quietly conquering the international market.
- Cinnamon essential oil from Yen Bai with warm fragrance being sought after by international spas
- Lemongrass essential oil that both relaxes and serves as a natural mosquito repellent
- Refreshing peppermint essential oil that helps with alertness has become an indispensable item
Light, compact, and very convenient when flying. Especially suitable for those who love natural lifestyle and care about health.
Essential oils are also gifts that show refinement and care for the recipient's health
7. Keychains, Magnets with Vietnamese Symbols
Sometimes the smallest gifts leave the deepest impressions. In this digital age, small cute items bearing Vietnamese symbols are having an unexpected "comeback."
- Cute conical hat keychains
- Characteristic Ben Thanh Market fridge magnets
- Nostalgic Saigon cyclo
- Poetic Hoi An Ancient Town
These souvenirs are not just decorative items but have become a cultural symbol system. They help recipients immediately associate with Vietnam in just one glance. These types of gifts for foreign friends have strong reminiscent power about Vietnamese land and people.
Compact cultural symbols in the palm of your hand are wonderful Vietnamese souvenirs
8. Handmade Notebooks/Do Paper – Gifts for Art Lovers
There's an interesting paradox happening: the more digitized we become, the more we crave "analog" experiences. In an age of mass production, owning a handmade notebook has become a lifestyle statement.
- Traditional do paper with lotus, bamboo, and plum patterns
- Unique natural texture from tree bark
- High durability, good ink absorption
- Suitable for handwriting and drawing
Creates a very "Vietnamese" feeling while remaining refined and modern, suitable for art lovers, designers, or simply those who appreciate handcrafted value. Do paper notebooks are Vietnamese souvenirs that show refinement and honor traditional values.
Environmentally friendly and beautiful: Do paper notebooks for artistic souls
9. Vietnamese Art Postcards & Maps – Beautiful, Convenient, Easy to Send
Postcards with beautiful images of Vietnam – from Sapa's terraced fields to the majestic Ha Long Bay, from Hoi An Ancient Town to Mekong Delta floating markets. Artistic maps with vintage or modern styles, creatively representing Vietnam.
Postcards don't just contain beautiful images but also sincere messages from sender to recipient. They are unique souvenirs to bring from Vietnam when studying abroad, combining high artistic value with easy worldwide shipping.
What's special about postcards is that you can write a few words of sentiment, creating high emotional connection
10. Medicated Oil, Golden Star Balm – Inseparable Items for Overseas Vietnamese
Anyone who has lived abroad understands the value of a small bottle of medicated oil in their bag. Familiar green Eagle Brand medicated oil, multi-purpose Golden Star balm – these little "miracle medicines" can solve countless problems from headaches, dizziness to motion sickness.
Eagle Brand green medicated oil and Golden Star balm aren't just medicine – they're an entire cultural phenomenon:
- Solves everything from headaches, dizziness to motion sickness
- Compact, versatile, and extremely effective
- Distinctive scent brings familiar feelings of homeland
- Indispensable in every Vietnamese family's medicine kit
Especially useful for students or people on long business trips abroad, when finding suitable medicine overseas can be difficult. This is truly the most practical gift for students studying abroad and gifts when traveling abroad for work that anyone should bring along.
A small bottle of medicated oil brings great peace of mind, showing the giver's thoughtful care
Conclusion
Hopefully, these Vietnamese gift suggestions have helped you find suitable presents for your upcoming trip.
Choose a few items that match the people you're about to meet – because a quality Vietnamese souvenir for going abroad can make your trip much more complete and memorable.
