- Sep 9, 2025
From Vietnam with Love: 9+ Thoughtful Gifts for Overseas Exploration
Stepping out of Tan Son Nhat or Noi Bai airports with a suitcase full of love for your homeland, you surely want to bring along meaningful Vietnamese souvenirs to share with your international friends. But how do you choose gifts that are authentically Vietnamese, lightweight and easy to carry, while avoiding customs troubles?
Let CHUS share practical experiences from thousands of customers who have taken Vietnamese gifts around the world!
The journey of bringing Vietnamese gifts around the world starts with smart choices
Why Choose Vietnamese Souvenirs When Going Abroad?
Taking Vietnamese souvenirs abroad isn't just about showing affection – it's about spreading the unique culture of our nation. Each gift carries its own story about the people, country, and thousand-year-old traditions.
Vietnamese handcrafted souvenirs are typically lightweight and compact, perfectly meeting international airline baggage regulations. They also create unforgettable memories for recipients, making them remember the sincere friendship from Vietnam forever.
Especially, choosing the right gifts will help you become a true "cultural ambassador," naturally and elegantly promoting Vietnam's beautiful image on the international stage.
9 Meaningful Vietnamese Souvenirs to Take Far Away
Complete Vietnamese Gift Boxes
These carefully curated gift boxes combine specialties from different regions: Buon Ma Thuot coffee, Thai Nguyen tea, Trang Bang grilled rice paper, and Ben Tre coconut jam. Each item tells its own story about the land and people who created them.
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Complete gift boxes - Vietnamese cultural essence in every item
What makes these gift boxes special is their packaging in beautiful wooden or bamboo boxes that can be reused as decorative storage. Weighing 500-800g, they perfectly meet baggage regulations while carrying enormous emotional value.
At CHUS, you can find dozens of souvenir box designs with different themes, from "Northern Flavors" to "Central Specialties" or "Sweet Southern Delights."
Vietnamese Coffee + Compact Phin Filter
Nothing beats enjoying authentic Vietnamese iced milk coffee made from distinctive Robusta beans from the Central Highlands. This gift set includes premium ground coffee (250-500g) with a mini stainless steel phin filter, bringing the authentic Vietnamese brewing experience to international friends.
Coffee + mini phin filter combo - bringing Vietnamese flavors everywhere
Vietnamese coffee has a rich, slightly bitter taste with intense aroma, completely different from the Arabica coffee commonly found in Europe or America. The cute little phin filter isn't just a brewing tool but also a unique kitchen souvenir for the recipient.
Especially, coffee packages from CHUS are freshly roasted and vacuum-sealed, ensuring flavor preservation throughout the long journey. They come with English brewing instructions so friends can easily enjoy them.
Premium Vietnamese Tea (lotus, oolong, herbal)
West Lake lotus tea is scented with fresh lotus flowers overnight, creating an indescribable delicate fragrance. Da Lat oolong tea with its rich taste and long-lasting sweet aftertaste. Or herbal teas like warming ginger honey tea or cooling medicinal vine tea - all bring wonderful health benefits following traditional medicine philosophy.
Premium Vietnamese tea - from West Lake lotus to aromatic Da Lat oolong
Each tea box is beautifully designed, suitable as gifts for various recipients. Tea lovers will especially treasure these souvenirs, as they understand the difference in Vietnamese tea processing and enjoyment methods.
Dried tea doesn't violate customs regulations of any country, has a long shelf life, and is convenient for storage and gradual use.
Premium Vietnamese Snacks (dried fruits, cashews, macadamias)
Chewy dried mango from Dong Thap retaining natural sweetness, aromatic salted cashews from Binh Phuoc, or crunchy macadamias from Da Lat - all are tropical specialties with distinctive flavors. They're not only delicious but also excellent nutrition sources for health.
Healthy Vietnamese snacks - tropical flavors in every piece of dried mango and cashew
These products are manufactured with modern technology, ensuring food safety and long-term storage. Packaged in premium zip bags or beautiful tin boxes, they become both practical and meaningful souvenirs.
Especially, Vietnamese snacks perfectly fit the healthy eating trend popular in developed countries. This is an excellent way to introduce the richness of Vietnamese agricultural products.
Handmade Vietnamese Chocolate
Chocolate made from Vietnamese cacao is increasingly recognized worldwide for its premium quality. Handmade chocolate bars with unique flavors like coconut chocolate, coffee chocolate, or rock sugar chocolate bring completely new taste experiences.
Handmade Vietnamese chocolate - Dak Lak cacao blended with Ben Tre coconut
What makes Vietnamese chocolate special is the combination of modern technology with local ingredients. Cacao from Dak Lak, coconut from Ben Tre, coffee from Buon Ma Thuot are blended to create products with distinctive Vietnamese marks.
Packaged in premium boxes with elegant designs, Vietnamese chocolate isn't just a snack but also an elegant souvenir suitable for various occasions.
>>> Read more: Which Vietnamese souvenirs do international friends like most in 2025?
Exquisite Mini Ceramics (cups/mugs, sake bowls)
Mini coffee cups, cute sake bowls, or crackle-glazed tea cups all carry the refined beauty of Vietnamese ceramic art. Each product is handmade by artisans, creating unique individuality.
Mini ceramics - exquisite art in every line
The compact size (about 100-200ml) not only makes them perfect souvenirs but also easy to store in luggage. Especially, Vietnamese sake bowls are becoming trendy in Asian culture-loving communities, creating interesting connections between cultures.
Each ceramic product is carefully packaged with bubble wrap and hard boxes, ensuring absolute safety throughout the journey.
Refined Brocade & Silk (scarves, wallets, cardholders)
Small brocade scarves with traditional patterns from Thai, H'Mong, or Dao people create unique accents for outfits. Buffalo leather wallets combined with brocade, or Bao Loc silk cardholders all have high practical value in daily life.
Handmade brocade - souvenirs with strong ethnic identity
What makes these products special is that each pattern has its own meaning, telling about the beliefs, spirituality, and worldview of ethnic minorities. When giving these gifts, you're not just offering an item but sharing deep cultural stories.
Super lightweight (50-200g) and compact size make them perfect choices for trips with luggage restrictions.
Small Vietnamese Paintings
Oil paintings recreating Hanoi's Old Quarter, Sapa's terraced fields, or Mekong rice fields in 20x30cm format are excellent ways to bring Vietnamese images to international friends' living spaces. Each painting is hand-painted by artists, carrying true artistic value.
Small Vietnamese paintings - Hanoi Old Quarter, Sapa, Mekong at your fingertips
Packaged in specialized tubes or protective frames, paintings can be easily transported without damage worries. These are long-lasting decorative souvenirs that remind of friendship and Vietnam every time they're seen.
Paintings with natural landscape themes are usually most popular, as they suit various decoration styles.
Handmade Wood/Bamboo Items (notebooks, pens, cardholders)
Personalized wooden-cover notebooks, ergonomic rosewood pens, or bamboo cardholders with company logos - these handmade souvenirs not only show refinement but also have high practical value in work.
Handmade wood bamboo items - refinement from Vietnamese artisans' hands
Wood and bamboo are environmentally friendly materials, reflecting Vietnamese sustainable living philosophy. Especially in today's environmentally conscious world, these gifts become even more meaningful.
They can be personalized with names, logos, or special messages, making them unique gifts exclusively for recipients.
Customs Regulations When Taking Gifts Abroad
Global General Rules
The 100ml rule for liquids in carry-on luggage still applies at most airports worldwide, with only a few airports like Edinburgh and Birmingham raising it to 2L with new CT scanners. Therefore, it's best to choose dry gifts and completely avoid liquids to prevent troubles.
When carrying cash, you can bring under $5,000 USD or 15 million VND without declaration according to Vietnam's exit regulations. Always declare food honestly to avoid unnecessary troubles.
Avoid bringing fresh meat, fresh fruits, untreated seeds - these are items banned or strictly restricted in most countries.
Smart luggage - the key to safely passing through all checkpoints
USA & Europe
The US strictly prohibits all meat products from land animals like pork, beef, chicken, but dried seafood like shrimp, fish, squid are allowed if properly packaged and labeled. However, after environmental incidents, Vietnamese seafood inspection has become stricter.
Roasted coffee, dried tea, spices are allowed into the US without quantity limits. Chocolate and dried fruit snacks are also completely safe. When carrying over $10,000 USD, declaration and FINCEN 105 form are required.
Europe is relatively more relaxed with dried food but still follows the 100ml rule for liquids. Prioritize non-food souvenirs for absolute certainty.
Airport check-in - Vietnamese gifts ready to fly far
Asian Countries
Japan & Korea: Very strict with fresh meat and fresh fruits, but quite relaxed with tea, coffee, dried snacks, chocolate, and handicrafts. Mini ceramics are especially popular in these two countries.
Singapore & Hong Kong: Relatively easy, just avoid fresh items. Mixed gift boxes with snacks, coffee, chocolate are all accepted. These are good transit points for long flights.
China: Quite strict control on agricultural products, so prioritize non-food souvenirs like brocade, ceramics, paintings, handmade items. Tea and industrial confectionery are still safe.
Australia & New Zealand: World's strictest quarantine. Focus on non-food products like ceramics, brocade, paintings, wooden handicrafts. Completely avoid all food to prevent troubles.
World map - each country has different customs regulations
How to Pack Gifts Compactly & Safely When Flying
Vacuum Sealing and Odor Prevention Techniques
For gifts with distinctive smells like coffee, tea, or spices, vacuum sealing not only preserves flavors but also prevents odors from spreading to other items in luggage. Use specialized vacuum bags, then put them in double zip bags for absolute security.
For scented candles or strong-smelling products, wrap tightly with multiple layers of plastic wrap, then put in separate hard boxes. Never store together with food or clothes.
Bilingual Labeling and Receipt Keeping
Each gift should be labeled bilingually in Vietnamese-English, clearly stating ingredients, production date, and expiry date. This helps customs officers easily inspect and increases product credibility.
Always keep purchase receipts and warranties (if any). These are important proof of product origin when needed.
Professional packaging - each gift carefully protected
Using Hard Cases and Shock Protection
Hard cases better protect fragile gifts like ceramics and paintings. Use additional foam pads or bubble wrap for double protection.
Place heavy items at the bottom, light ones on top. Fragile items in the middle of the case, surrounded by clothes or soft towels. Never leave empty spaces in the case to avoid impacts.
FRAGILE Labels for Ceramics
Stick "FRAGILE - DỄ VỠ" labels in both Vietnamese and English on outer packaging. Use bright colors so baggage handlers can easily recognize them.
Pack ceramics in separate boxes, lined with thick bubble wrap, then put in suitcase. Can use additional newspaper or soft cloth to fill empty spaces.
FRAGILE labels - absolute protection for fragile gifts
Common Mistakes & Quick Solutions
Overweight → Divide Small, Send Checked Baggage
Many people like bringing many gifts but forget baggage weight limits. Instead of bringing 10 heavy gifts, choose 5-7 light but meaningful ones. Or divide some into checked baggage to avoid extra fees.
Plan and weigh beforehand, leave room for additional gifts bought at destination. Golden rule: carry-on under 7kg, total baggage within ticket limits.
Asked to Remove Liquids >100ml → Prepare Ziplock
Always carry clear ziplock bags to transfer liquids if needed. Best to completely avoid liquids in carry-on, choose dry gifts like tea, coffee, snacks.
If liquids are really necessary, divide into 100ml bottles, put in clear zip bags for quick security passage. Solid souvenirs are always prioritized in all situations.
Perfect preparation - everything in the bag has its own meaning
>>> Read more: What gifts for foreigners? 25+ most loved Vietnamese gifts & important notes
Homeland Love Lives in Small Gifts
Choosing Vietnamese gifts for international friends doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. The most important thing is sincerity and pride in the culture you want to share. A carefully chosen authentically Vietnamese gift will remind them of friendship and Vietnam in the most natural way.
Remember, the best gift isn't the most expensive one, but the one that helps them understand more about Vietnamese culture. Those happy moments when you see the delighted eyes of international friends are the reward when you become a true Vietnamese cultural ambassador.
Ready to spread homeland love? Explore the Vietnamese gift collection at CHUS to find the perfect gift!
FAQs
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Why should you choose handcrafted gifts over industrial products for international friends?
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What types of Vietnamese gifts do international friends love the most?
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How can you tell a compelling story about the gift to leave a lasting impression?
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Why should you choose handcrafted gifts over industrial products for international friends?
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What types of Vietnamese gifts do international friends love the most?
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How can you tell a compelling story about the gift to leave a lasting impression?
