If you’re planning a trip to Hue City, the cultural heart of Vietnam, you might be wondering what to buy in Hue and where to shop for authentic souvenirs. From traditional crafts to local delicacies, Hue offers a diverse range of unique gifts that capture the city’s rich heritage and charm. Here’s a guide to the top things to buy in Hue and the best places to find these special treasures.
1. Sesame Candy
Sesame candy, a typical local candy in Hue, is made from sesame, malt, sticky rice, peanuts, and sugar. The candy has a golden brown color, dotted with white sesame seeds and large roasted peanuts, creating a sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with tea.
This candy is so beloved that locals often mention it when talking about Hue City. You’ll find many brands making and selling these sesame candies, such as Thiên Hương and Nam Thuận, packed in red plastic bags.
It’s easy to find this candy at local stores and supermarkets throughout Hue City. Plus, if you join the Hue Flavor Street Food Tour, you’ll get a chance to taste this candy—one of Mr. Thơm’s sweet favorites.
2. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Hue City offers ideal conditions—fertile soil and a suitable climate—for growing unique varieties of eucalyptus. These favorable conditions support the local production of natural essential oils.
Using traditional purification methods, the eucalyptus oil produced in Hue is milder than that from other regions. It is commonly used for massages, treating wounds, relieving pain, and adding it to warm water for washing to help prevent cold-related issues during winter.
You can find eucalyptus oil bottles for sale in local markets, supermarkets, and along the A1 highway, particularly in the Phu Loc and Lang Co areas. Genuine essential eucalyptus oil is identifiable by its clear yellow color and mild, natural scent.
3. Dry Lotus Seeds
Lotus seeds in Hue are well known for their health benefits, especially for promoting restful sleep and enhancing skin beauty. Traditionally, they were also used in royal cuisine, such as in the famous Hue sweet soup, which is made with lotus seeds and longan.
Today, many souvenir shops in Hue sell dried lotus seeds strung together, making them convenient to carry on vans or airplanes.
4. Poem Hat (Nón Bài Thơ)
Nón Bài Thơ is a type of conical hat adorned with poems and pictures of Hue that become visible when held up to the light. The images of Trang Tien Bridge or Thien Mu Pagoda are often used inside this hat.
The conical hats are used to protect ladies and girls in Hue City from the sun and rain. When poems and Hue pictures are inside them, they have become a cultural symbol of this city.
However, this type of hat is easier to break than the original ones without pictures and poems. Thus, many people use poem hats as typical products for decorating their houses or restaurants.
You can find this type of hat at Dong Ba Market.
5. Hue Long Dress (Áo Dài Huế)
The Hue Long Dress is a traditional garment worn by girls and ladies in daily life, as well as by a few men on special occasions.
Beautiful white ao dai can be seen on the streets of Le Loi after students finish school at Quoc Hoc and Hai Ba Trung high schools. Or, you may find a few girls and ladies wearing this long dress near Trang Tien Bridge for taking pictures.
The Hue Long Dress is not only for ladies and girls but also for kids, making them look cute when wearing it. Thus, this typical clothing can become meaningful Hue souvenirs for your children or niece.
You can purchase the Hue Long Dress at Dong Ba Market. Alternatively, for made-to-measure services, you can find many shops on Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ben Nghe Street, or Mai Luc Loan Street.
6. Art Paintings
Art paintings are lovely in Hue as well. Hue has a famous College of Art where many professional artists have been well-educated and gained fame, including Đình Cường, Dương Đình San, and Nguyễn Đình Thuần.
Many artistic paintings depict Hue City, the Perfume River, the Imperial Citadel, or local life. They are housed in numerous collections featuring various colors and styles of materials.
A renowned gallery featuring high-quality paintings is Gakka, located at 108 Le Ngo Cat Street, Hue City.
7. Bronze Products
The bronze-casting village of Hue is on the south bank of the Perfume River, about 2 km from the city center. Skilled artisans in this village have created many famous bronze works, including the Great Bell at Thien Mu Pagoda, the Royal bronze urns, the gates inside the Citadel, as well as the Nine Dynasty Cannons and nine urns at The Mieu Temple. These are renowned both in Hue and throughout Vietnam.
Today, visitors can watch bronze casting demonstrations and even try their hand at making beautiful statues. The bronze village in Phuong Duc is also a great place to shop for authentic bronze products when exploring Hue.
