Many visitors wonder: what to bring back after a trip to Ninh Binh. The Trang An region, often compared to a "Halong Bay on land" with its exceptional natural landscapes, offers plenty of Ninh Binh unique souvenirs to take home. So, follow Autour Asia to discover how shopping in Ninh Binh works: what souvenirs to buy and where to find them!
Among the must-buy souvenirs from Ninh Binh, it's hard to miss the beautiful decorative items in iconic places like the Trang An Landscape Complex, Tam Coc-Bich Dong, or the Hoa Lu ancient town. Bringing these little treasures home means keeping a piece of Ninh Binh with you after your trip while offering a meaningful gift to your loved ones to introduce them to this magical region.
A nón lá, the traditional Vietnamese conical hat, is also an ideal Ninh Binh souvenir to bring back home. Besides being a symbol of Vietnamese culture, it can become a perfect “fashion accessory” for stunning photos amid the mystical landscapes of Trang An.
Shopping in Ninh Binh? Don’t miss visiting the Xuan Vu stone carving village in the Hoa Lu District. This village is famous for its stone carving craftsmanship. Xuan Vu stone handicrafts are distinguished by their great finesse and precision. You’ll find many sculpted products in various sizes, with engraved stone bracelets and necklaces being the most popular. It’s undoubtedly a meaningful Ninh Binh souvenir!
Natural sedge products are also popular souvenirs from Ninh Binh for take-home. Particularly, in the Kim Son sedge weaving village, you’ll find many products made from this material. The most famous is the Kim Son mat, known for its superior quality, eco-friendliness, and connection to nature.
Making a mat requires several careful steps: selecting the rush, splitting it, drying it, dyeing it, and then weaving it. You can even observe the artisans weaving each rush fiber carefully to create durable mats with elegant patterns.
In addition to mats, the Kim Son craft village offers many fine art sedge souvenirs. Typical items include baskets, bags, trays, rush boxes, and more.
When traveling to Ninh Binh, the local specialty highly recommended for purchase is burned rice (known as cơm cháy in Vietnamese). This popular dish is mostly found in restaurants, hotels, and street food stalls in Ninh Binh.
Burned rice is made from a type of sticky rice cooked on low heat until it's well done, then sun-dried. The longer the drying time, the better the cơm cháy will be. It is then fried in fresh oil, ensuring it’s stirred carefully to prevent burning. This Ninh Binh specialty is also easy to store as it is carefully packaged, making it convenient for travelers to take home.
This alcoholic beverage is made from fermented sticky rice. A traditional drink of the Muong people from Ninh Binh, it stands out for its unique aroma and its spicy, intense flavor. It is an essential local specialty, perfect to bring back as a souvenir from Ninh Binh.
Next to the river in the city center, the Dragon Market is an ideal shopping spot in Ninh Binh. This market offers a wide variety of products, attracting not only tourists but also locals. The local people often visit this market to buy household goods and food products.
The area that charms tourists the most is undoubtedly the section dedicated to Ninh Binh's local specialties. After your shopping, don’t forget to stop by the food section of the Dragon Market to taste the local flavors!
Just outside the Dragon Market, you’ll find Van Giang Street, one of the busiest streets in Ninh Binh. Due to its strategic location and its connection to the city’s main traffic routes, this street is filled with souvenir shops, high-quality woodcraft stores, and many shops offering local specialties.
Close to the Ky Lan mountain in Ninh Binh, the Hoa Lu ancient town reflects the traditional architecture and culture of Vietnam’s ancient capital. The site is divided into two main areas: the product exhibition space and the food section.
In the exhibition area, you can buy a wide variety of Ninh Binh souvenirs. There’s no need to visit craft villages like Xuan Vu or Kim Son; you’ll find handcrafted products such as Bo Dat ceramics, Van Lam embroidery, Bo De leaf paintings, Dong Do paintings, and Y Yen lacquer, etc.
Don’t forget to stop by the food area to enjoy local specialties like rice cakes, honey cakes, and shrimp fritters. A stroll through the ancient town of Hoa Lu will make your trip to Ninh Binh truly unforgettable!
Here’s a list of Ninh Binh souvenirs to bring home and the best shopping spots. We hope this information will be helpful for your trip to this beautiful region! If you’d like to learn more about tours in Vietnam or other Southeast Asian countries, feel free to contact Autour Asia, your Vietnam travel company, for the fastest advice!
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