There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Hue, but you may want to take the time to see the rest of the sights before you make purchases that you need to carry around until you return to your hotel room. So, rent a cyclo and zoom around to see sights that include the Hue Imperial Citadel, the Thien Mu Pagoda, the tomb of Ming Mang, and the tomb of Tu Duc.
You may even want to spend some time over on Lang Co Beach, relaxing in the sand and even flying a kite. This is one of the best beaches in Hue and once you arrive, you will find that there are so many things that you can do in addition to sinking your toes in the sand and swimming out in the water.
Of course, at some point, you will need to start your shopping and when you are considering what souvenirs to buy in Hue, you should walk over to Dong Ba Market. This is an excellent place to buy food to eat, but you can also find jewelry, clothing, and crafts.
This market can be found over on Tran Hung Dao Street and you will find it inside a large gray building. Dong Ba Market opens at three o’clock in the morning and stays open until eight o’clock at night. As you are shopping, you are going to get hungry from smelling all the aromas from the food stalls. Thankfully, the food is reasonably priced, so you can indulge in as much as you wish and still have money leftover for your souvenirs.
There are five other main shopping areas in Hue, so when you leave Dong Ba Market, you may want to check those out as well. Those shopping areas include Tay Loc Market, Tran Hung Dao Street, Le Loi Street, Mai Thuc Loan Street, and Chu Van An Street.
Each destination is full of local markets, boutiques, shops, art galleries, and more, plus it is possible to find anything that you want if you look carefully enough. The best part about shopping in Hue though is that it is the best place in Vietnam to purchase handicraft items that are authentic.
The New Space Art Foundation Hue is an independent art gallery that is filled with folk paintings. You will find this gallery over on Pham Ngu Lao Street and it is the perfect place to purchase that one of the kind work of art to hang on your wall back home.
If you are looking for usable items when considering what souvenirs to buy in Hue, you may want to stop into Gia Huy Silk Hue. This tailor shop can be found over on Pham Ngu Lao Street as well and they have a large variety of materials to work with when they are creating the perfect piece for you. Imagine pulling a gorgeous cashmere sweater over your head back home or purchasing similar clothing items to take back home for friends and family.
Yes, it will take longer to obtain your souvenirs when you choose to go this route, but the end result with have you happier than you would have been if you simply pulled something off the rack somewhere else!
Healing the Wounded Heart Hue is another excellent option when it comes to shopping for souvenirs. Almost all the handicrafts are made with recycled materials and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the work. You will find yourself looking at everything from handwoven bamboo baskets and bowls to silk scarves and photo frames. There is no way that you can leave this store without purchasing at least one thing, even if you are searching for that one person who is always difficult to shop for.
When it comes to what souvenirs to buy in Hue, the one that should be at the top of your list is the nónlá, which is a conical shaped hat that is made from palm leaves woven together. Poems are inserted into the woven sections and they can only be seen when the hat is held up to the sunlight. Men and women wear these hats and have for as long as the country has been around.
You are going to have so many options available to you when you are considering what souvenirs to buy in Hue and that may lead to some problems, simply because your choices are not limited. We recommend purchasing a couple hats, maybe a painted mask or two, and some carefully tailored clothing as well. Those three things will ensure that you remember your time in this part of Vietnam and it may be enough to have you returning to this part of the world in the future.