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What To Buy As Souvenirs In Ha Giang
If you’re reading this article you’ve probably just had one of the most amazing trips ever in Ha Giang and you’re looking for something to take home with you to remember it by. Ha Giang as we know it is still not touristically developed compared to Sapa, which is a good thing because you get to experience something that not many people have. But with that, there isn’t much to buy, don’t expect huge stores or souvenir stands filled with key chains, magnets, hats, cups, or stuff like that. However, Ha Giang, with its rich culture, offers some of the most unique things that you can buy as presents that will please everyone. Here is our top list of things to buy in Ha Giang as a souvenir from the wonderful trip.
Lung Tam brocade
Ha Giang not only attracts domestic and international tourists with endless fields of buckwheat flowers, winding mountain passes, and vast and majestic mountain ranges but also the rich cultures of the ethnic people.
For the H’Mong people in Lung Tam commune, Quan Ba district, linen is a cultural symbol. The residents still maintain the traditional linen weaving craft using completely natural materials and manual processes. After 41 meticulous manual stages, including sowing seeds, harvesting flax plants, extracting fibers, retting, spinning, weaving, washing, drying, etc., the Lung Tam indigenous linen fabric takes shape.
The Lung Tam Linen Cooperative currently offers various products such as clothes, scarves, handbags, wallets, pillowcases, tablecloths, paintings, and little souvenirs, which are dyed using no chemicals.
Where to buy: Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Quan Ba, Ha Giang
Mint honey
Mint honey from Ha Giang is harvested from the nectar of peppermint flowers, a wild plant abundant in Ha Giang. Due to its wild nature, the annual honey yield is not exceptionally high. Not everyone can own a bottle of this honey due to its unique processing method and limited quantity. Pure mint honey is only available in November and December, and as a result, the price for this specialty is quite high (around 450,000 VND per 500 ml bottle).
If you’re looking for some mint honey, ask the locals for help to get the right one. Stay away from the ones that are too vibrant, like artificially green, and the ones that have a pungent smell.
Where to buy: Meo Vac, Dong Van, Ha Giang
Fruits
Tao Meo, or Docynia Indica, is one of the most common fruits sold in the markets of Ha Giang. Tao Meo, which means “H’mong apples”, are small, crispy, and sweet with a slight tang. Tao Meo can be enjoyed fresh or macerated, and the wine made with Tao Meo is known as an effective remedy for high blood pressure. You can buy a kilo of Tao Meo for around 30.000 - 35.000 VND.
If you’re in Ha Giang from October to November, you can also buy some seedless persimmons. It’s exceptionally crispy and has a delightful sweetness. Just as Dalat is famous for its wind-dried persimmons, Ha Giang has its unique specialty of seedless persimmons. You can buy a kilo of this fruit for around 20.000 - 40.000 VND.
Where to buy: local markets in Ha Giang
Corn wine
Corn wine is very common in the northern provinces of Vietnam. However, to truly appreciate the delightfulness, you must visit the H'Mong villages in Ha Giang.
Corn wine is fermented from golden corn and leaf yeast. After manual fermentation and distillation, It has a pretty high alcohol content, about 35-40% ABV. The liquor has a natural, clear color, and a strong smell and taste, sometimes overpowering.
For the locals, consuming Corn wine is a daily habit. It is enjoyed during meals, served to guests, and during important festivals and celebrations. And when they drink, they don’t just have one or two shots they DRINK. Corn wine goes best with specialties like smoked buffalo meat, grilled stream fish or roasted pork. You might have come across men drinking together and shouting “Mot, Hai, Ba, Uong!” (One, Two, Three, Drink!), they might even offer you some but be careful because you might pass out. You can buy corn wine for 30.000 - 50.000 VND per liter.
Where to buy: local markets in Ha Giang
Jewelry
The village of Lao Xa, located approximately 5 km from the center of Sung La commune, is the cradle of the traditional H’Mong silver casting. While there are 103 households in the village, only a few families continue to practice this craft. Among them is the family of Mr. Mua Se Sinh (70 years old), who has maintained this profession for over 100 years.
Mr. Mua Se Sinh shares that he learned the silver engraving craft from his grandparents and parents when he was very young. Creating a piece of silver jewelry involves multiple meticulous stages, each requiring skillfulness. The patterns on Lao Xa's silver products mainly depict human life or nature.
The time required to craft a piece depends on its size, complexity, and the intricacy of the pattern. The more complex the more expensive. Smaller jewelry items like rings and bracelets may take only one morning to complete, while more intricate pieces like necklaces could take several days or even a month.
Where to buy: Tram duc Bac Co, Xua Tung, Dong Van, Ha Giang
Thit trau gac bep
Thit trau gac bep (Buffalo meat hanging up the kitchen) is a culinary cultural element of ethnic minorities in the northern highlands, especially in Ha Giang. This dish is made from free-range buffaloes so the meat is firm and delicious. After marinating with spices, the meat is hung on the stove shelf, where it is exposed to smoke from the wood-fired stove. The smoke not only helps the meat dry quickly but also imparts a distinctive aroma. This is a signature dish, often present during festivals and celebrations, and is also a popular souvenir for tourists.
Where to buy: local markets in Ha Giang
Shan Tuyet tea
Shan Tuyet, which translates to "Snow on the mountain," is a tea plant that grows on high mountain ranges with an elevation of around 1300m above sea level. The tea leaves and buds are covered with a layer of white fuzz resembling snow. Shan Tuyet tea is typically harvested from ancient tea trees, ranging from 200 to 700 years old. Shan Tuyet tea has a gentle aroma and a golden color like honey.
The tea is processed using the traditional methods of the H'Mong and Dao ethnic groups. Shan Tuyet tea comes in various types such as green tea, white tea, red tea, or black tea, but all are harvested from the same tea plant. However, the different processing techniques result in distinct varieties of Shan Tuyet tea.
Shan Tuyet tea is a great idea for a gift, which you can buy online or in OCOP stores.
=> Lung Tam Village - The Art Of Linen Weaving
