New-fangled souvenirs: Tourists leave Vietnam with suitcases full of snacks

After spending more than a month traveling around Vietnam, Filipina Dannica Refe returned home with two suitcases stuffed with snacks worth nearly VND7 million (US$275).

The 25-year-old says: "This is nothing compared to my friends. They spent over VND10 million ($381) and still wanted to buy more."

She arrived in Hanoi in mid-June for a holiday but admits her main motivation was to take part in the TikTok trend of trying Vietnamese snacks.

From the airport she rushed straight to convenience stores and supermarkets to buy the items she had seen recommended.

She says she fell in love with the snacks.

"I could eat a pack of grilled coconut cookies and not get tired of them. They are better than many desserts in upscale restaurants in the Philippines, and cheaper."

She is also impressed by how diverse Vietnamese snacks are. For example, with just one ingredient like young green rice (com), people can make sticky rice, ice cream, and candies.

Before heading home, she and her friends toured supermarkets and shops in Hanoi's Old Quarter, searching for snacks to take back as souvenirs and gifts.

A video she shared, showing snack bags and instant coffee being packed into her luggage, drew thousands of views on TikTok.

 

 

New-fangled souvenirs: Tourists leave Vietnam with suitcases full of snacks

Người nước ngoài “săn” đồ ăn vặt ở Việt Nam

In the last two months the "Vietnam snack haul" trend has gone viral, with videos of foreigners buying instant noodles, snacks and coffee under hashtags like #snackvietnam.

Many travelers express surprise and say they were addicted to these treats.

Some even seek advice on how to transport large quantities home.

Hoang Nghia Dat, CEO of VNA Travel, says foreign tourists now want not just sightseeing but also food experiences, especially street snacks and local eateries.

"In the past they mostly wanted to try dishes like pho or Vietnamese meals in restaurants. But now they're excited to eat snacks on sidewalks, drink local draft beer or seek out street carts selling bo bia (Chinese sausage spring rolls)."

Thuy, owner of Tai Loc sweet soup shop in Hanoi's downtown Hoan Kiem Ward, says lots of foreign visitors have come to her shop in the past month, choosing local favorites like cassava pudding and grilled banana in sticky rice.

"Some are surprised to find these desserts cost only a few tens of thousands of dong ($1 to $2), yet they can enjoy them in a charming old house."

Thuy also says convenience stores in the area have become crowded with foreign shoppers hunting for snacks, not a usual sight in the past.

Baskets of Vietnamese snacks and drinks that Dannica Refe purchased during a Hanoi trip. Photo courtesy of Tiktok/nicsrefe.

Nguyen Tien Dat, vice president of the Hanoi Tourism Association, says social media is changing how tourists explore Vietnam. Many now travel on their own, following online food reviews.

The variety, flavors and low prices of Vietnamese snacks make them a big hit with visitors, he says.

Earlier this year food guide TasteAtlas included several Vietnamese street foods like bun dau mam tom (rice noodles and tofu with shrimp paste) and banh ran (deep-fried glutinous rice ball) in its list of Southeast Asia's top 100 dishes, alongside classics like pho and banh mi.

Dat says: "Food plays a key role in tourism development. The act of travelers bringing home Vietnamese snacks may seem small, but it helps spread our culinary culture globally."

Through June this year the number of international arrivals to Vietnam rose by 23% year-on-year.

Dat underlines the need to keep street foods clean and use media to promote Vietnamese snacks.

"We want tourists to return for food that's tasty, affordable and unforgettable."

Zane Hanson (L) and his Vietnamese girlfriend try street snacks in Ho Chi Minh City. Photocourtesy of Zane Hanson

Zane Hanson, 21, of New Zealand pulled up to a school gate in Ho Chi Minh City and stopped at a street cart selling childhood snacks. He says his Vietnamese girlfriend introduced him to this after-school snacking tradition and things cost only VND5,000 - VND20,000 ($0.20 - $0.80).

He tried keo chi, a treat made from hand-pulled malt sugar wrapped in a wafer with shredded coconut. He also tried a cup of shaved ice drenched in fruit syrup, and says this was the first snack that cooled him off in the heat besides beer.

"I had tried instant noodles, pho and instant coffee that my girlfriend brought over, and thought those were the only basics, until the Vietnamese snack trend blew up online."

In early July he booked a flight to Vietnam to be part of the trend.

In New Zealand snacks typically mean cookies or chips, and street food is not common.

Hanson was also taken aback by the low prices of the snacks in Vietnam: a bubble tea that costs VND160,000 ($6) at home is just VND20,000 ($0.70) on the street here and comes with tapioca pearls.

He followed kids into a shop, and was hit with the flavors of spicy chips, o mai (sugared or salted dry fruits), and rice paper rolls.

"The snack stalls around schools are packed with both students and adults eating and chatting."

Maximilian Rolf (L) enjoys street food and beer with a friend in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Maximilian Rolf

Maximilian Rolf, 31, from Germany has lived in Hanoi for over three years. Snacking is now part of his daily routine. He enjoys afternoon bites with friends at street stalls, a habit that helps people relax after a long day.

He says while Germany has snacks too, it is hard to find treats like those in Vietnam.

"Banana fritters (banh chuoi) are a weekly must for me. It's amazing how something as simple as fried fruit can be so addictive."

He has also grown fond of savory fried rice cakes (banh ran man) dipped in fish sauce with green papaya. At first he found them strange, but was soon hooked by their blend of flavors.