What kind of gifts do Vietnamese people want from the US?

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rick m

Don't bother bringing garments unless they are "uniquely" American. For instance, my wife's family has an excellent collection of Red Sox/Patriots game jerseys and t-shirts.
High end brands such as Polo, La Coste , etc. are incredibly low priced in Vn ($5 for Polo shirts).
I usually bring chocolate for the women, two bottles of good American bourbon for the men, and toys for the kids. Being a man, I also bring a box of Cuban cigars for our manly style enjoyment (bought at Tan Son Nhut or Inchon International) I travel to Vn often and whenever I see a good sale or go to a discount store, I'll load up on those kinds of things.
Viets on the whole also love electronic gadgets. I don't know your budget, but mp3 players and walkmans are pretty popular. One thing that is a status symbol in Vn is a cell phone. My wife always gets my new cell (from resigning my contract), and passes last years model to someone in her family.
Another really great gift is American food. My most popular request is to bring more jello and pudding. Everyone loves it.
I've also brought canned goods like white clam sauce, "unusual" pasta (multi colored elbows etc) and once, I even brought a live 10 lb Maine lobster.
Last, but not least, is flower and vegetable seeds. Even city dwellers can grow flowers and most Vn veggies are tiny by comparison to what Burpee sells.
Hope this helps !

Heavenly_Tear

When my family and I went to Vietnam, we normally bring chocolate (the Kisses and Hershey one, and M&M). Vietnamses people love those 3 kinds of chocolate. As for men, they like wine and Herneshy because they said that brand is expensive in Vietnam. So if you give gift to male I would say buy them some wine. As for female, buy them chocolate and some brand clothes.

And if you still can't find a good gift, then I prefer giving them money because with money they can buy whatever they want. Thus, they would buy things that they normally likes best.

have fun in Vietnam.
hopes i can go, but i can't :)

burning ice

US dollar, thats the best. they just keep it in their pocket and make it as a souvenir,a $10 will do each not unless you cousins are rich, make it $100. lol

viveLAvie

everybody likes these gifts

NOLA guy

Assuming you are in contact with your family you should ask. Have your mom actually do the asking so it appears you are only following her advice on presents.

If that doesn't work (or you would rather not ask), take items specific to your area that are also identifiable as American.

For example (I live in New Orleans), I usually take local spices, Cafe du Monde coffee & chicory, pralines, and logo items (ex. University of New Orleans) as presents. Hershey's chocolate syrup and name-brand peanut butter might work , but find out if the items are available in local grocery stores in Vietnam (ex. Tabasco is everywhere).

Also find out if wrapping is important. I once gave a Japanse friend something wrapped in white (which Japanese view as the color of death).........

Take more items than you think you will need!

Willard

rice

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