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What to Shop for When Traveling to Nha Trang?
Nha Trang Seafood Delights
Nha Trang's renowned specialties begin with seafood. Mentioning Nha Trang means mentioning the sea, the long stretches of pristine beaches, and numerous islands. Surely, a trip to the sea would be incomplete without indulging in some seafood delicacies. So, what famous seafood does Nha Trang offer, and what are the prices? Let's explore now!
- Nha Trang Lobster - a large sea prawn cultivated by fishermen in floating cages around the islands in Nha Trang. However, this lobster is quite selective in its buyers due to its relatively high price. On average, lobsters weighing between 600g - 1kg each are priced from 1.2 million to 1.5 million VND/kg. Smaller lobsters weighing around 300g - 500g each cost from 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND/kg. To buy fresh lobsters at reasonable prices, you can purchase directly from fishermen's floating cages when visiting the islands or from renowned lobster dealers in Nha Trang such as the Binh Tan Bridge area, Hon Rom Nha Trang tourist area, or the Hoang Dieu and Biet Thu streets in the city center.
- Apart from lobsters, squid is also one of Nha Trang's highly acclaimed seafood specialties. There are various types of squid to choose from, including fresh squid, sun-dried squid, dried squid, or processed squid, notably the famous rim me squid dish of Nha Trang. Rim me squid is made from dried squid, which is then sliced or thinly rolled and marinated with distinctive spices, including tamarind sauce, creating a delicious aroma with a combination of chewy texture and a sweet, spicy, irresistible taste. Rim me squid is usually packed in boxes and sold at traditional markets or specialty supermarkets in Nha Trang. Some places to buy rim me squid in Nha Trang that you can consider are: Ngoc Phuoc Dry Seafood Distributor (98 Bach Dang or 5B Tran Hung Dao), Dam Market - Nha Trang, etc.
Nha Trang rim me squid
- Besides that, Nha Trang is also famous for its specialties made from snails, shellfish such as blood cockles, or dishes made from fish such as fish sausage, fish bubble, dried seahorse, golden needlefish,... You can easily buy these specialties at supermarkets or famous markets in Nha Trang.
Khanh Hoa Swiftlet's Nest
After seafood, Khanh Hoa Swiftlet's Nest is the second specialty that you cannot miss when visiting Nha Trang. Because Khanh Hoa is the origin of the Swiftlet's Nest, it is an extremely valuable product that nature has bestowed upon this place. In the feudal era, swiftlet's nest was considered a dish reserved only for kings and queens. However, nowadays, with various products and affordable prices, everyone can enjoy its taste. Swiftlet's nest is made from the nest of the swiftlet bird, a bird species living on cliffs by the sea. Therefore, the exploitation of swiftlet's nests by people is very difficult and laborious. After harvesting, people will process the swiftlet's nest into various dishes such as canned swiftlet's nest, swiftlet's nest porridge, blood swiftlet's nest, or raw swiftlet's nest,...
Swiftlet's nest is a very good food for health, with nutritional benefits, digestive support, helps to soothe nerves, and promotes good sleep,... Swiftlet's nest is especially good for the elderly, children, and women after childbirth. Therefore, this is a Nha Trang specialty that you cannot miss if you want to buy it as a gift for relatives, family,... Swiftlet's nests are divided into many types such as: blood swiftlet's nest, white swiftlet's nest, swallow's nest, golden swiftlet's nest,... The price of a finished swiftlet's nest ranges from 3.6 million to 4.5 million VND/gram. Some places to buy Khanh Hoa Swiftlet's Nest in Nha Trang that you can refer to are:
- Khanh Hoa Swiftlet's Nest Company: No. 248, Thong Nhat Street.
- Sanest Swiftlet's Nest Shop: No. 248 Thong Nhat, Nha Trang.
- Nha Trang Swiftlet's Nest House: No. 10 Le Thanh Phuong, Nha Trang.
Nha Trang Swiftlet's Nest
Ninh Hoa Spring Rolls
One of the delicious dishes in Nha Trang that you shouldn't miss is Ninh Hoa Spring Rolls. This dish is made from fresh pork, which is cleaned, sliced thinly, and mixed with various spices such as salt, pepper, sugar, and seasoning powder. Then, it's ground finely in a mortar, the quicker you grind, the firmer the meat, making the spring rolls even more delicious.
Ninh Hoa Spring Rolls come in 2 types: sour and grilled. Usually, grilled spring rolls are enjoyed on the spot because they are tastier when hot. Grilled spring rolls are enticing with the fragrant aroma of lemongrass mixed with the rich sweetness of pork, served with various vegetables and rice paper, bringing out the distinctive flavor of this dish.
Sour spring rolls are also made from fresh pork, marinated with spices and ground finely. Then, the pork is wrapped in small packages with fresh banana leaves and fermented for 3 - 5 days before eating. This will be a Nha Trang specialty gift that many tourists choose instead of grilled spring rolls because it's easy to transport and store for a long time. Especially, this type of spring rolls, if fermented for the right amount of time, will bring out a very distinctive flavor, sour and sweet, with a crunchy texture, dipped in chili sauce, it's truly irresistible.
In Nha Trang, there are many places to buy Ninh Hoa Spring Rolls, but to get the most delicious and authentic ones, you should visit Ninh Hoa commune, about 30km from the center of Nha Trang. The price for 20 small spring rolls is around 40,000 VND. Here are some addresses to buy grilled spring rolls in Nha Trang:
- Nem Restaurant 25 Le Hong Phong – Nha Trang
- Vu Thanh An Grilled Spring Rolls, 15 Le Loi – Nha Trang
- Dang Van Quyen Spring Roll Restaurant, 16A Lan Ong – Nha Trang
Ninh Hoa Grilled and Fermented Spring Rolls - Nha Trang
Salted Lime Chili
This is a very famous seasoning in Nha Trang, made from key ingredients such as lime, salt, sugar, garlic, chili, etc. Nha Trang Salted Lime Chili is packaged in small plastic bottles, typically with a distinctive green color. It has a salty taste combined with the fragrance of lime, the spicy heat of chili and garlic. Surely, this will be an indispensable seasoning for meals, especially when paired with fresh seafood in Nha Trang. The price of a bottle of Nha Trang Salted Lime Chili ranges from 20,000 VND to 30,000 VND. You can buy Nha Trang Salted Lime Chili at reputable locations such as: Xom Moi Market (49 Ngo Gia Tu - Nha Trang), Dam Market - Nha Trang, etc.
Cam Ranh Mango Cake
Also known as Cam Ranh mango rice paper, a type of cake that is very simply processed. After the ripe mangoes are peeled and squeezed for juice, the locals will cook this juice, stirring constantly until it thickens, then pour it onto rice paper and dry it in the sun, then wrap it in plastic bags for preservation. Cam Ranh mango rice paper has a very distinctive flavor, with the fragrant, sweet, sour taste of mango combined with the chewy texture of rice paper, creating a very attractive specialty dish.
This type of cake has a relatively low price, only from 25,000 VND to 30,000 VND per bag of 12 pieces, you can buy it at any grocery store or at the Nha Trang markets. Some reputable addresses to buy Cam Ranh mango rice paper in Nha Trang: Dam Market - Xom Moi Market 49 Ngo Gia Tu - Nha Trang, store 11E Thai Nguyen - Nha Trang.
XQ Embroidery Sư Quán
In addition to the famous specialties, you cannot miss the very meaningful souvenirs of Nha Trang to give to relatives, family, and friends. One of them is hand-embroidered paintings by craftsmen at Sư Quán. This place is known as a living museum of hand embroidery, where it preserves, innovates, and develops the traditional embroidery art imbued with Vietnamese identity. Here, you not only admire the extremely realistic and captivating life-like paintings but also have the opportunity to buy them as very meaningful gifts.
XQ Embroidery Paintings
Handicrafts
Handicrafts are a very popular souvenir product. When you come to Nha Trang, you can find yourself some handicrafts as gifts for your relatives and friends, including: Paintings, plates with images of famous landmarks in Nha Trang such as Ponagar Tower, Tram Huong Tower,...Or products made from wood and fabric, with many diverse and beautiful designs and colors.
Handmade Items
What to buy in Nha Trang? Handmade items would be a great suggestion for you. These are handcrafted products, very creative, by artisans from the traditional handmade craft village in Nha Trang. The special and most meaningful point of these products is that they are made from old materials such as seashells, pebbles, or corals,... Thanks to the skilled hands, talent, and creativity of the artisans, these seemingly trivial objects suddenly become very attractive artworks like: colorful animals, funny cartoon characters, or beautiful wind chimes. These will surely be meaningful souvenirs when you come to Nha Trang.
Famous shopping places in Nha Trang
To buy specialties or items in Nha Trang as listed above, you can visit the following famous shopping places in Nha Trang:
Traditional markets
Dam Market Nha Trang
One of the most famous shopping destinations in Nha Trang is Dam Market. This market has been built since a long time ago (around 1908), with exquisite and unique architecture. Dam Market Nha Trang is considered the commercial symbol of the coastal city. The market area covers more than 7 hectares, located in Van Thanh, Nha Trang. When visiting Dam Market, tourists can not only buy all the famous specialties of Nha Trang, including various fresh and dried seafood typical of this coastal area, but also purchase souvenir items, handicrafts, and handmade products as gifts for relatives and friends.
Visiting here, you will feel the hustle and bustle, and explore stalls with a wide variety of goods. The market opens from early morning until it closes when there are no more customers, so you can visit the market at any time. A small tip for you, especially for those who travel to Nha Trang independently, is to choose hotels near the central area, so you can easily reach the market, only about a 10-minute walk, very convenient.
>>> Check out the most popular hotels in Nha Trang here.
Dam Market Nha Trang
Xom Moi Market
Located right in the center of Nha Trang town (49 Ngo Gia Tu, Nha Trang City), Xom Moi Market is famous for its fresh seafood, dried seafood, and very reasonable prices. Especially, this market area also offers many delicious local dishes such as fish soup, fish noodle soup, beef noodle soup, or snacks like various kinds of sweet soups, sweet potato cakes, grilled bread,...
Minimalism Flea Market
As the most famous flea market in Nha Trang, the Minimalism flea market is a handicraft market featuring products made from natural materials, environmentally friendly. The market is held every two months at 86/1 Tran Phu, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang. Here, you can shop for various items while enjoying a wide range of traditional drinks that are good for your health.
Nha Trang Night Market
Visiting the Nha Trang night market, tourists can explore various culinary cultural experiences from enticing street foods to incredibly delicious seafood dishes, or participate in singing and public performances. Moreover, you can also find many souvenir items for your friends and relatives here. The night market is held right in the city center, on Tran Phu Street, a beautiful coastal road alongside Nha Trang beach, opening from 5 - 6 pm daily until late at night.
Shopping Malls
In addition to the traditional market areas, you can also visit some popular shopping centers in Nha Trang as listed below:
Handicraft Shops
- XQ Nha Trang Traditional Arts and Crafts Center - one of the well-known shopping destinations in Nha Trang. This is where you can find, display, and purchase exquisitely crafted hand-embroidered paintings depicting the sea, islands, and many famous landmarks of Nha Trang. Located at 64 Tran Phu, Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang.
- Apsara Handmade Shop (Address: 7G2, Hung Vuong, Nha Trang): This is one of the most beloved souvenir handmade shops in Nha Trang by tourists. The handmade products here are diverse, including shoes, sandals, bags, etc. Come here and choose meaningful souvenir gifts for your loved ones and friends when traveling to Nha Trang.
Tips for Shopping in Nha Trang
Nha Trang boasts many famous specialties that anyone who has been here wants to enjoy or buy as gifts for family and friends. However, according to Nha Trang travel experience, when shopping here, you should also consider the following:
- To choose the freshest and best-quality food, especially the famous seafood in Nha Trang, you should visit the fishing villages, seafood farming areas, or stores selling fresh seafood, or traditional market areas. Avoid buying at shopping malls as prices tend to be high and the seafood may not be fresh.
- When shopping at markets, you need to choose carefully to avoid buying counterfeit or low-quality goods.
- Remember to bargain when shopping at the market because most items here are priced quite high.
- If you're buying fresh specialties as gifts, make sure to pack them in a styrofoam box and store them carefully before boarding the plane.
After reading this article, you've probably answered the questions 'What to buy in Nha Trang, and where to buy?' So why hesitate? Book yourself a flight ticket to Nha Trang to explore this coastal city. For a more economical and convenient trip, you can also check out Nha Trang combos or tours at Mytour to make your journey faster and easier!
>>> Check out the latest Nha Trang travel tips for 2020 here.
Autumn Charm
Image Source: Internet
