Gift to buy in Sapa

Hill tribes’ handicraft, cloth, daily products, etc. Cheaper than shops in the village. Also many hill tribe ladies come to you to sell their products. Sa Pa shopping is characterized by the ever-present and persistent local women and girls trying to offload all manner of supposedly traditional handicrafts. “A genuine, authentic H’mong tea cosy ma’am?” We think not. Sadly, the constant stream of foreign tourists and their dollars has destroyed much of the innocent charm of the local hill tribe peoples from the villages close to Sa Pa, which is often the very thing their visitors are seeking!

The range of merchandise available in Sa Pa covers handicrafts from a large number of different hill tribes who trek surprisingly long distances to sell their products here.
It’s good to go Shopping in Sa Pa. Get the best deals, learn about the best places to shop in Sa Pa, stop for some finger food, or relax in one of the Sa Pa Restaurants.
The different brightly colored and highly decorative fabrics and garment from the different hill tribes are popular purchases. Liquor is the hot item in Bac Ha. The list we have collected below should give you a place to start looking for that special something. We haven’t created a list since the central market (of both Sa Pa and Bac Ha) are really the only places you are likely to find anything you might be looking for.

Wild Orchid Shop: Cau May St., Sa Pa Town Tel: 871-665 This is a small shop with very colorful paintings about the daily life of minority people. An owner designs all the styles of minority people’s costumes, specializing in Homing and Dzao people. The cheapest thing in the shop is a small scarf at the price of US$3.
Local Handicrafts: Seems like every female you will meet from the age of 5 and up will try to sell you handcrafted goods. After a while you’ll stop wondering about all the goods because you see them making them, whenever they sit down for even one moment. They are very nice and colorful and make great presents when you go back home. Hats are great too, and they make a nice colorful collection on the wall. The price is about US$1-5 depending on how much you are willing to bargain and how nice the lady you bargain with is
Souvenirs and local handicrafts

Being a tourist destination, there are lots of cheap souvenirs and local handicrafts from the local ethnic minority people to choose from. Once you step out of your hotel, the women will start approaching you to buy them (and they can be very persistent especially the Hmong women). Some of them are very savvy and can speak good English. There are also lots of stores at the Sapa market as well as some of the villages during your trekking e.g. Cat Cat Village. The important thing is to bargain, and they are likely to reduce the price abour 20-50% depending on your bargaining skills.

Stalls set up next to one another: Shopping at the main market Sapa
Many of the local women sell their traditional clothes, bracelets, jewelry and souvenir in the main market daily and more during weekends when larger number of foreign and local tourists arrive.
Different tribes have different design. Hemp are used and indigo for natural coloring. Be careful of color running during wash.
Some bargaining is expected. To more you buy, the more discount you can get. If not sure, shop around before deciding what is the best price. Do check as quality and intricacy of design can vary.