When visiting Ninh Binh, what are the best souvenirs and gifts to bring back home?

Planning a trip to Ninh Binh and wondering what delightful souvenirs to bring back home? Look no further! The gifts you'll find in Ninh Binh are not only special; they truly capture the authentic essence and flavors of the region, making them perfect keepsakes that are sure to bring joy to anyone you share them with.
What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh? Are you wondering what gifts to choose from this ancient capital region for your family and friends? Ninh Binh is not only famous for its stunning natural landscapes but also entices visitors with unique local specialties, rich in authentic flavors. Let's join63Stravel.comto discover some fantastic suggestions in the article below to make your trip even more complete!
What Souvenirs to Buy When Traveling to Ninh Binh?
Below are some famous Ninh Binh specialties that make excellent souvenirs, each carrying the unique characteristics of this region.
1. Ninh Binh Crispy Rice (Com Chay)
What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh? When it comes to Ninh Binh specialties, crispy rice (Com Chay) is undoubtedly the first thing many people think of. This dish stands out with its incredibly crispy, golden-brown rice, made from the highest quality grains.

Ninh Binh Crispy Rice - A Renowned Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir
After the rice is cooked, the golden crust at the bottom of the pot is sun-dried to achieve perfect crispness, then deep-fried until each grain puffs up and becomes delightfully crunchy. The highlight of the dish is its rich sauce, often made from Ninh Binh's famous goat meat, offering an irresistible savory and aromatic flavor.
Besides crispy rice with goat sauce, visitors can also try other appealing variations like crispy rice with shredded pork (ruoc) or crispy rice with shredded shrimp (ruoc tom), adding diversity to the culinary experience. You can easily find crispy rice at famous locations such astravel, Bai Dinh, orHoa Lu ancient town, at reasonable prices starting from just 30,000 VND.
More than just a delicious dish to enjoy on the spot, crispy rice is also a perfect souvenir to take home, meaningful and rich with the flavors of the ancient capital. If you're wondering "what souvenirs to buy when traveling to Ninh Binh," crispy rice is definitely a fantastic suggestion you shouldn't miss.
2. Gia Vien Fermented Shrimp Paste (Mam Tep Gia Vien)
Gia Vien Fermented Shrimp Paste (Mam Tep Gia Vien) is a meaningful and unique gift, embodying the rustic flavors of the low-lying, flooded rice fields. Unlike common fermented pastes, Gia Vien Mam Tep is handcrafted from fresh, carefully selected shrimp found in Ninh Binh's distinctive wetlands. The meticulousness in every step of preparation, from choosing ingredients and seasoning to the fermentation process, creates a distinct and unmistakable flavor.

Gia Vien Fermented Shrimp Paste - A Culinary Specialty from Ninh Binh to Buy as a Souvenir
Ninh Binh's Mam Tep stands out with its natural reddish-brown color, a rich yet not overpowering aroma, a smooth consistency, and a balanced sweet-and-savory taste. It's considered best in winter, when the ideal weather allows for perfect fermentation, bringing out its full delicious flavor. With a jar of Mam Tep, you can prepare many appealing dishes such as steamed Mam Tep with pork, a dipping sauce for boiled vegetables, or enjoy it with green bananas and fresh herbs to enhance its richness.
Gia Vien Mam Tep is not just a dish but also a culinary essence deeply connected to the culture of this ancient capital region. If you have the chance to visit Ninh Binh, don't forget to bring back this specialty as a gift; it will surely delight your loved ones!
>> Read more:List of 14 historical relics in Ninh Binh that attract tourists
3. Nho Quan Straw Wine (Ruou Can Nho Quan)
Beyond its famous dishes, Ninh Binh also attracts visitors with the specialty of Nho Quan Straw Wine (Ruou Can Nho Quan) – a drink deeply rooted in Muong ethnic culture. This wine is not distilled but fermented from natural ingredients such as rice, sweet potatoes, sticky rice, and various forest leaves like guava leaves, ginger, and galangal.
After about 3 months of fermentation, the wine develops a rich, aromatic flavor that is unforgettable for anyone who tastes it. The traditional method of drinking Ruou Can with bamboo straws further enhances the enjoyable experience. If you visit Ninh Binh, don't forget to bring back a jar of this straw wine as a meaningful gift for family and friends.
4. Dried Garlic-Marinated Goat Meat
What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh? Dried garlic-marinated goat meat is a prominent specialty of Ninh Binh, captivating diners with its spicy and aromatic flavor. Carefully selected goat thigh meat is marinated with garlic, chili, and traditional spices, then sun-dried or smoked, resulting in tender, sweet, and deeply flavored pieces of meat.

Dried Garlic-Marinated Goat Meat - A Gift Rich in Ninh Binh Flavor
This dish is not only perfect for snacking with friends but also makes a thoughtful gift. It's carefully packaged for travelers to take home after their journey exploring the ancient capital region.
5. Gai Cake (Banh Gai)
Ninh Binh Gai Cake (Banh Gai) is a rustic countryside gift, rich in traditional flavor and embodying sophistication in each small, charming cake. Its soft, chewy, glossy black outer layer is made from sticky rice flour combined with the extract of gai leaves, carefully selected from peaceful rural areas, creating a gentle, natural aroma.
Inside, the filling is a wonderful blend of sweet mung beans, rich pork fat, fragrant shredded coconut, and a hint of the earthy flavor of lotus seeds. All are meticulously wrapped in dried banana leaves, preserving the flavor while adding a distinctive rustic touch. When you taste it, the delicate sweetness, richness, earthiness, and gentle aroma of the gai leaves will leave an unforgettable impression.
6. Handicrafts from Sedge (Coi)
If you're traveling to Ninh Binh, what souvenirs should you buy? One ideal suggestion is the exquisite sedge handicrafts, skillfully crafted by talented artisans in Kim Son district. From simple, eco-friendly materials like sedge, they create a wide range of unique and useful products such as handbags, mats, storage boxes, and many other household items.

Unique Sedge Handicrafts to Buy as Gifts
Not only durable, these products also come in diverse designs, showcasing a simple yet sophisticated beauty. Notably, many items from Kim Son craft villages have reached international markets, affirming their value and quality. Choosing a handicraft from Ninh Binh as a gift means bringing home not just a beautiful product, but also a heartfelt token of sincerity.
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7. Lai Thanh Wine (Ruou Lai Thanh)
Besides the widely renowned Nho Quan Straw Wine, Ninh Binh also boasts another specialty wine – Lai Thanh Wine (Ruou Lai Thanh). This is the pride of Lai Thanh commune, Kim Son district, where the secret to brewing this traditional wine is preserved, completely distinct from the familiar Kim Son wine.
Lai Thanh Wine is made from unique local ingredients, especially the fragrant 'gạo nếp cái hoa vàng' sticky rice, carefully cultivated by locals in their hometown rice fields. During the brewing season, the distinctive aroma of this traditional wine permeates the air, captivating anyone who passes by.
Despite the meticulous effort and dedication poured into every drop, Lai Thanh Wine is affordably priced, making it an ideal choice for tourists seeking souvenirs. It's not just a unique gift but also a heartfelt connection to the culture and flavors of the ancient capital region.
8. Gao Fruit
What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh? Gao fruit is a distinctive fruit you can only find in Ninh Binh, typically growing wild along streams or on hillsides. With its mild sourness and cooling properties, gao fruit is used as an ingredient in many local specialties like braised fish with gao or sour soup, offering a natural and unique flavor.

Gao Fruit - A Famous Specialty to Buy as a Souvenir in Ninh Binh
When cooked with meat or fish, gao not only helps neutralize any fishy odors but also makes the meat and fish more tender, sweet, and flavorful. The braised fish with gao, with its light sourness combined with a hint of richness, has become a culinary icon of the ancient capital region, leaving an unforgettable impression on anyone who tastes it.
Gao fruit is also very affordably priced, making it suitable for personal use or as a meaningful gift for family and friends. It's not just a simple countryside gift but also encapsulates the distinctive flavors of Ninh Binh, offering a novel and healthy culinary experience.
9. Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll (Nem Chua Yen Mac)
What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh? Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll (Nem Chua Yen Mac) is a Ninh Binh specialty that many fall in love with due to its unique flavor and elaborate preparation process. Although the ingredients are simple – pork, pork skin, roasted rice powder, garlic, chili, etc. – this nem requires meticulousness at every stage, from mixing ingredients to tightly wrapping the rolls by hand.

Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll – A Gift Rich in the Flavors of Ninh Binh
A delicious nem roll should have a distinctive fresh pink color, with crispy pork skin strands blending with the spicy kick of chili and the aroma of guava leaves, creating a perfect combination. What makes Yen Mac Nem Chua special is that it's unlike Thanh Hoa Nem Chua or Nem Phung; this dish is prepared with greater care and intricacy, making its flavor truly unique and unforgettable.
To truly savor its traditional flavor, you need to visit its origin, the Yen Mac region in Yen Mo district. Yen Mac Nem Chua rolls are produced and packaged daily, ensuring they are always fresh and high-quality, making them a meaningful souvenir that visitors to Ninh Binh shouldn't miss.
If you're wondering "What souvenirs should you buy when traveling to Ninh Binh?", then the outstanding specialties listed below will be perfect choices. We hope that with this information, you'll find suitable gifts for your family and friends. If you have the chance to visit Ninh Binh, don't forget to try and bring back these unique local products! We wish you a truly enjoyable and memorable trip.
Ninh Binh 5579 view
Update day : 22/11/2024
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