Shopping in Thua Thien Hue

I guess shopping has never been out of our interest. Especially when you come to a new destination like Huế, you would love to know all about the pretty things that you can bring home. Believe me, you will not be disappointed at all since they are just as sweet as their beloved city.

Betel-nut, ginger, peanut and sesame candies (Kẹo cau, kẹo gừng, kẹo đậu phụng và mè xửng)

Ginger candies
As sweet as Huế’s sound and soul, every bite is a taste of the heaven of the sweetness and love stagnating on the corner of the lips. Ginger candies (kẹo gừng) are bitter-sweet like the flavour of love tingling on the tip of the tongue. The first bite is always hard but then it will slowly become softer and softer and eventually melt in your mouth filled with warmth and the taste of sugar-sweet. Enjoying some ginger candies with a cup of hot tea in winter is probably one of “life’s luxuries”. Nowadays, ginger candies are made in the form of packaged product that you can easily get in every grocery store or street-side shop.

Betel-nut candies (kẹo cau) are the kids’ favourite treat.  I remember being told about the long ago past in Huế when after returning from their shopping in the market, moms and grandmas would bring the kids a pack of betel-nut candies that was their little enjoyment of the day and they would love to keep the candies in their mouth for the whole day long, one after another. I guess they will never get bored of it even when there are so many other delicious and attempting treats in the market; betel-nut candies are still some kinds of childhood memory that one would like to keep for the rest of their life as a little reminder of the dearly past. Betel-nut candies give you the impression of the betel-nut cut into small segments. The different thing about the candies is that they are filled with melted golden sugar on the inside and white flour on the outside that gives the saccharine taste along with the attempting sweet-smelling. Although the material value is not so high but whenever Huế’s people leave their city to go to other places, they would never forget to bring a pack of betel-nut candies no matter how heavy they have carried.

Sesame candies (mè xửng) are a bit like ginger candies for their sweet taste and are made of melted malt and sugar with the beautiful light crystal brown-yellow color. The candies are formed into a parallelpiped shape with sesame scattered on the outside giving the sweet taste with a little bit of stickiness. Eating sesame candies, chit-chatting with your friends and enjoying a teacup in the cool autumn are probably one of the sweetest moments.

Peanut candies (kẹo đậu phụng) may be one of the most interesting yet attempting candies with a deliciously sweet layer of melted malt poured on a dry pancake and another layer of red peanuts scattered on the malt. There is no doubt about the flavour as I can ensure you will be addicted at the first bite. The softness and stickiness of browny malt combined with the crunchy peanut and dry pancake are enough to melt your heart for sweets.

Betel-nut, ginger and peanut candies are hard to find in Hue in recent days. However, for sesame candies, here are some good suggestions
Nam Thuận
Address: #201 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 534 068

Hồng Thuận
Address: #137 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Thiên Hương (the most popular)
Address: #20 Chi Lăng Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 511 246
        (+84) 543 522 040
Website: https://mexungthienhuong.com.vn

Green tea pomelo (Bưởi thanh trà)

September is probably the month for green tea pomelo (bưởi thanh trà). When it comes to September, Thủy Biều Ward once again hurries to prepare for providing and selling their pomelos to the markets in Huế. In fact, there are many other places also selling green tea pomelo but its origin is derived from Thủy Biều Ward where growing green tea pomelo has soon become their custom and a part of their daily lives to earn living. Green tea pomelo is actually a kind of normal pomelo but it is richer and tastier. Also, its skin is not green but rather has the light yellow color of sunlight, the meat is very sweet and juicy with the attractive sweet-smelling mixed with a little bit of acrid smell lingering in the air when being peeled. Green tea pomelo is regarded as the fruit of Huế’s Citadel. What I like about this kind of pomelo is that you can actually eat it like a main course with alcohol. The ingredients are also very simple: peeled dried cuttle stirred in a hot pan, peeled green tea pomelo, fish sauce with chilli and garlic. All are mixed well together and put in the empty pomelo after being taken out all segments and there you have an extremely special dish of pomelo mixed with dried cuttle with “the taste of Huế”. The price for a pomelo of this kind ranges from 20.000vnd – 30.000vnd, not too expensive in my opinion and you can easily get it from anywhere in Thủy Biều Ward of Huế City.
Note that: Every September during a year will have Thanh Tra Festival in Thủy Biều. It will be the destination for Thanh Tra lovers to find all kinds of Thanh Tra in Hue with the most reasonable prices.

Thiên An Cajeput Oil (Dầu Tràm Thiên An)
Originated from Thiên An Monastery and hand-made by Thiên An Apothecaries themselves, the pure cajeput essential oil is one of the best cures for all ages-from the elderly to children. Thiên An Cajeput Oil has a variety of uses such as keeping your body warm in the winter, stomach-ache curing, mosquito-sting curing and massaging. In the past, the price for a bottle of oil was quite cheap, ranging from 30.000vnd to 35.00vnd but until the present, it has increased to about 150.000vnd per bottle. Although the price is considerably high, the effective use of Thiên An Cajeput Oil is undeniable.
Thiên An Monastery
Address: Thủy Bằng Ward, Hương Thủy Town, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Khánh Hà Cajeput Oil
Address: #12 Duy Tân Street, An Cựu Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 914 249 414

Bé Thơ Cajeput Oil
Address: #15 Xuân 68 Street, Phú Hậu Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 168 284 7515
        (+84) 167 507 8020
Website: https://www.dautramhue.com.vn

Huế Cajeput – Vỹ Dạ Palace
Address: #14 Thanh Tịnh Street, Vỹ Dạ Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 821 712
        (+84) 167 674 6198
Website: https://www.cungdinhvyda.com

Sour Shrimp Sauce and Lăng Cô Scallop Sauce (Tôm Chua và Mắm Sò Lăng Cô)
Sour Shrimp Sauce (Tôm Chua) is one of Huế’s most popular specialties. The sauce is very carefully seasoned and beautifully demonstrated in a glass jar. Though the ingredients are of certain simplicity, the consistent making process offered by the most skillful and accomplished sauce makers is what creates the most unique-to-Huế specialty. Beside the shrimps are the main ingredients, alum, alcohol, bamboo sprouts, garlic, and galingale are also used and soaked together in a glass jar for at least 5 to 7 days. The finishing product is undeniably delicious with the sweet-smelling of shrimp and acridity of garlic, galingale, and alcohol. Whatever dish there is, you can always use sour shrimp sauce as an entremets. In the winter, eating sour shrimp sauce with white rice is one of Huế’s people little enjoyment.

Lăng Cô Scallop Sauce (Mắm Sò Lăng Cô) is a special dish of Lăng Cô Town. As for its popularity, the sauce was named after the region. I must admit that Lăng Cô Scallop Sauce is one of the best sauces that I have ever tasted. The taste is of the finest and the most high-grade made traditionally and simply. The tough bit of scallop meat in harmony with the luscious smelling of sauce and spices is a perfect combination of flavor. The secret lies in the recipe is just a part but the makers’ constancy and perseverance of collecting scallops are what creates the value of the sauce. The sign to distinguish between eatable and uneatable sauce is the sauce water and the scallops. If the scallops flow on the sauce surface then it is eatable or maybe overdone and if the scallops and the sauce are still mixed together then it is the new sauce. Go to Dong Ba Market or Tay Loc market to find these cuisines!

Scallop Sauce Shop
Address: Lăng Cô Town, Phú Lộc Suburban District, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Sour Shrimp Sauce Shop
Address: #21 (old #7) Đặng Trần Côn Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Flower Bud Powder (Phấn Nụ)
It may be a story of a long time ago past when women were dressed in beautiful and colorful dresses made of silk and high-quality cloths, the true beauty lies within the skin and natural appearance was what women of those days were in search for. Therefore, beauty ingredients coming from nature were in high demand for the enhancement of their feminine aestheticism. Flower Bud Power was born like a mysterious and reminiscent story of the past when there were beautiful imperial maids and concubines living within the walls of the royal and forbidden palace. The secret formula of flower bud powder still remains unknown since it has been passed by generations of skillful female powder makers. It has been retold that flower bud powder was created by a royal maid as a cure and protection for the Queen’s and other concubines’ facial skin and body. When she gained her old age, she decided to pass the secret formula and taught it to her children but just female only since the making of the powder was a long and consistent progress that required only the purest and the most constant heart. That was why among her so many daughters, she passed on the formula for Trần Thị Tùng and Trần Thị Phương, the two most suitable persons for the work. The main ingredient of the bud powder is high-class kaolin mixed with more than ten medicinal herbs with the effect of beautifying the skin. Flower bud powder has silently and constantly existed through the hardship of time to be here today to keep fulfilling its lofty mission of helping women to be more confident of their natural beauty.
Mrs.Tùng Flower Bud Powder
Address: #34 Tô Hiến Thành Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 542 229 426
        (+84) 543 571 433
Website: https://phannubatung.com.vn

Ms.Giàu Flower Bud Powder
Address: Plot 94, Đông Ba Market, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 0128 227 4385
Website: https://phannugiatruyentaihue.blogspot.com

Fermented Pork Roll and Pork Pies (Nem, Chả, Tré)
The popularity of these meat rolls has gone viral in Huế that people cannot even make enough rolls to sell, especially when it comes to Lunar New Year. More than ten people gathering are still not fast enough to make pork rolls for their customers. These are also many of Huế’s specialties that you must definitely buy when you come to the city. Pork is wrapped in layers of banana tree leaves and believe me, you cannot be patient after peeling all those layers of leaves to finally enjoy your roll. However, it is worth the effort when you can eventually taste the attempting flavour of Huế’s specialties. Making pork rolls has been a part of Đông Ba’s people that from the age of 10 to 80, they still keep their own custom and belief of making rolls as a claim for their mark in the city. Roll makers make them with joy and excitement as if it has become a part of their lives and it would even be happier for them when their customers get what they ask for: the perfectly delicious pork rolls.

Đông Ba Market
Address: Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Phú Hòa Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Đông Ba Meat Roll Shop
Address: #25 Đào Duy Từ Street, Phú Hòa Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 527 546
Price: 50.000vnd – 220.000vnd

Lotus Seed (Hạt Sen)
As a lotus is Vietnamese national flower, its seeds are also regarded as the finest and the most delicious treats that one would love to try. Sweet, aromatic and tasty, the combination of lotus seeds and green tea is undoubtedly the luxury of life. With the seeds of lotus, you can make thousands of delicious dishes from dessert to the main course such as lotus sweetened porridge with coconut extract, lotus sticky rice, chicken stewed with lotus seeds, lotus soup and so on. Among so many kinds of lotus seeds, Tịnh Tâm Lake dried lotus seeds are probably the most popular and delectable. After being dried, they are usually strung together and put in a closed package to sell. The best time to get Lotus seed is in early Summer.

Liên Hương Lotus Seeds
Address: #80 Phan Đăng Lưu, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 535 978
        (+84) 979 303 132
Website: https://www.dacsanhue.com.vn

Poem Conical Hat (Nón Bài Thơ)
Although its name varies from regions, Huế’s poem conical hat is probably the most enchanting and sophisticated of all kinds. It is especially elegant with supple lines of threads and leaves weaved together. What I like about this poem conical hat is that when you shine them under the sunlight, the poem or maybe a painting hidden among the beautiful yellow leaves will be revealed and prints their shadows on the hat itself. The hat then suddenly becomes a wonderful canvas of love, beauty and artistry. The poem conical hat has soon become a symbol of Huế’s women that wherever you go, the image of the hat will appear along with an enchanting girl in the dreamy purple of Áo Dài that will easily make you fall in love at the first sight.

Embroidery Painting
Embroidery Painting is also one of Huế’s unique features. Originated from the traditional royal custom, embroidery painting is indeed a “chef-d’oeuvre” of the East. Among these famous painting, XQ’s products are always regarded as the best of the best with elegant and sophisticated thread lines and color combinations. This is definitely what you should bring home and hang on the wall as one of the most special gifts from Huế.
XQ Citadel Embroidery Painting
Address: #27 Nguyễn Thái Học Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 543 825 026
        (+84) 543 848 727
Website: https://www.xqvietnam.com

 Đức Thành Embroidery
Address: #82 Phan Đăng Lưu Street, Phú Hòa Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province
Tel: (+84) 909 825 983
Website: https://www.tranhtheuducthanh.com

 Huế Embroidery
Address: #7 Hùng Vương Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Souvenirs
Souvenirs are definitely something that you cannot miss when coming to a new destination. For Huế, the souvenirs are also diverse and you can find almost of anything symbolizing this beautiful city as a gift when you return home. Souvenirs are sold mostly in Pham Ngu Lao street and Le Loi.
Here are some suggestions of souvenir shops related to Fine arts in Huế:

Huế Thương Fine Arts
Address: # 26/1 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

 Phúc Lộc Fine Arts
Address: #38 Lê Lợi Street, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Markets
If you want to shop like the locals and explore a variety of more goods and interesting stuff, drop by these markets on your way. I ensure that you will find more than you expect.
Đông Ba Market
Đông Ba is the most crowded market in Huế. Every product and good are traded here so do not worry if you cannot find the things that you want for Đông Ba market will not let you down.
Address: Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Phú Hòa Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Tây Lộc Market
Address: Nguyễn Trãi Street, Tây Lộc Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

Bến Ngự Market
Address: Phan Bội Châu Street, Vĩnh Ninh Ward, Huế City, Thừa Thiên Huế Province

All photos on this post taken by Dang Hoang.