How Da Nang turns local flavors into perfect travel souvenirs for tourists
DNO - Local specialties have become signature souvenirs in Da Nang, including Hoi An, where a decade of tourism growth has transformed rural delicacies into meaningful gifts that carry the authentic taste of this highly popular tourist destination.
As visitor numbers continue to rise each year, local demand for food souvenirs has provided a strong boost to producers in surrounding areas such as Tien Phuoc, Tam Ky and Que Son.
Many small businesses have modernized traditional recipes and improved packaging to meet hygiene standards and consumer expectations while preserving local identity.
In Lanh Ngoc Commune, Da Nang, the Dat Quang Green Agriculture Cooperative has developed a diverse product line featuring dried banana, jackfruit chips and ginger tablets.
These items are made under closed production systems, carefully labelled with expiration dates, barcodes and information about their origin. The products are now widely distributed through souvenir stores, retail chains and shopping centers in Da Nang centre and Hoi An.
Meanwhile, in Tam Ky Ward and southern coastal areas of Da Nang, coconut cookies - a traditional snack made from dried coconut, glutinous rice flour and sugar - have become a best-selling item.
Brands such as Bao Linh, Quy Thu and CoCo have expanded from family workshops into modern businesses, focusing on attractive, travel-friendly packaging for sale at supermarkets, airports and souvenir shops across the region.
The Da Nang Specialty Gift Centre is located at the busy Do Ba - Vo Nguyen Giap intersection, an area lined with beachfront hotels and resorts that rarely sees a quiet moment.
The shop offers more than 500 specialty products from provinces across central Vietnam.
However, the best-selling items remain those most closely associated with the Da Nang brands - particularly ready-to-eat foods that are easy to preserve and convenient to carry in hand luggage.
“Tourists value both quality and emotional connection. A tasty gift that evokes memories of Da Nang or Quang Nam makes the experience more personal”, said the store’s manager Pham Dac Chau.
For many visitors, the taste of a sesame cookie or the scent of dried coconut lingers long after the trip ends - reminders that a piece of Da Nang always travels home with them.