I want to buy small, inexpensive gifts for my friends in Vietnam. Any suggestions?

Question

My friends are both male and female and in the age group of 20 - 30. I read at some website that even cigarettes and shampoos are appreciated. What brands? What else can I buy them in Singapore? Thanks.

Answer 1

Most Viets that I know like Menthol, some like Marlboro/Winston.

They can trade them easily.

Shampoo is good, baby shampoo, no tears stuff.

Singapore is not in Vietnam. It is in Maylaysia.

Answer 2

Are you really close w/ your friends? By this meant, I meant unless you've known them for a couple of years, do not give them anything that's too personal (hygience).  

For the men, give them deodorants and after shave if you can afford. I usually buy them in blocks of 3-4 sticks (you can find them at BJ's, Sam's Clubs and Walmart). For the women, shamppo like L'Oreal, Fructius would be nice. (I just visited Vietnam last year and they sell Fructius shampoo for almost 8 dollars, like 2 dollars more than the States). Also, try Marshalls for perfume and lotion stuff, you can get some for like 12-18 bucks.

When are you leaving? If you're going around mid Dec, I recommend go to Bath and Body Works or Victoria Secrets around beginning and mid of Dec, they have a huge sale of lotion and body spray that you can get for both men and women. You can get like 3-4 things for 10 bucks or something like that...

Good luck and have a safe trip!

Answer 3

Depend on your range of "inexpensive gifts" :-).

For that age group, if you can afford something like "Ipod Shuffle", I'd highly recommend that one or some electronic gadgets (e.g. cell phones?)

Cigarettes are usually gifts for male friends, though I don't recommend that.  You can buy a big pack, and they would consume that in a week :-), not something they can treasure for a long time, I'd say.

For females, you can try things like moisturizers or make-ups, especially "make in the USA/Japan" stuff :-).

Most of these you can buy duty-free in Singapore.  However, they might actually be cheaper in the US, so why wait?

Answer 4

Oops i thought you meant you're going to Saigon. I'm from Singapore and there's just a huge culture mix here. Try visting small little stores in Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street. I can't even begin to state the amount of things you'll find there.

Answer 5

If the man smokes, get him a nice Zippo lighter.  For the woman, a very nice set of fountain pens.