Ha Long specialties to bring home as gifts: what to buy, where to buy and how to keep them fresh
- The easiest Ha Long specialties to buy as gifts are hand-pounded squid cake (chả mực), dried or sun-dried squid, dried shrimp and dried sea worms (sá sùng); Quang Ninh specialties that travel more easily include Quang Yen fermented pork, Binh Lieu glass noodles, Ba Che golden camellia tea and morinda root.
- Estimated 2026 prices: squid cake about 350,000–480,000 VND/kg, dried squid 1.2–2.2 million VND/kg depending on size, dried sea worms from about 4 million VND/kg upwards.
- Common places to buy: Ha Long 1 Market (Hon Gai), Cai Dam Market and Vuon Dao Market (Bai Chay), Quang Ninh OCOP product stores and branded squid cake producers.
- Buy fresh and frozen items on your last day, pack them in a foam box with ice and count the hours on the road. Buy only what you need; do not overbuy out of fear that you will not find it again.
Which Ha Long specialties are worth bringing home as gifts?
If you only pick a few items, choose hand-pounded squid cake, dried or sun-dried squid, dried shrimp and dried sea worms, as this group of seafood is closely tied to the Quang Ninh coast. If your trip home is long or you are flying, add dry, easy-to-store items such as Binh Lieu glass noodles, Ba Che golden camellia tea, morinda root or Quang Yen fermented pork.
Not all seafood sold in Ha Long is caught in the bay; some comes from other regions, especially in peak season. What matters is a clear origin, proper labelling, honest weighing and prices quoted upfront. If you want to know what to eat locally before buying to take home, our guide on what to eat in Ha Long covers the seafood dishes worth trying and how to choose a restaurant.
List of Ha Long and Quang Ninh specialties with reference prices
The prices below are general 2026 estimates and vary by season, size and seller. Use the table for comparison, not as an official price list.
| Specialty | Estimated price | Storage time | Travels well? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-pounded squid cake (raw or fried) | 350,000–480,000 VND/kg | fridge 1–2 days, freezer about 1 month | needs foam box and ice |
| Sun-dried squid (mực một nắng) | 500,000–900,000 VND/kg | freezer 1–2 months | must be kept cold |
| Dried squid | 1,200,000–2,200,000 VND/kg by size | several months if kept dry and sealed | easy to carry |
| Dried shrimp | 900,000–1,600,000 VND/kg | several months; refrigerate after opening | easy to carry |
| Dried sea worms (sá sùng) | from 4,000,000 VND/kg | several months if fully dried and sealed | easy to carry, expensive |
| Sun-dried mackerel | 300,000–450,000 VND/kg | freezer 1–2 months | must be kept cold |
| Quang Yen fermented pork (nem chua) | about 3,000–5,000 VND/piece | 3–5 days at room temperature, longer in the fridge | fairly easy |
| Binh Lieu glass noodles | 80,000–130,000 VND/kg | several months | very easy |
| Ba Che golden camellia tea | about 200,000–600,000 VND per small box | many months if sealed | very easy |
| Dried purple morinda root | 300,000–500,000 VND/kg | many months | easy to carry |
How to choose each specialty
Hand-pounded Ha Long squid cake
Hand-pounded squid cake is the most popular Ha Long specialty. Fresh squid is pounded rather than minced, so the cake has visible pieces of squid and a crunchy, chewy bite. When choosing, ask about the squid content and look for a coarse surface with squid pieces, an ivory or slightly pink colour and a natural smell. Cakes that are very white, very smooth or doughy usually contain a lot of filler. An unusually low price is also a warning sign.
Raw squid cake keeps longer if frozen; fried cake is convenient but should be eaten within 1–2 days. Many producers vacuum-seal and pack it in a foam box with ice on request.
Dried squid and sun-dried squid
Good dried squid has a thick body, a golden-brown or pale pink colour, a thin white powdery coating, a pleasant smell and no damp stickiness. Damp squid weighs more and goes mouldy easily. Sun-dried squid is dried in the sun only once, so it stays soft and sweet, but it must be kept cold like fresh food. If your trip home takes more than 6 hours without an ice box, choose dried squid instead.
Dried sea worms
Sea worms live in coastal sand flats and are dried to make broth for pho, noodle soups and rice porridge. Because they are expensive, they are often faked. Good dried sea worms are golden or dark yellow, crisp enough to snap, lightly fragrant and cleaned inside. Buy from a shop with a fixed address and an invoice, and buy only a small amount if you are not sure how to judge them.
Dried shrimp, sun-dried mackerel and other dried seafood
Good dried shrimp has a natural orange-red colour and firm flesh, dry but not crumbly; a very bright red may come from colouring. Sun-dried mackerel must be frozen just like sun-dried squid. If you buy fish sauce or shrimp paste, seal it in several layers to prevent leaks and smells.
Quang Yen fermented pork and bánh gật gù
Quang Yen fermented pork is wrapped in banana leaves, mildly sour, usually sold by the ten and keeps for a few days at room temperature. Bánh gật gù, a thin steamed rice sheet served with dipping sauce from Quang Ninh, is best eaten on the spot or on the same day; do not buy a lot if your journey home is long.
Highland Quang Ninh specialties: glass noodles, golden camellia tea, morinda
Binh Lieu glass noodles are chewy, easy to store and almost never spoil on long trips. Ba Che golden camellia tea varies a lot in price depending on whether it is made from buds or open flowers, so choose a box with a label and a clear place of production. Purple morinda root is usually bought dried for infusing in liquor; bottled liquor must follow the rules of your mode of transport for alcoholic liquids.
Pearls and souvenirs
Pearls are often promoted on bay tours. Prices vary widely with size and lustre, so only buy from shops that provide a certificate or a written return policy.
Where to buy specialties in Ha Long
Buy Ha Long specialties at large markets, shops with a fixed address or Quang Ninh OCOP product stores. Ha Long 1 Market in Hon Gai has plenty of dried goods and seafood; in Bai Chay there are Cai Dam Market and Vuon Dao Market. Ha Long Night Market in Hung Thang is better for small souvenirs than for seafood. Compare prices at 2–3 stalls before buying.
- Ha Long 1 Market (Hon Gai area, near Bach Dang Street): a large market with many stalls selling dried seafood, squid cake and dried shrimp; prices are often easier to negotiate than in tourist areas.
- Cai Dam Market (Bai Chay): a multi-storey market with fresh seafood, dried goods and food stalls; many stalls pack foam boxes for long journeys.
- Vuon Dao Market (Bai Chay): close to the hotels in central Bai Chay, handy for a quick stop before leaving.
- OCOP stores and branded squid cake producers: prices may be slightly higher than at the market, but products have labels, production and expiry dates and invoices. OCOP is Vietnam’s “One Commune One Product” programme, in which products are assessed and given star ratings.
- Ha Long fish market (Cao Xanh area): a wholesale market running from midnight to early morning, mainly for traders; worth it only if you want to see the atmosphere, not a convenient place to buy gifts.
In the evening in Bai Chay, you can browse souvenirs at Ha Long Night Market or visit Bai Chay walking street at night. For dried seafood and squid cake, it is better to buy at markets or specialist shops during the day, when it is easier to inspect the goods and ask questions.
Why you should not overbuy specialties
Buying too much often leads to fresh items spoiling on the way, money spent on things the recipient rarely uses and poor-quality goods chosen in a hurry. A better approach is to list your recipients first, choose 1–2 items per person, prioritise dried goods and buy only as much fresh food as your ice box can keep cold.
- Shop from a list: note who gets what and how much. A family of 3–4 usually needs only 0.5–1 kg of squid cake for a few meals.
- Think twice at tour stops: prices are usually higher than at markets and you have little time to compare.
- Ask for the price per kg and watch the weighing: for dried goods, ask whether the price includes packaging, foam box and ice.
- Be careful with goods sold from small boats: vendor boats may approach sightseeing boats; price and quality are hard to check, so only buy small snacks.
- Do not buy rare marine species or coral: Ha Long Bay is a World Natural Heritage Site; do not buy coral, rare shells, dried seahorses or protected species. Also avoid horseshoe crab of unknown origin because of the risk of poisoning.
Packing and storing specialties for a long trip home
Fresh and frozen items such as squid cake, sun-dried squid and sun-dried mackerel should be bought at the end of your trip. Ask the seller to vacuum-seal and freeze them if possible, then pack them in a foam box with gel packs or sealed block ice. A well-packed box usually stays cold for about 8–12 hours. Dried goods only need sealed bags and a dry place.
- By car or limousine to Hanoi (about 2.5–3.5 hours): a small foam box with ice is enough for squid cake and sun-dried squid. Tell the operator in advance if you carry a seafood box, and tape it tightly to prevent leaks. See also how to get from Hanoi to Ha Long.
- By plane: check in frozen seafood in a tightly wrapped foam box; dried goods can be carried on. Liquids such as liquor or fish sauce must follow airline rules.
- Shipping: many shops ship seafood boxes to other provinces; ask about delivery time, fees and who is responsible if the goods spoil.
- At home: put frozen items in the freezer straight away, divided into meal-size bags so you do not have to thaw them repeatedly.
If you plan to buy squid cake or frozen seafood on your last day, ask your accommodation whether the room has a fridge or freezer and whether reception can keep cold items after check-out. In the Hung Thang area, you can ask A La Carte Hạ Long Bay by Anstay or Anstay Marina Hotel Hạ Long along with other options, then compare based on your actual needs.
When during your trip should you buy specialties?
The best time is the morning or early afternoon of your departure day, before you board your bus or car. Buying on the first day only makes sense for dried goods. On a 2-day, 1-night trip, you can browse and note prices on the first afternoon, then come back to buy the next morning.
On a short itinerary, keep gift shopping to 45–60 minutes. See the 2-day, 1-night Ha Long itinerary and a day trip to Ha Long from Hanoi to plan your time. If you are budgeting for the whole trip, our guide to the cost of an independent Ha Long trip outlines food, transport and sightseeing costs, including the reference bay ticket of 250,000 VND plus an 80,000 VND port fee from 1 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Ha Long specialties
What is the most famous Ha Long specialty?
Hand-pounded squid cake is the most famous, followed by dried squid, sea worms, dried shrimp and seafood such as blue swimming crab, mantis shrimp and Ha Long clams. Across Quang Ninh province there are also Quang Yen fermented pork, Binh Lieu glass noodles, Ba Che golden camellia tea and morinda root.
How much does Ha Long squid cake cost per kg?
The estimated 2026 price is about 350,000–480,000 VND/kg depending on squid content, producer and whether it is raw or fried. Prices far below this range usually mean a lot of flour or additives.
How long does squid cake last on the way to Hanoi?
Packed in a foam box with ice, squid cake stays cold for about 8–12 hours, enough for the Ha Long – Hanoi journey. Put it in the freezer as soon as you arrive; frozen raw squid cake keeps well for about 1 month.
How can I tell genuine dried sea worms?
Genuine dried sea worms are golden, crisp enough to snap, lightly fragrant and clean inside. Fake or low-grade ones are often pliable, smell odd and have uneven colour. Buy from a shop with a fixed address and an invoice.
Is it better to buy at markets or shops?
Markets offer more choice and room to bargain, which suits people who know how to judge quality. OCOP stores and branded producers are a little more expensive but provide labels, expiry dates and invoices, which suits formal gifts.
Should I buy seafood from boats during a bay cruise?
Not in large quantities. On boats it is hard to check the weight, price and origin. If you want seafood, wait until you are back on land and buy at a market or a shop with a clear address.
To prepare fully for your trip, read our Ha Long travel guide from A to Z and frequently asked questions about visiting Ha Long.
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