During holidays, we usually only focus on visiting various tourist destinations or engaging in culinary exploration.  That’s okay, but make sure you still take the time to buy souvenirs to bring home, especially when we are on vacation to various countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Photo: Shutterstock/Panint Jhonlerkieat

The ten countries in Southeast Asia that are members of ASEAN have a variety of unique souvenirs that must be brought home.  What are the options?  Here is the selection:

Guoc Moc - Vietnam

Buying Vietnamese coffee as souvenirs may be commonplace, but how about Guoc Moc?  In short, Guoc Moc is a traditional Vietnamese sandal made of wood.  Even though it has a fairly thick sole, Guoc Moc is still comfortable for everyday use by Vietnamese people.  It is good to wear for coming to festivals or visiting relatives.

Silverwork - Laos

Lao people are famous for making silver crafts.  That is why until now, silver crafts are still one of the list of typical Laos souvenirs in great demand by tourists.  One of the silver workshops that can be visited is located on Chao Anou Road, Vientiane, Laos.  Here, we can order various silver crafts as desired.

Golden Silk - Thailand

When it comes to Thai souvenirs, tourists usually focus on buying elephant knick-knacks.  There are still other choices of Thai souvenirs to choose from, namely golden silk.  As the name implies, this native Thai silk fabric uses silk threads of various gold colors.  The Thai golden silk fabric is very soft and durable and looks luxurious.

Barong Tagalog - Philippines

The country with the capital city of Manila also has interesting, unique souvenirs.  One is the Barong Tagalog, a traditional Filipino dress made of thinly woven pineapple and wood fibers.  Currently, Barong Tagalog has a more fashionable design.  It is suitable to wear for attending certain events, such as traditional ceremonies.

Songkok - Brunei Darussalam

As a kingdom with a Muslim majority population, Brunei Darussalam has interesting souvenirs to bring home.  Songkok is a male head cover that is similar to a skullcap.  Usually, the typical Brunei skullcap is oval or egg-shaped and black in color.  There is a yellow line in the middle.

Kerongsang - Malaysia

If you are on vacation in Malaysia, be sure not to forget to buy "kerongsang" as a souvenir.  In a way, the kerongsang is the traditional version of the brooch.  The difference is that the typical Malaysian kerongsang is made of gold, silver, or brass.  Having a luxurious appearance, kerongsang is suitable as an accessory when traveling.

Pyit Tian Tung - Myanmar

Not only fabrics and paintings, but Myanmar also has unique souvenirs suitable to bring home, namely Pyit Tian Tung.  Pyit Tian Tung is a wooden doll that depicts the culture of Myanmar.  That's why the wooden doll Pyit Tian Tung is usually covered with traditional clothes and accessories typical of the Land of the Thousand Pagodas.

Woven mats - Cambodia

Looking for souvenirs that are sure to be used?  Then, Cambodian woven mats are the right choice.  In contrast to woven mats in general, Cambodian woven mats have a variety of interesting patterns and represent the cultural traditions of this country, which is known as the Land of the Khmer.

Lion trinkets - Singapore

As we know, Singapore is known as the Lion Country.  So, don't be surprised if we can find all-lion trinkets in every city corner.  Many lion-theme trinkets, such as key chains, necklaces, and miniature statues, can be used as souvenirs while on vacation to this developed country in Southeast Asia.

Woven fabric - Indonesia

Holding the chairmanship of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia also has interesting souvenirs.  One of them is woven fabric with the "mata manuka" (chicken eye) motif, originating from West Manggarai.  This woven fabric, which has a high philosophy in terms of culture and religion, was used as a souvenir for heads of state at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo.

Source：ASEAN Indonesia 2023