Introduction
This article introduces Japanese products popular among Vietnamese people. We hope you will find them useful as souvenirs for those who are going to Vietnam or returning home.
This report was written by ONE-VALUE INC. which operates this media VietBiz, and interviews were conducted with our Vietnamese employees to prepare the article. The popular products introduced in this report reflect real opinions of Japanese souvenirs that Vietnamese people are happy to receive.
*Prices of products in this report were current at the time of writing and may differ from current prices.
Why are Japanese products appreciated as souvenirs in Vietnam?
The “Japan Brand” is already well established in Vietnam. There are several Japanese products that are widely recognized and highly rated by Vietnamese people in a wide range of categories, including motorcycles, electrical appliances, food, daily necessities, pharmaceuticals and health foods.
Fake products are also found in clothing and daily necessities. Fake products can be found not only in clothing and daily necessities, but also in cosmetics that come into direct contact with the skin and in food products that are put into the mouth.
Despite these challenges, it is very difficult for consumers to identify a product before they buy it. It is even more difficult in the case of online shopping. The legal system has not yet caught up, and a large part of this is due to the efforts of companies.
Therefore, Vietnamese often ask their friends living in Japan to make purchases on their behalf. This is because it is more reliable to ask a trusted acquaintance living in Japan to do the errand for you than to find out locally.
For these reasons, Japanese products purchased in Japan are popular souvenirs.
Health Foods & Supplements
Japanese health foods and supplements are of high quality and popular. In this issue, we have picked up some of the best-selling ones.
Spirulina
Spirulina, the oldest plant on earth, was created more than 3 billion years ago.
Spirulina is rich in the five major nutrients: carbohydrates, protein, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. Among them, it contains about twice as much protein as soybeans. It also contains iron and dietary fiber, making it a popular health supplement not only among Japanese but also among foreigners.
The official website of Japan Algae Corporation, the best-selling spirulina brand, has a video of an interview with Vietnam’s state-run TV VTV.
In Vietnam, word-of-mouth reports include, “After a month of taking Spirulina, my child, who has recently been feeling underweight and has a lot of acne, gained weight and became healthier with less acne,” and “After three weeks of buying Spirulina for my mother, whose appetite had recently decreased, she was able to enjoy her meals again. The price on the official website is 2200 capsules.
The price on the official website is 2,860 yen (including tax) for 2,200 grains, and on the Vietnamese website HIFUJI, which sells Japanese products, the price is 500,000 VND (about 2,442 yen).
HIFUJI Tảo xoắn Spirulina Nhật Bản (2200 vi ên)
Fucoidan
（出所）金秀バイオ株式会社
Fucodyne is a dietary supplement that is as popular in Vietnam as spirulina.
Fucodyne is a dietary fiber found in kelp and the mucilage of brown algae such as wakame seaweed and mozuku seaweed. It is expected to be effective in reducing the size of cancerous tumors and is also popular among cancer patients.
Another important point is that while it is effective in reducing the size of cancerous tumors, it is a supplement and does not cause any side effects. The price of Spirulina is higher than that of Spirulina, so it is difficult for Vietnamese people to afford it, but it has become very popular in Vietnam as word-of-mouth spread that it is so effective and fast-acting that Vietnamese doctors are promoting it.
The price is 7,200 yen on Amazon.com for products from Kinshu Bio Corporation, which is famous for its Okinawa fucodyne, and 2,500,000 dong (about 12,212 yen) on HIFUJI, a Vietnamese website that sells Japanese products.
HIFUJI Viên uống tảo Fucoidan Okinawa
DHC Supplements
（出所）DHC
DHC supplements are popular in Japan as an easy way to supplement necessary nutrients. Vitamin C, wheat extract, multivitamins, and collagen are also popular in Vietnam.
Although Vietnamese people have lots of fruits and seem to have many opportunities to take vitamin C, there are still many motorcycle users, so a lot of exhaust gas is emitted, and many women suffering from acne and sunburn were concerned about purchasing this product.
On the official website of DHC in Japan, a 90-day supply is priced at 679 yen. In comparison, on the official DHC website in Vietnam, it was priced at 250,000 VND (about 1,221 yen), about double the price.
ORIHIRO Glucosamine
It is a popular product in 2006. It has received a large number of word-of-mouth reviews on Shopee, a Vietnamese online shopping site, with many highly praised comments such as “I bought this for my mother who is suffering from knee problems and she got better.
The price is 646,000 VND (about 3146 yen) at Shopee, a Vietnamese mail order site, while 900 grains are priced at 2381 yen at Amazon in Japan.
meiji amino-collagen
It is a popular product that can be taken by women with skin problems. It is also very popular in Vietnam, and many women who are concerned about their skin problems have commented that their skin became brighter and they no longer worry about blemishes after they started taking the product.
At HIFUJI, which sells Japanese products, a 28-day supply is priced at VND550,000 (about 2,686 yen).
HIFUJI Collagen Meiji Amino dạng bột
Cosmetics
We surveyed products that are as high quality and popular as supplements.
AHA face-washing
BCL’s AHA face wash is so popular in Japan that it has won first and second place in the at-cosmetics cosmetic ranking. It contains fruit acid (AHA), which removes unnecessary keratin from the skin. While exfoliation is often said to be done once a week, AHA face wash is well-reputed as an easy way to exfoliate your skin in your daily skin care routine and renew your bare skin every day.
It is also very popular in Vietnam, and BCL’s website has an article about it on Facebook in Vietnam. On Amazon in Japan, it is sold for 1,099 yen for 120 g. On Mỹ Phẩm Nhật, a website that sells Japanese cosmetics in Vietnam, it is sold for 280,000 dong (about 1,367 yen) for 120 g.
Hada Labo
Skin Labo, a very popular series of Rohto skin care products, is also very popular on Vietnam’s online shopping site. The products include lotion, all-in-one gel face masks, and more. Among them, lotion is the most popular and talked about product among Vietnamese. Many highly rated comments have been posted on the site, such as that it softens the skin after use, that it is effective against acne, and that it is effective against winter skin tightness in Hanoi, where winter is very common.
The price is 702 yen for 170 ml on Amazon.com in Japan, and 400,000 dong (about 1954 yen) for 170 ml at HIFUJI, which sells Japanese products in Vietnam. Since the price is still higher than in Japan when purchased in Vietnam, many people on tours in Vietnam purchase Skin Labo products.
amazon
HIFUJI Toner Hadalabo Lotion
SK-II
（出所）SK-Ⅱ
SK-II is one of the most loved lotion brands not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries. It is also popular in Vietnam for its absolute effectiveness. SK-II is a brand that offers products for daily skin care such as wipe-off lotion, face cream, and beauty essence. Among these products, the lotion has a good reputation and is the talk of the town by word of mouth.
The price is 11,000 yen for 230 ml of lotion on the Japanese Rakuten market. On Mỹ Phẩm Nhật, a website selling Japanese cosmetics in Vietnam, 230 ml is priced at 3,650,000 dong (about 17,830 yen).
SEKKISEI
SEKKISEI is a skin whitening cosmetics brand developed by KOSE.
The line includes skincare products such as lotion, beauty essence, sunscreen, and base makeup. Sunscreens are especially popular in Vietnam, where ultraviolet rays are strong, and are known for their smooth application and non-greasy feel.
At HIFUJI, which handles the book’s products, 60 g is priced at 600,000 dong (about 2,931 yen).
HIFUJI Kem chống nắng SEKKISEI
daily necessities
Improving the quality of daily necessities means improving the quality of life. We have surveyed the most popular daily necessities.
Diaper
Diapers are always necessary when you have small children. Diapers made in Japan have a reputation overseas for their attention to materials and functionality, such as the pee line, compared to diapers made overseas. Many people, especially in Southeast Asia, buy them when they visit the area for sightseeing.
Many Japanese diapers are also sold in Vietnam. After all, since they are imported products, they are sold at about twice the price of those bought in Japan.
For example, a newborn diaper from Moomy (Moony) costs 1,447 yen on Amazon.com in Japan. In comparison, Bách hoá xanh in Vietnam sells them for 580,000 dong (about 2833 yen).
In particular, standard Japanese diaper brands such as Pampers, Moony, and Mary’s are popular in Vietnam.
Sweets
Japanese sweets are very popular among Vietnamese.
According to a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency, sweets are the most consumed item by Vietnamese visitors to Japan.
Among Japanese sweets, Kit Kat, Shiroi Koibito, and Tokyo Banana are popular. Kit Kat is especially popular for its Japan-only local Kit Kat and matcha green tea.
Also popular are sweets with a Japanese flavor, such as matcha-flavored sweets and warabimochi (rice cakes).
Summary
In this issue, we have compiled a list of Japanese products that are popular among Vietnamese. Many supplements and cosmetics are expensive. Perhaps the brand image of luxury = good quality is an additional reason for their popularity.
Products that are popular with Vietnamese people also seem to be popular in Japan. Another attraction is that many of these products can be purchased at drugstores, so they can be quickly available locally. Please refer to this page for more information on buying souvenirs from Japan to Vietnam.
*Rates are as of October 2, 2021.
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