When you travel to Vietnam, you might expect to bring home traditional coffee or silk, but beauty products are becoming the new favorite souvenir. Skincare from Vietnam is currently a massive trend among international visitors. Local formulas are built to survive extreme heat and humidity, which means they work amazingly well not just during your trip, but also when you take them back to your home country. Besides Vietnamese brands, you can find Korean beauty products, French pharmacy staples, and international drugstore brands anywhere in Vietnam.
Whether you need a quick fix for a sunburn or want to stock up on the best skin care products in Vietnam to use year-round, this guide will show you exactly what to buy, where to shop safely, and which local brands are absolutely worth your suitcase space.
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Why Vietnamese skincare products deserve to be tried?
If you haven’t heard much about vietnamese skin care products before, you are about to see them everywhere. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration and Statista, the beauty and personal care market in Vietnam is projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2027.
So, why do these Vietnamese skincare products deserve a spot in your daily routine?
- Climate-perfect Formulas: Because of the tropical weather, local brands focus strictly on creating lightweight, fast-absorbing textures. If you hate heavy, sticky creams that clog your pores, Vietnamese products will feel like a breath of fresh air on your skin.
- Natural ingredients: Vietnam has a rich agricultural heritage. Local beauty companies use incredibly fresh, locally sourced ingredients like coffee, winter melon, lotus, and green tea. These natural extracts are fantastic for calming irritated skin and controlling oil.
- Affordable prices: Because the ingredients are sourced locally and the retail market is highly competitive, you can buy high-quality, science-backed skincare in Vietnam for a fraction of the cost you would pay in Western countries.
Vietnamese skincare uses fresh, local ingredients like coffee and green tea. (Source: Cocoon Vietnam)
Local Vietnamese skincare brands for everyday skin
Cocoon is a popular 100% vegan beauty brand in Vietnam. (Source: Cocoon Vietnam)
Cocoon
Cocoon is one of the easiest Vietnamese skincare brands to recognize when you are shopping in Vietnam. The brand was established in 2013 and became well known for its 100% vegan, cruelty-free positioning and use of Vietnamese ingredients such as winter melon, turmeric, pomelo, coffee, and other plant-based extracts.
Best product to try first:
Cocoon has some of the most popular skincare products in Vietnam. Try the Dak Lak Coffee Body Polish which is a massive local favorite for smoothing the skin with an incredible real coffee scent, or the Hau Giang Lotus Toner which is wonderfully hydrating and soothing for your face after a hot, sunny day outside.
Zakka Naturals
Zakka Naturals is a well-loved Vietnamese brand that successfully bridges the gap between natural ingredients and high-tech science. Founded by a team of researchers and skincare experts, the brand follows a “Natural Skincare by Science” philosophy. It is highly praised by the local beauty community for creating formulations that are tough on acne and dullness but gentle on the skin barrier.
Best product to try first:
Try the Calendula & Manuka Honey Calming & Moisturizing Milky Liquid to instantly cool and calm your skin in the heat, or the Camellia Cleansing Oil to effortlessly melt away heavy, water-resistant sunscreen and city pollution at the end of a long day of exploring.
Zakka blends natural ingredients with science. (Source: Zakka Naturals)
SHOPPING GUIDE
Want to bring home more affordable clothes? Read our guide on where to go shopping in Ho Chi Minh City.
Emmié by Happyskin offers great masks and devices. (Source: Internet)
Emmié by Happyskin
Emmié by Happy Skin is a Vietnamese skincare and beauty-device brand from the Happy Skin ecosystem, founded by beauty blogger Emmi Hoàng. Happy Skin Vietnam was established in 2015, and Emmié grew from that beauty community with the aim of helping Vietnamese consumers choose skincare more confidently. Today, Emmié is especially visible for its facial cleansing devices, sheet masks, cleansers, toner pads, and treatment-style skincare.
Best product to try first:
Try an Emmié sheet mask or a simple hydrating product first, especially if you are new to the brand. Emmié is well known for masks, including bio-cellulose mask lines, and they are easier to test during travel than stronger active products.
Dermarium
Born from an in-house laboratory in Hanoi, Dermarium is a highly respected, science-first “made in Vietnam” brand. Unlike traditional herbal cosmetics, Dermarium focuses strictly on functional dermatology and transparency. They formulated specifically for Asian skin dealing with hot, humid climates, utilizing effective concentrations of active ingredients to target acne, excess oil, and damaged skin barriers.
Best product to try first:
Try the Tricky Duet 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) exfoliant or the Omnipotent (Niacinamide) serum. These are the brand’s star products for controlling heavy oil production, deeply cleaning pores, and calming redness in Vietnam’s sweaty weather.
Dermarium focuses on functional dermatology. (Source: Internet)
Easy-to-use skincare brands that you can buy anywhere in Vietnam
CeraVe is highly accessible across Vietnamese pharmacies. (Source: CeraVe Vietnam)
CeraVe
While not an Asian brand, CeraVe is incredibly popular and easily accessible everywhere in Vietnam, from Watsons and Guardian to major local pharmacy chains. Developed with dermatologists, this drugstore staple is famous for its simple, fragrance-free formulas packed with essential ceramides to protect the skin barrier.
Best product to try first:
Try the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. It is an absolute lifesaver in Vietnam’s high humidity, effectively washing away excess sebum, sweat, and heavy sunscreen without drying out your face.
Anessa
Anessa is a premium suncare brand by Shiseido (Japan) and is arguably the most trusted sunscreen brand in Vietnam. Because the sun here is intense year-round, locals and expats rely heavily on Anessa for its advanced UV protection and outstanding resistance to sweat, water, and friction. You can easily find it in almost any major supermarket, shopping mall, or beauty retailer across the country.
Best product to try first:
Try the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk. It has a super lightweight, milky texture that absorbs instantly, leaving a smooth, matte finish that holds up perfectly even if you are sweating heavily during a walking tour or a beach trip.
Anessa sunscreen is a must-have for the intense sun. (Source: Anessa Vietnam)
VIETNAM HIGHLIGHTS
Ready to put that sunscreen to use? Explore the country on our 5-day Highlights of North Vietnam Vacation
La Roche-Posay provides excellent care for sun-exposed skin. (Source: Internet)
La Roche Posay
La Roche-Posay is one of the most reliable skincare brands to buy in Vietnam if you want something familiar, dermatologist-oriented, and easy to find. It is a French pharmacy skincare brand known for products made for sensitive, acne-prone, and sun-exposed skin. The brand’s identity is closely tied to dermatological skincare and thermal spring water, and concerned with specific skin problems: acne, eczema, allergies, and sensitive skin.
Best product to try first:
Try La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen or Cicaplast Baume B5+. Anthelios is useful in Vietnam because daily sunscreen is important in hot, sunny weather, while Cicaplast Baume B5+ is a good moisture product if your skin feels irritated from heat, travel, or sun exposure.
Bioderma
Bioderma is a French dermatological skincare brand and one of the easiest “safe choice” brands to find in Vietnam, especially for tourists and expats who want gentle cleansing products. The brand is best known for Sensibio H2O, its iconic micellar water for sensitive skin.
Best product to try first:
Try Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water. It is a practical first buy if you wear sunscreen daily in Vietnam and want a gentle first cleanse before using a facial cleanser.
Bioderma’s micellar water is a safe choice for gentle cleansing. (Source: Internet)
Most reliable places to buy skincare products in Vietnam
When buying skin care products in Vietnam, the safest option is to shop from official brand stores, established beauty retailers, pharmacy chains, or mall counters. This is especially important for tourists and expats because fake or poorly stored beauty products can be difficult to spot.
Guardian stores are highly convenient and easy to find. (Source: Internet)
Guardian
Guardian is like the Boots or CVS of Vietnam. It is the most practical place to visit if you just arrived and realized you forgot your face wash or sunscreen at home. You can easily find physical stores on many street corners in major cities. They usually open until 10 PM, which is highly convenient after a long day of sightseeing.
Keep in mind:
Not every Guardian store carries the exact same brands or stock. If you are looking for a specific product, check the Guardian website first or use the store locator before going.
Beautybox
If you love Korean skincare and makeup, Beauty Box is your paradise. Usually located inside a large, air-conditioned shopping mall, Beauty Box offers a much more premium, highly visual shopping experience compared to a standard pharmacy.
Beautybox offers a premium shopping experience inside malls. (Source: Internet)
TRAVEL INSPIRATION
This guide provides a detailed cost breakdown and a 4-day plan to help you enjoy a good experience in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Watsons carries a wide variety of international brands. (Source: Internet)
Watson
Watsons is a giant international health and beauty chain. While it might look similar to Guardian at first glance, Watsons carries a wider variety of exclusive international brands, especially from Japan and Taiwan. Watsons is particularly famous in Vietnam for its aggressive marketing and weekend sales.
Hasaki
Hasaki is a massive, dedicated Vietnamese beauty retailer (you will easily recognize their bright green store signs). For locals and expats who live here, Hasaki is often the number one choice because they are known to offer the most competitive, cheapest prices for genuine products on the market.
Hasaki is known for competitive prices and genuine products. (Source: Internet)
Shopping malls where you can get accessible skincare products
If you are travelling in Vietnam and do not want to risk buying skincare from unknown online sellers, shopping malls are usually the easiest place to start. They are not always the cheapest option, but they are more tourist-friendly: clear prices, air-conditioned stores, recognizable brands, and locations that are easy to reach.
| City / Area | Shopping mall or retail location |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | Takashimaya / Saigon Centre Vincom Center Dong Khoi |
| Hanoi | Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi Vincom Center Ba Trieu |
| Da Nang | Lotte Mart Da Nang Vincom Plaza Ngo Quyen |
| Can Tho | Lotte Mart Can Tho |
| Ha Long Bay | Vincom Plaza Ha Long |
| Nha Trang | Nha Trang Center Lotte Mart Nha Trang |
Make your Vietnam beauty shopping a part of bigger journey
Skincare shopping can be a small but enjoyable part of discovering Vietnam, especially when you know where to find trusted stores, local brands, and products that suit the climate. A good Vietnam trip, however, should give you much more than a few shopping stops.
With over 15 years of experience tailoring customized trips to Vietnam, Travel Sense Asia helps travelers build journeys around their own pace, interests, and comfort. Our team can weave city exploration, yet cultural spots, and time to relax into one thoughtful itinerary. Instead of following a fixed route, your trip can be shaped around what you actually want to experience in Vietnam.
FAQs
Skincare shopping can be a small but enjoyable part of discovering Vietnam, especially when you know where to find trusted stores, local brands, and products that suit the climate. A good Vietnam trip, however, should give you much more than a few shopping stops.
What skincare products work best in Vietnam’s humid weather?
Start with the basics: sunscreen, gentle cleanser, lightweight moisturizer, and micellar water or cleansing oil if you wear sunscreen daily. If your skin gets oily or congested in the humidity, you can also look for a clay mask or lightweight gel cream.
What should tourists buy for a skincare haul in Vietnam?
A good Vietnam skincare haul could include brands like Cocoon, Bioderma, La Roche-Posay, and a few sheet masks from Beauty Box, Watsons, or Hasaki. Avoid buying too many strong active products at once, especially if your skin is already adjusting to Vietnam’s heat and humidity.
What should tourists avoid when buying skincare in Vietnam?
Avoid products with no clear label, damaged packaging, no expiry date, or prices that are unusually cheap. Be careful with strong whitening creams, harsh exfoliants, and too many new active products at once, especially if your skin is already stressed from heat, sun, and travel.
Do I need sunscreen every day in Vietnam?
Yes. Sunscreen is one of the most important skincare products to use in Vietnam because the weather can be hot and sunny, and many trips involve walking, sightseeing, beaches, motorbike rides, or day tours. La Roche-Posay Anthelios is one of the practical options mentioned in the article.
