10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Vanuatu

Haos Blong Handicraft Market is one of the standout places for souvenir shopping in Vanuatu, known for its locally made crafts and authentic island artistry.

This charming handicraft market offers an impressive collection of traditional wood carvings, intricate shell necklaces and locally crafted souvenirs. Every piece is entirely locally owned and made, ensuring your purchase directly supports the community's skilled craftspeople.

The market operates Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm, with special Sunday openings timed perfectly for cruise ship visitors.

The welcoming atmosphere makes browsing a pleasure, whether you're hunting for the perfect memento or simply admiring the craftsmanship.

Most items can be taken back to New Zealand and Australia, though it's worth checking the signage or consulting our Leaving Vanuatu: Departure Tips & Checklist LINK#TT074 for specific guidelines on what to look out for.

Step into Mahitahi Handicraft Market House, a carved fare house where local mamas showcase Vanuatu-made crafts.

Whilst smaller than the nearby Hoas Blong Handicraft market further down the waterfront, this charming spot still offers a worthwhile browse when strolling along the waterfront or after visiting Nambawan Cafe or diving with Big Blue or Watersports Vanuatu.

This delightful handicraft market features an impressive collection of traditional wood carvings, intricate shell necklaces and locally crafted souvenirs. Every piece is entirely locally owned and made, ensuring your purchase directly supports the community's skilled craftspeople.

The market operates from 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday, with special Sunday openings timed perfectly for cruise ship visitors.

The welcoming atmosphere makes browsing a pleasure, whether you're hunting for the perfect memento or simply admiring the craftsmanship, with most items able to be taken back to New Zealand and Australia.

Dolasa Mama’s Handicraft is a local tailoring shop where visitors can watch skilled island mamas create custom-made clothing using colourful traditional fabrics in a friendly, hands-on setting.

This authentic cultural experience allows you to mingle with the friendly "mamas" while they craft traditional island garments using vibrant fabrics (calico/kaleko) of your choice. The talented tailors can create your custom piece in less than a day, with prices ranging from 1,500-3,000 VT for shirts and 2,000-5,000 VT for dresses, depending on the design and fabric selection.

You can either bring your own fabric or choose from their available selection, and the team will source exactly what you need.

Open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and closing early Saturday, this local tailoring shop offers visitors the perfect opportunity to take home a truly personalised souvenir that captures the essence of island style.

Located next to the Vanuatu Ferry office in Port Vila, Noa Noa Vanuatu combines boutique shopping with island wellness, where you'll discover locally crafted gifts and natural beauty products.

Open Monday to Saturday, Noa Noa Vanuatu showcases a curated range of handcrafted soaps, natural body and hair oils, signature Pacific-inspired perfumes, and island-style homewares.

Each product is made using natural ingredients sourced across Vanuatu and the wider Pacific, reflecting a strong focus on sustainability and local craftsmanship.

Beyond the boutique, visitors can explore the brand’s workshop experience set within lush tropical gardens. Here, traditional soap-making techniques are demonstrated using natural ingredients such as kava and island botanicals, with the opportunity to create personalised fragrances and oils alongside the in-house team.

Tanna Coffee is one of the most distinctive places to pick up locally grown coffee in Vanuatu, offering visitors a true taste of the islands through beans cultivated in rich volcanic soil on Tanna Island LINK#D071.

Sourced directly from Indigenous farming communities, Tanna Coffee is organic, traceable, and roasted entirely in Vanuatu, ensuring every bag supports local growers.

The range includes Medium Roast, Espresso, and Dark Roast, each highlighting different flavour profiles of the island’s Arabica beans.

The Medium Roast is especially popular, offering a smooth and balanced cup with nutty notes and soft chocolate undertones, making it an easy introduction to Vanuatu coffee culture.

Visitors can also join a relaxed on-site experience to see the roasting process, learn about the history of coffee production, and understand how smallholder farmers contribute to this sustainable industry.

A café on site serves fresh brews and light meals, making it an easy stop for coffee lovers.

Malampa Handicraft Centre is a community-run gem in Lakatoro on Malekula Island where local culture comes alive, bringing together talented artisans from across the island.

Step inside and you'll discover an incredible array of handmade treasures: woven baskets, carved wooden pieces, jewellery, traditional mats, hand-crafted fans, locally made coconut oils and other natural products that showcase the best of Ni-Vanuatu craftsmanship.

Many of the crafts come directly from women's groups and small family producers. Every purchase you make supports local families and helps keep traditional skills alive (something we're particularly passionate about).

Don't miss the chance to watch the artisans at work, it's fascinating to see these time-honoured techniques in action. From what we've experienced, the craftspeople are usually happy to share stories about their work and explain the traditions passed down through generations.

Volcanic Earth is one of Vanuatu’s best-known places to pick up natural beauty products, offering a range of skincare and haircare items made with ethically sourced local ingredients.

They specialise in eco-friendly skincare made from traditional island botanicals, designed to nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

Its most popular product, Tamanu Oil, is widely valued for supporting skin repair and helping with acne, scarring, ageing skin and overall skin health.

The range also includes soap bars, moisturisers and Tamanu butter creams, all focused on hydration and skin renewal using natural ingredients and sustainable production practices, making them a thoughtful souvenir that reflects both wellness and island heritage.

Pandanus offers a refreshing alternative to typical souvenir shopping, with approximately 80% of its eclectic range proudly made in Vanuatu.

This charming boutique showcases local artisans alongside carefully curated treasures from around the world.

Browse through unique accessories, jewellery, funky tea towels, spices, traditional carvings, homewares and books that celebrate individuality and good design. The shop aims to purchase ethically - we enjoyed the earrings made from recycled plastic during our last visit - and building relationships with local creators shines through every carefully selected piece.

The intimate shop creates a personal shopping experience where staff genuinely enjoy connecting customers with the stories behind each piece.

Duty-free shopping is kind of a big deal in Vanuatu, which you can learn all about in The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu + The Best Duty-Free Stores. One of the largest duty-free stores in Port Vila is Fung Kuei Duty Free!

Fung Kuei Duty Free offers one of Vanuatu's most comprehensive duty-free shopping experiences, featuring an extensive range of premium wines, spirits and luxury goods.

The store boasts the country's widest selection of whiskeys alongside designer perfumes, watches, jewellery and popular brands like Nike and Lego.

What sets this duty-free experience apart is their convenient delivery service for departing travellers. For flight passengers, purchases are delivered directly to the airport collection counter, whilst cruise passengers can have their goods delivered to their ship (at least three hours before departure). The store stocks primarily international brands with a selection of local Vanuatu coffee and vanilla products.

Shoppers can save at least 50% compared to local retail prices, making it an attractive option for those seeking premium products. The friendly staff provide expert guidance on customs allowances and purchasing procedures to ensure a smooth shopping experience.

Find Fung Kuei Duty Free open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 12 pm Sunday. They are also open on cruise ship days.

Despite its name, Lapita Cafe has evolved into a specialty food store and processing facility rather than a traditional café, focusing exclusively on 100% natural and organic Vanuatu products.

Browse their impressive range of locally-made goods, including their signature nagae (canarium) nuts available in various sizes and flavours: dried, sugar-coated, salted and roasted. Their gluten-free cassava flour comes in 250 g (9 oz), 500 g (1.1 lbs) and 1 kg (2.2 lbs) packages, perfect for those with dietary restrictions.

The store also features handmade cookies, local jams and chutneys, plus a unique sunscreen made from nagae oil and coconut oil that provides skin protection and rejuvenation at 20 SPF. Visitors can request tours of their on-site processing facility to see how these traditional products are made from farm to shelf. Otherwise, interpretation panels on the walls show the process.

All products meet HACCP certification standards and are suitable for international travel when properly declared at customs.

Open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, Lapita products are also available at Holiday Inn in Port Vila and Turtle Bay Lodge on Santo.