The Guide to Shopping in Vanuatu + The Best Places to Shop

Vanuatu’s shopping scene is a mix of lively handicraft markets, local product stores, airport gift shops and small island centres where locally made goods are the main event. You won’t find mega malls here, but you will find woven bags, natural skincare, island dresses, chocolate, coffee, carvings, spices and plenty of gifts with a genuine sense of place.

Here’s a quick overview of the best places to go shopping in Vanuatu.

Shopping in Port Vila (Efate)

As Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila is the easiest place to start your shopping mission. The waterfront and town centre are home to handicraft markets, local product stores, cafés with retail shelves, skincare makers and souvenir shops, making it the best base if you want a wide range of Vanuatu-made gifts in one place.

For handicrafts, browse places like Haos Blong Handicraft Market at Feiawa Park and Mahitahi Handicraft Market House on the Port Vila waterfront, where you’ll find jewellery, woven pandanus bags, baskets, carvings, fans, purses, cards and other handmade gifts.

For locally made products, look out for shops and producers selling Vanuatu coffee, chocolate, spices, skincare and spirits. Stops such as Organic Paradise, Tanna Coffee Café, Volcanic Earth, Aelan Chocolates, Kavanua and 83 Islands Distillery all add something different to the Port Vila shopping scene, from edible gifts to fragrant souvenirs and tasting experiences.

Port Vila is also the place to browse duty-free shopping before your international flight, with names such as Paris Shopping and Fung Kuei handy for travellers looking for alcohol, perfumes, cosmetics and other duty-free goods. For more on what you can bring in and out, check The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu.

Wrapping this section up like a beautiful island dress, Port Vila is also one of the best places to get such garments made. Local tailoring shops, such as Mama’s Tailoring, can create custom garments from colourful kaleko fabrics, often with a quick turnaround depending on the design and fabric available.

Shopping at Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila

For last-minute gifts, Bauerfield International Airport is a useful final stop before leaving Vanuatu. The departure area has duty-free shopping, as well as Vanuatu-made products that are easy to pack into your carry-on.

This is a handy place to pick up souvenirs such as local skincare, coffee, chocolate, spirits and other small gifts without having to squeeze in one more town stop before your flight. It’s also ideal for those “I definitely bought something for you” moments when you absolutely did not.

Some local brands and shops also have a presence at the airport, including Vanuatu-made food, beauty and gift products. Just remember to check duty-free allowances and airline rules for liquids, alcohol and food items before you buy.

Learn more about the facilities at Port Vila's international airport in Airports in Vanuatu: Where Can You Fly to in Vanuatu?

Shopping in Luganville (Santo)

On Espiritu Santo, Luganville has its own small but worthwhile shopping scene, especially for handicrafts and locally made gifts. The pace is more relaxed than Port Vila, but you can still find island-style souvenirs, jewellery, woven pieces and locally produced goods.

A good place to start is Dolasa Mama’s Handicraft, located next to the Vanuatu Travel Information Centre on Boulevard du General de Gaulle. It’s a handy stop for handmade gifts and can also work similarly to Port Vila’s tailoring shops, where visitors can arrange custom island-style garments.

Santo’s airport also has a handicraft shop, Sanma Creative Hub, making it another useful place to browse for gifts before flying out. It’s especially convenient if you’ve spent your time exploring beaches, blue holes and island adventures rather than shops (which, frankly, is very understandable).

Learn more about travelling to Santo in The Complete Travel Guide to Espiritu Santo.

Shopping in Malekula

For travellers heading to Malekula, shopping is more about locally made crafts and island products than browsing a long row of stores. The Malampa Handicraft Centre in Lakatoro is a key stop for handmade souvenirs, local crafts and products from the region.

This is also a place to look out for Malekula-made food products, including spices such as Malekula Black Pepper, as well as woven goods, jewellery and other handmade items depending on what is available.

Shopping on Malekula gives you a closer look at island-made products outside the main tourism centres, so it’s well worth leaving a little cash and luggage space for locally produced gifts.

More about Malekula can be found in The Complete Travel Guide to Malekula.

Shopping in the Outer Islands

Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands, so there is much more to the country’s shopping scene than we can cover here so far. Many outer islands have their own makers, markets and small stores, with handicrafts and local products often varying from island to island.

We can’t wait to visit more islands in Vanuatu and bring you more sections for this shopping guide. Until then, ask locally, browse respectfully and keep an eye out for handmade products sold at markets, cultural centres, visitor information points and village stalls.

Learn more about the outer islands in The Best Islands & Provinces to Visit in Vanuatu.

What are the shops you can’t miss in Vanuatu? Check out these lists of the best gift stores, handicraft markets, local food shops, natural skincare stores, duty-free shops and tailor shops across Port Vila, Santo and Malekula.

The Best Gift Stores and Souvenir Shops in Vanuatu

1. Organic Paradise, Teoma Street and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - A one-stop shop for made-in-Vanuatu food, beauty products, crafts, kava, pandanus bags, jewellery, spices, oils and more.
2. Noa Noa Vanuatu, Elluk Road, Nambatri, Port Vila, Efate - Home of Kavanua natural skincare products, custom perfumes, scented oils and a hands-on factory experience.
3. Tanna Coffee, Devil's Point Road, Mele Bay, Port Vila, Efate - Premium Tanna Island coffee, local products, café treats and a heritage setting inside a historic chapel.
4. Volcanic Earth, Elluk Road, Numbatri, Port Vila, Efate - Natural skincare made with ingredients such as volcanic ash from Mt Yasur, tamanu oil and coconut oil.
5. Aelan Chocolates, ACTIV Centre, Stella Mare, Port Vila, Efate - Bean-to-bar Vanuatu chocolate, chocolate tours, tastings and local flavour combinations.
6. Pandanus Vanuatu, Corner of Kumul Highway and Winston Churchill, Port Vila, Efate - A mix of local and imported island-style gifts with a sustainability focus.
7. Lapita Café, Elluk Road, Namatri-Oval, Port Vila, Efate - A useful stop for locally made food products.
8. Paris Shopping Duty Free, Kumul Highway and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Local chocolates, Vanuatu-made goodies, spirits, perfumes, cosmetics and duty-free items.
9. Fung Kuei Duty Free, Kumul Highway, Port Vila, Efate - Duty-free goods, alcohol, fragrances, watches, bags and some local Vanuatu products such as coffee and vanilla.
10. 83 Islands Distillery, Stella Mare, Port Vila, Efate - Rum, gin, liqueurs, tastings, distillery tours and a few local gifts such as spices, coffee and confectionery.

More details on some of our favourite souvenir stops can be found in the 10 Best Shops to Buy Souvenirs in Vanuatu.

The Best Handicraft Markets and Craft Centres in Vanuatu

1. Haos Blong Handicraft Market, Feiawa Park, Port Vila - One of the standout places for locally made crafts, with traditional wood carvings, shell necklaces and other island-made souvenirs.
2. Mahitahi Handicraft Market House, Port Vila Waterfront - A carved fare house on the waterfront, offering a smaller but worthwhile browse for wood carvings, shell necklaces and locally crafted souvenirs.
3. Dolasa Mama’s Handicraft, Boulevard du General de Gaulle, Luganville, Espiritu Santo - A Santo stop for handmade gifts and island-style crafts, as well as custom island garments for those wanting a wearable souvenir made locally.
4. Malampa Handicraft Centre, Lakatoro, Malekula - A key place to browse Malekula-made handicrafts and local products, including woven goods, jewellery, carvings and island-made food products.
5. Sanma Creative Hub, Santo-Pekoa Airport, Luganville, Espiritu Santo - A handy airport craft stop for Santo-made handicrafts before your flight, ideal for last-minute gifts that still feel local.
6. Ten, Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - A more polished airport option for high-end handmade goods, jewellery and clay hand-painted pottery, perfect when you still have a little luggage space and a few vatu left.
7. Siri Island Cafe and Handicraft, Luganville, Espiritu Santo (behind the Post Office) - A small selection of jewellery, clothing and sei flowers.

The Best Local Food and Drink Shops in Vanuatu

1. Tanna Coffee, Devil's Point Road, Mele Bay, Port Vila, Efate - Coffee beans, ground coffee, café food and local products from Tanna Island.
2. Aelan Chocolates, ACTIV Centre, Stella Mare, Port Vila, Efate - Vanuatu-grown cocoa transformed into dark chocolate bars and flavoured chocolate.
3. Gaston Chocolat, Bladinier Estate, Port Vila, Efate - Another Vanuatu chocolate name to look out for when shopping for local cocoa creations.
4. Organic Paradise, Teoma Street and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Spices, vanilla, chutneys, condiments, coconut oil, honey, coffee, chocolate, nangae nuts, peanut butter, jams, cocoa nibs and cocoa powder.
5. 83 Islands Distillery, Stella Mare, Port Vila, Efate - Local rum, gin, liqueurs and tasting experiences using island ingredients.
6. Malampa Handicraft Centre, Lakatoro, Malekula - A useful stop for Malekula-made food products, including local spices.
7. Paris Shopping Duty Free, Kumul Highway and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Local chocolates, Vanuatu-made goodies and spirits.
8. Fung Kuei Duty Free, Kumul Highway, Port Vila, Efate - Local coffee and vanilla alongside its wider duty-free range.

The Best Natural Skincare and Beauty Shops in Vanuatu

1. Volcanic Earth, Elluk Road, Numbatri, Port Vila - Natural skincare products, volcanic ash scrubs, tamanu oil, soaps, shampoo bars and natural insect repellent.
2. Noa Noa Vanuatu, Elluk Road, Nambatri, Port Vila, Efate - Kavanua natural skincare, handmade soaps, essential oil blends, perfumes and custom scented oils.
3. Organic Paradise, Teoma Street and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Tamanu oil, nangae oil, coconut oil, noni products, soaps, lip balms, moisturisers, sandalwood powder, perfume, aromatherapy oils and mosquito repellent.
4. Tanna Coffee, Devil's Point Road, Mele Bay, Port Vila, Efate - Stocks handmade Tehya Skye skincare products alongside its coffee products and café offering.

The Best Duty-Free Shops in Vanuatu

1. Paris Shopping Duty Free, Kumul Highway and Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Spirits, alcohol, local chocolates, Vanuatu-made products, perfumes, cosmetics, bags, cigarettes, cigars, wine and liqueurs.
2. Fung Kuei Duty Free, Kumul Highway, Port Vila, Efate - One of Vanuatu’s major duty-free stores, with liquor, wines, spirits, perfumes, jewellery, watches, sunglasses, confectionery and some local products.
3. 83 Islands Distillery, Stella Mare, Port Vila, Efate - Not an official duty-free store, but its spirits are available duty-free at the source.
4. Ten, Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Hand-painted pottery, jewellery and high-end handmade goods.
5. Organic Paradise Store, Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Efate - Stocks a variety of food and craft products, including their own Vanuatu-made spices.

For more details on how duty-free shopping works, see The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu + The Best Duty-Free Stores.

The Best Clothing and Tailor Shops in Vanuatu

1. Mama’s Tailoring, Avenue Edmond Colordeau, Independence Park, Port Vila, Efate - A local tailoring shop where visitors can have an island dress, shirt or other garment made from colourful kaleko fabrics.
2. Dolasa Mama’s Handicraft, Boulevard du General de Gaulle, Luganville, Espiritu Santo - A Santo handicraft and tailoring stop for handmade gifts and custom island-style garments.
3. Haos Blong Handicraft Market, Feiawa Park, Port Vila, Efate - Browse market stalls for wearable souvenirs such as woven pandanus bags, jewellery and island-style accessories.
4. Mahitahi Handicraft Market House, Port Vila Waterfront, Efate - Another handy stop for wearable gifts, accessories and locally made market finds.

Of course, grocery shopping and essential supplies are always useful to have on your radar, especially on islands where you can’t always rely on a giant supermarket just down the road. Think snacks for road trips, bottled water, sunscreen, toiletries, phone top-ups and a few self-catering basics if your accommodation has kitchen facilities.

For Vanuatu, we currently have detailed information, shops and services guides for the following islands:

• Information, Shops & Services in Port Vila and Efate
• Information, Shops & Services on Espiritu Santo
• Information, Shops & Services on Tanna LINK#D072
• Information, Shops & Services on Malekula

These are the best places to start if you’re planning where to stock up during your trip. Port Vila has the widest choice of supermarkets, pharmacies, duty-free stores, bottle shops and everyday services, while Luganville is the main hub for groceries and essentials on Espiritu Santo. On Tanna and Malekula, expect smaller shops and more limited supplies, so it’s worth planning ahead if you need specific snacks, baby products, medication or dietary items.

Vanuatu’s shopping guides also cover practical necessities like groceries and phone services, alongside markets, souvenir shops and duty-free shopping.

For more details on what grocery supplies are available, check out A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Vanuatu.