Recommended Souvenirs to Get When in Vigan
A trip to Vigan isn’t complete without bringing home the best souvenirs to get there. It’s always best to bring extra money as you can shop for as many souvenirs as you want for very affordable prices. From home decorations up to food, you’ll love Vigan for its aplenty of things that you can bring home with you to remind you of your heritage trip at the North. Here are some of the items Primer recommends that you should buy and try when in Vigan:
- Empanada
The empanada is Vigan’s bestselling taco-like delicacy made with fillings of vegetable (grated green papaya, mung bean sprouts, and shredded carrots). For its meat filling, it consists of egg and skinless Vigan longanisa. It costs P30 to P50 depending if it’s a special or regular one. You can find empanada almost anywhere but locals say the best ones are found at Calle Crisologo.
- Vigan Longanisa
The best meal you can get in Vigan would be rice plus its famous Vigan longanisa (similar to chorizo). It is very popular not only in Ilocos but in other parts of the Philippines as well because of its garlicky taste and pungent aroma. It is best paired with fried rice and fresh tomatoes, dipped in Ilocos vinegar. It costs about P120 per dozen and can be bought at the Vigan public market.
- Pagburnayan Jars
Pottery making is popular in Ilocos as well, which makes Burnay jars a great souvenir to find. Burnay is an earthenware jar made of clay. The costs of each jar vary depending on the size but the smallest usually costs P30 to P300. It can be bought at the Pagburnayan, the pottery place in Vigan.
- Cornick/ Chichacorn
For snacks you can munch on, you can buy cornick which is a crunchy fried corn snack perfect to pair with Ilocano wine. It’s a favorite delicacy in Vigan as well, and can be bought in three flavors: Cheese, Garlic, and Sweet and Spicy. It costs P100 for 3 packs and can be found at the public market or in Calle Crisologo.
- Bagnet
Image grabbed from panlasangpinoyrecipes.com
If you couldn’t get over with how delectable the Bagnet is, good news: you can bring home some. This crispy deep fried pork belly is priced at P500 per kilo, so you can always eat it even when you’re not in Vigan anymore.
- Antique home decorations
At Calle Crisologo, you’ll find numerous antique items best for home decorations. These include religious figurines, wall display, pen holder, and many more. Prices range from P50 to P3,000 depending on the size.
- Hand-woven/ Handcrafted items
Another item you can buy would be hand-woven cloths that you can use as blankets, table runners, or display. Their traditional woven products are a must-buy especially that they are very affordable here compared to when they export it to Manila. Prices start at P200.
- Basi (Sugarcane Wine)
Image grabbed from avrotor.blogspot.com
Basi is a local beverage in Ilocos that you should also try. This is made by crushing the sugarcane and extracting the juice, giving its flavorful taste. You can buy one at the public market for a price that starts at P100.
- Sukang Iloko (Ilocos vinegar)
Image grabbed from onestore.ph
Another item that’s bestselling in Ilocos is their sugarcane vinegar. It’s becoming popular as it is being imported to other countries such as in Hawaii and Guam because of its distinctive taste. Its price start at P50 for regular and P70 for spicy flavor.
- Shirts/ Ref magnets/ Keychains
Of course, these items are found at every souvenir store to see in Philippine provinces. Buy shirts, keychains, and other trinkets which are relatively the cheapest, as you can buy them at a much lower price when buying in bulk. Don’t forget to haggle!
