Page 71 - Ancient Kingdoms: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam

Vietnam

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precious stones, hilltribe handicrafts, including elaborate jewelry, colorful textiles, and opium
pipes, bronzeware cutlery, nielloware silver inlaid items, and lacquerware. Local products
include hand-woven cottons, decorative items made of silver, teakwood carvings, and gems.
The best bargains in gems are jade, rubies, and sapphires, but buy from reputable dealers only.

8P]NSLY_^ PYUZd YPRZ_TL_TYR []TNP^ LWXZ^_ PaP]dbSP]P M`_ TQ dZ` XLVP LY ZʬP] dZ` ^SZ`WO
be prepared to buy at that price. It is not unusual for the clerks in some stores in Vietnam to
follow, assist, and advise you throughout the store—much as a personal shopper would do in
the U.S. This is meant to be polite rather than pestering.

9Z_P LMZ`_ LY_T\`T_TP^%Think carefully before purchasing an expensive “antiquity.” It is illegal
to remove antique furniture or ceramics from Vietnam. To complicate matters further, any
item that looks old can only be exported with the written permission of the Antique Art
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this for you, but this may be unreliable.

Burma

Burma is famous for its exquisite handicrafts, most of which were handed down from
generation to generation. Perhaps the most famous of these is lacquerware, a craft that dates
back to the 11th century. There are many lacquerware workshops in Bagan and Nyaung Oo
area. In Rangoon, a good place to shop is Scott Market (Bogyoke Aung San Market), which
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Burma is also known for jewelry and gemstones, but beware—you are not allowed to bring
back rubies or jades to the U.S. if they were mined in Burma.

Malaysia
Malaysia is known for textile crafts such as beaded slippers, items woven out of palm-like
pandan leaves, songket weavings, and batik fabrics—where the design is created by using wax
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might be a better choice.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges

For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs &
Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked
questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

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