Handicrafts: Take a Piece of Vanuatu Home
Vanuatu Tourism Office

Handicrafts: Take a Piece of Vanuatu Home

When you buy handicrafts in Vanuatu, you are not just picking up a unique piece of art. You are supporting local communities and keeping cultural traditions alive. Here is what to know to shop in a way that is meaningful and meets international regulations.

PANDANUSWoven into bags, mats and baskets
CARVINGSLocal timbers shaped into tam-tams and animals
VANUATU MADEThe mark of genuine local craftsmanship

Handicraft Market in Port Vila

You will find a handicraft market right next to the main market in Port Vila. The “mamas” will be delighted to sell you their unique pieces, whether it is a mission dress, a pandanus bag, wood carvings, or jewelry made from shells or lava stone.

Handicrafts made in Vanuatu are wonderful souvenirs and make great gifts for your loved ones. Buying them is more than shopping. It is a way to connect with the local culture and make a positive impact on the community.

Handicrafts on display at a market in Vanuatu
Handicrafts at the market, Efate Island, Shefa Province. Photo: Vanuatu Tourism Office

Espiritu Santo and the Surrounding Islands

Together, Espiritu Santo and its surrounding islands make up the province of Sanma. Its capital, Luganville, is an important hub for the northern provinces, so you can find plenty of handicrafts there from islands like these:

PENTECOST
AMBAE
BANKS ISLANDS

Expect carvings of tam-tams and animals in local timbers, and finely woven mats and baskets. There is also a thriving community of contemporary tailors and hat makers, plus a large handicraft market at the wharf on days when a cruise ship is in town.

Handicrafts and crafts makers at an event in Luganville
Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Sanma Province. Photo: Vanuatu Tourism Office

Support Local Communities

Handicrafts in Vanuatu are often made by artisans from rural communities, using techniques passed down through generations. By buying these products, you directly contribute to the livelihoods of these talented craftspeople.

Your purchase helps sustain their families, preserve their culture, and keep these age-old traditions alive.

Handmade Vanuatu handicrafts
Handmade crafts from Vanuatu. Photo: Vanuatu Tourism Office

Vanuatu Made

To promote and preserve these unique crafts, the “Vanuatu Made” initiative was launched. It highlights and supports products that are authentically produced in Vanuatu.

It is a mark of genuine craftsmanship and a way to make sure your money goes back into the local economy, supporting the artisans who made the product.

Products made in Vanuatu
Vanuatu Made products. Photo: Vanuatu Tourism Office

What Defines Vanuatu Handicrafts

Vanuatu crafts are made from what the islands grow and gather. Each piece usually shows the hand of a village maker rather than a factory finish.

Fibre

Pandanus

Woven into bags, mats and baskets.

Timber

Carvings and Tam-Tams

Local timbers shaped into drums, figures and animals.

Shell & Stone

Jewellery

Made from shells or lava stone.

Clothing

Dresses and Hats

Mission dresses, woven hats and contemporary tailoring sit alongside older forms.

How to Shop Well

A few simple habits make your purchase more meaningful.

  1. Look for Vanuatu MadeThe label shows a product is authentically produced in Vanuatu.
  2. Ask where it is fromBuy from a market that names the island of origin.
  3. Buy from the makerIt is the most meaningful way to shop and supports the artisan directly.
  4. Check the rules at homeWood and plant-fibre items may have import requirements.

Phytosanitary Regulations and Fumigation

If you plan to take your handicrafts home, especially to another country, be aware of phytosanitary regulations. Some items made from natural materials, like wood or plant fibres, may need fumigation to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Check the import regulations of your home country and follow any fumigation requirements. Many vendors in Vanuatu know these rules and can guide you on how to prepare your purchases for export.

Buy local. Support makers. Discover Vanuatu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vanuatu crafts are made from what the islands grow and gather: pandanus for bags and mats, local timbers for carvings and tam-tam drums, and shells or lava stone for jewellery. Mission dresses, woven hats and contemporary tailoring sit alongside older forms. Each piece usually shows the hand of a village maker rather than a factory finish.
Many pieces are still made by hand in rural communities, using techniques passed down through families. Weavers work pandanus into mats and bags; carvers shape local timber into drums, figures and animals. You will also find newer work from tailors and hat makers, especially in Luganville and Port Vila, sitting beside older kastom forms.
Port Vila has a handicraft market near the main market, where mamas sell bags, carvings, jewellery and clothing. In Luganville you can find work from Santo and from northern islands such as Pentecost, Ambae and the Banks, including a busy stall area at the wharf on cruise days. Look for Vanuatu Made labelling, and check your home country's rules for wood and plant-fibre items.
Styles follow local trees, fibres and stories. Santo and the north are known for timber carvings and finely woven mats, while Port Vila's market gathers work from many islands at once. Outer-island pieces can be harder to find off-island, which is why buying from the maker, or from a market that names the island of origin, is the most meaningful way to shop.