Enter the dragon. Lunar New Year is on February 10, and this year’s zodiac sign is none other than the bold and powerful dragon. The only mythical creature among the 12 animals in the zodiac (compared to last year’s rabbit, or cat in Vietnamese communities), the dragon symbolizes great power and strength, and an auspicious future. Thankfully, this year’s slate of Lunar New Year-related gifts rises to the occasion, matching the all-important symbolism with style and intent.
We’ve rounded up 21 thoughtful Lunar New Year gifts for travelers, many from AAPI-founded brands, that are meant to inspire and bring cultures closer together. Because after all, it’s the start of a new year, so let’s take this opportunity to wish each other much luck and love in it.
Find the best Lunar New Year gifts by category:
- Gifts for the chef
- Gifts for the frequent flier
- Gifts for the beauty guru
- Gifts you can wear
Gifts for the chef
Fly by Jing x Our Place Hot Wok Set
Make your Lunar New Year hot and steamy with Fly By Jing’s new Hot Wok Set. Designed in collaboration with contemporary kitchenware brand Our Place, the new set is made from heirloom-quality pre-seasoned carbon steel, yet is lightweight enough for easy tossing. Fly By Jing, an AAPI-owned company known for its line of Chinese pantry staples, thought of everything for this set, including accessories such as a beechwood spatula, handwoven steamer, cooking chopsticks, and steamer liners that fully unlock the wok’s potential. Add more flavor with the limited-edition Year of the Dragon Triple Threat Set that comes with three popular Chinese sauces.
CY Eats Original MáLà Chili Oil
China’s bold, vibrant flavors can now be a pantry staple for home chefs. Created by Christine Yi, a food-obsessed world traveler, CY Eats Chili Oil condiment brings a boost of flavor with its chef-perfected combination of Sichuan pepper flakes, ginger, garlic, and spices. Handcrafted in small batches in New York City, each chili oil jar has a unique handwritten batch number. For Lunar New Year, celebrate China’s best flavors in a big way with CY Eat’s largest jar size yet, a 9.5-oz. version that’s more than twice the size of its original 4.5-oz. option.
Nguyen Coffee Supply Vietnamese Coffee Essentials set
As a show of gratitude from the family at Nguyen Coffee Supply, the award-winning AAPI brand that harvests coffee beans from a farm in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, every purchase will include a lucky red envelope. Hurry up, though, because the offer ends on February 14.
The Vice The Dragon Gift Box
Toast to a prosperous new year with The Vice Wine’s The Dragon Gift Box, featuring three bottles of the Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon wrapped in flaming red tissue paper. This batch of Napa Valley cabernet is considered the brand’s most fiery cab thanks to its bold depth and potency. Fire away!
Made Here: Recipes & Reflections from NYC's Asian Communities
It’s not just the recipes in this cookbook that will pull you in, it’s the stories behind them. Made Here: Recipes and Reflections from NYC’s Asian Communities features 43 New York City–based Asian restaurants and businesses, allowing readers incredible access to signature cultural dishes through evocative storytelling and striking photography. Over 18 cuisines are included, such as Vietnamese, Korean, Burmese, Indonesian, Filipino, Taiwanese, Tibetan, Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Indian. Even better? The entirely volunteer-created book will give 100 percent of all proceeds to New York City’s Send Chinatown Love's community-building initiatives.
Sugarfina Year of the Dragon Bundle
Here’s to a sweet new year. Join Sugarfina in welcoming the Year of the Dragon with this tasty bundle: a nine-piece candy trunk with Asian-inspired flavors plus a limited-edition dragon charm designed by lifestyle influencer Chérie Chan, and the Zodiac Candy Tasting Collection that comes with 12 artisanally created candies.
Marie Belle 16-piece Lunar New Year Box
Lunar New Year never looked (or tasted) so sweet, thanks to MarieBelle New York’s limited-edition 16-piece box of its signature chocolate ganache that features designs inspired by Chinese culture.
Gifts for the frequent flier
Lo & Sons Del Mar Packable tote
Lo & Sons Zodiac Charm
Mama Lo and her two sons, Jan and Derek, have been creating stylish travel gear that’s easy on the back and body since 2010, and it’s no surprise that the AAPI founders are leaning into their heritage for Lunar New Year. Lo & Son’s versatile Del Mar Packable tote comes in a bevy of prints, including a Zodiac pattern that features the animals of the zodiac calendar.
MCM X Bape Ottomar Weekender bag
MCM X Bape Fursten belt bag
Unleash the dragon. Hip brand MCM is collaborating with global streetwear brand Bape to present limited-edition bags in time for Lunar New Year. Featuring a gold dragon motif prominently on its black Nappa leather exterior, the weekender bag completes the jetsetter vibe with a leather hang tag and a leather-covered padlock with keys.
Roots X Clot Lunar New Year Dragon Banff Bag
Streetwear meets Lunar New Year with Root’s newest collaboration with Clot, a lifestyle brand that honors the two founders’ Far East heritage with a touch of Western influence. The limited-edition collection features a dragon embroidered on the luggage and apparel pieces, including outerwear that marries classic comfort and modern style. The best part? There’s something in the collection for everyone in the family.
Marshall Major IV Headphones
Listen up! Lifestyle and music brand Marshall teamed up with Chinese artist Rindo to present "Descendants of Loud," a limited-edition red envelope that reimagines the dragon legend with a vibrant twist. Purchase any Marshall headphones, like the Major IV wireless headphones, and receive an exclusive set of five red envelopes, available while supplies last.
Gifts for the beauty guru
Lush Blooming Dragon gift set
Lush Inner Dragon Bath Bomb
Level up your bath game this new year with Lush’s Year of the Dragon bundle, designed to celebrate the animal that some Chinese fairy tales call the “king of the sea” that can control rain and water. The bundle includes the yummy-smelling Inner Dragon Bath Bomb (with a fiery ginger powder) and Celebrate Shower Gel (featuring a citrus scent of sweet wild orange and lime oils), alongside packaging designed by artist Bao Ho of a majestic dragon roaming amidst blossoms.
Sulwhasoo Lunar New Year First Care Activating Serum VI
Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo is repackaging its best-selling First Care Activating Serum VI in a limited-edition bottle featuring a vibrant dragon motif inspired by tattoo artistry. Add extra power to your skincare routine with this serum that’s now formulated with ginseng, a medicinal plant used for centuries in the Far East to strengthen the skin barrier.
Le Mini Macaron Lucky Dragon Bundle
"There is no limit to what you can achieve if you tap into your inner dragon queen,” says Christina Kao, founder of Le Mini Macaron, the 15-minute at-home gel manicure brand. To celebrate her Taiwanese background, Kao is packaging a Lucky Dragon Bundle with three fiery gel polishes and dragon-themed nail stickers that add good luck to every queen’s dragon spirit.
Gifts you can wear
Lululemon Lunar New Year Align tank top
Lululemon Lunar New Year Fundamental t-shirt
Lunar New Year is also considered the start of spring in many Asian cultures, and athleisure brand Lululemon leans into this new beginning with a collection that prominently features the lucky color red and an eye-catching dragon scale print. It’s a fitting tribute to the new season because, as brand ambassador and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh says, “to have inner spring all year round, that is our superpower.”
Coach Women's 36mm Elliot Lunar New Year Watch
Coach New Year t-shirt with dragon
Perfectly timed with Lunar New Year, Coach released its Women’s Elliot Lunar New Year Blush Leather Strap Watch that features Beijing-based artist Lian Yang’s dreamy dragon motif on its face. The minimalist style and clean lines give the timepiece a modern silhouette, while the pink-hued dragon design shows a vibrant yet feminine edge—a perfect way to celebrate your inner beast.
