If you are a shopaholic who always starts your trip with an empty backpack and won’t go back home until you fill it up, Hoi An is where your dream of living in a couture shopping paradise comes true. Not only does it have couture clothing, Hoi An also has a lot of little things that will remind you of Vietnam when you bring them home. Yes! Love at first sight does exist! From well-made fashion items to customized lanterns, this article will give you some ideas about what you should buy and where to go in Faifo, A.K.A Hoi An ancient town.
I have traveled around Vietnam a couple times and I find myself always wanting to return to Hoi An. The special atmosphere in Hoi An is quite unique. It seems like time has forgotten the ancient town, and it forever resides in history. While the neighboring city of Da Nang has been urbanized and quickly turned into the most livable city in Vietnam, Hoi An still retains its original beauty from the past. Dressing up for a walk amongst the antique buildings and small streets makes me feel like I am playing a role in the famous movie The Lover.
When in Hoi An, I love waking up early in the morning, riding a bicycle to Cua Dai beach to sit on the sand and stare at the sunrise. It is also very nice to hide myself in a small coffee shop to write my stories or just simply watch people wandering. But another activity that I love is shopping for fashion.
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Shopping for Fashion in Hoi An
If you are talking about the best tailoring cities in the world, it would be a mistake if Hoi An is not mentioned. In fact, couture tailoring is one of the factors that make Hoi An a must-visit destination on your Vietnam trip.
Sometimes I think Hoi An is the “weirdest” seaside town I have ever visited because it has more fashion shops than seafood restaurants and beach bars. It is said that about 20 years ago, some tailoring shops were established to make suits for Western visitors traveling to Faifo. The news of Hoi An making the best suits then spread like wildfire. Through time, more and more tailoring shops were opened to meet the high demand of consumers and tailoring businesses officially became a part of Hoi An’s many attractions.
Bespoke clothing made in Hoi An is preferred because of the sophisticated styles, the good quality of fabrics, and the quick service. Even if you only have a day in Hoi An, you can still have your stunning couture dress made in about 3 to 4 hours. The joy of this service lies in your own involvement in the customization process. From choosing the style (or designing it yourself,) to selecting the perfect materials, and finally having the skillful tailor take your measurements, you are involved in the entire process. Read more about the specifics of this process in our complete guide to tailoring in Hoi An!
What should you have made in Hoi An besides suits? I would suggest you to take a look at elegant dresses, bridal dresses, and evening gowns. If your fashion icons are Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn, or Kate Middleton and you have always wanted to dress like them– you are in luck because the tailoring shops in Hoi An are very good at making refined clothing to your liking. The traditional dress of Vietnam, ao dai, is also a good choice to buy here. I also recommend checking out customized shoes.
There are different pricing levels to make bespoke clothing. You will get what you pay for. But the average price is listed below:
For men: (price unit: USD)
- Suits: $50 – $300
- Shirt: $15 – $20
- Trousers: $20 – $30
For women
- Ao dai: $35 – $100
- Cocktail dress: $30 – $100
- Wedding dress: From $180
- Shirts: $20 – $40
- Cutlottes/pants: $20 – $30
- Pencil skirts: $30 – $40
Other items (Unit: USD)
- Shoes: From $60
- Leader bag: From $120
Best places for bespoke clothing
Bebe Tailor 1
Address: 11 Hoang Dieu, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 2212 670
Business hours: 8 AM – 9:30 PM
Website: Bebe Tailor
Kimmy Tailor
Address: 70 Tran Hung Dao, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3862 063
Business hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Website: Kimmy Tailor
Yaly Couture
Address: 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3914 995
Business hours: 8 AM – 9:30 PM
Website: Yaly Couture
A Dong Silk
Address: 62 Tran Hung Dao, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3910 579
Business hours: 7:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Website: A Dong Silk
Get your customized shoes here:
Linh Shoes Shop
Address: 16 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3861 975
Business hours: 9 AM – 9 PM
Website: Linh Shoes Shop
Get your customized leather bag here:
The Friendly Leather Bag Shop
Address: 44 Phan Boi Chau, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 093 521 13 82
Business hours: 9 AM – 8:30 PM
Tu-Chi Leather Bags
Address: 24 Phan Boi Chau, Son Phong Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 090 521 65 15
Business hours: 8:30 AM – 8 PM
Fanpage: Tu-Chi Leather Bags
You can also go to Hoi An market to shop for fabric and have your clothing made for a cheaper price. But again, ‘you will get what you pay’. So make sure to spend some time wandering around to look for the best deal that meets your budget.
Ready-to-wear clothing
Hoi An also offers a lot of ready-to-wear items with cheap prices. Everywhere in Hoi An you will see many shops that sell the infamous ‘banana shirts’ and ‘watermelon shirts’ made of cotton fabric (which is suitable for the hot weather in Asia) for only 50,000 VND ($2) and alibaba trousers or cute cotton dress for only 100,000 VND ($5)!
Silk scarves and ties
Hoi An was once part of the legendary maritime silk road. Think about purchasing something made of silk for yourself or your family and friends back home. Silk scarves and ties are a great choice. The cocoon of the silkworm is harvested and turned into individual fibers before it is woven into fabric. Scarves and ties made of silk are extremely soft and lustrous.
There are many shops that sell silk scarves and ties in Hoi An, look in the fabric shop or clothing stores in the ancient town. The price is reasonable. It’s around 150,000 VND ($7) for a scarf or tie.
Accessories
One thing that I always purchase every single time I return to Hoi An is the well-made silver jewelry. The devotees of pandora charms are going to spend a lot of money on the jewelry shops in Hoi An. The gorgeous pieces of jewelry range from bracelets, to charms to rings and necklaces all with beautiful design. Most of these items are sold at a reasonable price.
Best jewelry shop in Hoi An
Lotus jewelry
Address: 82 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3917 889
Business hours: 8 AM – 9 PM
Website: Lotus Jewellery Hoi An
Namaka
Address: Pullman Danang Beach Resorts (Lobby)
Phone: 0988 805 500
Business hours: 8 AM – 10 PM
Duong Jewelry and Objects
Address: 130 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3938 468
Business hours:9 AM – 10:30 PM
Fanpage: Duong Jewelry and Objects
Apart from fashion items, Hoi An souvenirs are also a good Vietnamese present to bring back home.
Lanterns
When traveling to Hoi An, you will see a lot of colorful lanterns hanging from rafters and corners of buildings, they make the town feel warm and romantic. The lanterns are seen as a traditional craft of Hoi An, which the locals are very proud of. The lanterns are made of bamboo and silk fabric, available in different sizes and shapes. The locals believe that hanging a lantern in front of their home will bring happiness to their family. You can buy lanterns in the craft store or join a workshop to create one yourself.
Pro Tip: The best time to buy a lantern is in the evening, when you can see how the color and fabric lights up.
Where to buy lanterns
You can find lanterns in the craft stores of Hoi An central market, Hoi An night market, and the ancient town.
Lantern-making workshop:
Book your class here:
Lifestart Foundation Workshop
Address: 14 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0167 355 9447
Business hours: 8 AM – 7 PM
Website: Lifestart Foundation Workshop
Price: $33 USD
Denlongvn.com
Phone: 0979 612 534
Website: denlongvn.com
Price: $5.5 USD
Backstreet Academy
Phone: 0979 545 707
Website: Backstreet Academy
Price: $17 USD
Painting and Photography
Paintings and photography in Hoi An are favored by many visitors. Most of the artwork consists of scenes of elegant Vietnamese women in ao dai and non la hats or Vietnam’s landscapes. Once you step into an art gallery, it’s really hard to stop yourself from getting a piece of art, painted by the talented local artisans.
Best art galleries in Hoi An
Couleurs d’Asie Gallery
Address: 7, Nguyen Hue, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3911 382
Business hours: 8 AM – 8 PM
Hung Long Art Gallery
Address: 105 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Phone: 0235 3861 524
Business hours: 8 AM – 8 PM
Art gallery Trung
Address: 29 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam
Business hours: 9 AM – 9 PM
Notebook
Another lovely thing you shouldn’t miss in Hoi An is the notebook. I have to say that the cover of every notebook is a piece of art. You can find them sold in baskets by local women or in shops; don’t purchase the first lovely one you see, because there are sure to be more. I wonder is it the romantic atmosphere of Hoi An that adds even more value to these small trinkets and souvenirs? I always look upon them and smile, remembering my time in Hoi An. o one can leave Hoi An without purchasing anything, even if it’s a small notebook. From the water paintings of Vietnam to vintage inspiration, the unique notebooks are going to add a Vietnamese vibe to your big notebook collection at home and maybe you’ll even record a few memories.
Hay Hay Design Store
Fanpage: Hay Hay Design Store
Lac Xoong Hoi An
Fanpage: Facebook Lac Xoong Hoi An
Hoi An shopping tips
- Sometimes when you wander around the town, a local might jump out from nowhere claiming to take you to the best tailoring shop in town. It’s time to activate your scam detective mode. Since most people are payed on commision, it’s likely that they will take you to a very mediocre workshop.
- Visa and Mastercards are accepted in most of the big shops in Hoi An but if you use a card, you will be charged an additional fee. However, if you wish to shop in small places or in the market, make sure to bring cash. ATM machines are available in Hoi An.
- Don’t be shocked if you witness the sellers change their warm attitude into an unfriendly one when you just look and don’t buy anything.
You now have all my knowledge about my shopping experiences in Hoi An ancient town. I hope you found this article helpful. Don’t forget to check out our article on the best cafes in Hoi An here, so you can write in your new notebook while drinking some Vietnamese coffee.
If you enjoyed reading this article and would like some more fun info about what to see, do and eat (and a bunch of interesting cafes!) in Vietnam, follow us at the 4U Trip!
