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!

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.

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.

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.

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

Website: Friendly Leather Bag 

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

Website: Namaka Jewelry

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.

Credit to Eleanor Nguyen