Hoi An Shopping

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The Thien Thanh tailor shop is one of the very best in Hoi An.
I have had clothes made there several times and i have been very happy with what i got.
Most importantly the store manager, Ms Hanh, is very good at understanding peoples needs and she speaks and understands english better than most people at the tailor shops in Hoi An.
The fabric they use there is excellent and that matters a lot to me.
When you consider how cheap it is to have clothes made in Hoi An then there is no reason to go for the cheaper stuff.
I have had trouses, shirts, jackets made there and i can only recommend this very friendly place.

Friendly shop is a good place to make your shoes to measure. Boots, sandals... Everything is possible. The price are reasonable, the quality is good and the sellers are very friendly! Good address in Hoi An. Just near the market

What to buy: You can buy all shoes that you want. Internet is free for customers, you can show them and they ll do your shoes in 12h.

What to pay: I saw a man buying 11 different kinds of shoes for 250 dollars... You can find shoes from 2 to 45 dollars... It depends of the shoes

The shop has some really unique items made on site by the workers (local people with disabilities). Great gifts to take back home - lanterns, hand made gift cards & bookmarks. Also really unusual soft toys called 'sock creatures'. Many items are using recycled products - all very different and unique. The extra good thing about shopping here is that all the money goes back to the disabled workers. Really worth supporting this shop and you end up with some really interesting stuff to take home.

What to buy: Gifts to take back home or something quite unique as a reminder of your visit - go to Lifestart's workshop & retail shop. Silk wine bottle bags, handmade gift cards & book marks, lanterns, 'sock creature' toys.

What to pay: most items are between $2 and $10 - so ideal gifts for taking home

This shop makes custom shoes. My friend had a pair made and she loves them. She has some foot problems, but they made her shoes fit perfectly. They do any style of shoes or boots, and the prices are very reasonable.

Simple styles can be ready in 24 hours; others may take a bit longer.

What to pay: Varies

They are a custom tailoring shop--men's or women's clothing, made to measure, in 24 hours. The shop has a good selection of fabrics, including silk and cotton. You go in and get measured, pick out a style (or take a photo or piece of clothing with you) and go back the next day for a fitting. They will deliver to your hotel also.

What to pay: It depends on what you order. My silk blouse cost $15 U.S.

Don't mess around with all the other smaller shops that seem like they will be a better deal because they are less commercial. Take it from me - I now consider myself a Hoi An shopping expert - just go to Yaly. They have a few different locations and they are the best; a well oiled machine and the quality and turn around time can't be beat. They also come to your hotel for fittings and delivery at no extra charge! Yes you may pay a few more dollars but you will be thrilled with your clothes.

My husband has had several suites made in Asia and he says Yaly was the best. Not only is the experience pleasant but the suit is fantastic and the fabric choices are here are huge. The trouble with many shops is that they have very few choices of fabric. Had I known, I would have organized myself a bit better and chosen photos of things I wanted and brought them and I would have bought the fabric in the states. If you love silk and chiffon the fabric in Vietnam will suit you, but should you want matte jersey or a print that doesn't make you look like a geisha, you will want to bring your own. Having photos of what you want will save you tons of time and frustration in communication. I brought 3 dresses and had them copied and they are perfect. The vietnamese tailors are master copiers. Basically you can have anything you want made but if you have an example it will really help. I had an amazing cocktail dress made for $105 USD and you would not believe the details and the fit!

I was quite skeptical of having shoes made as all of the shoe stores seemed extremely tacky and contain not a pair of shoes I would ever wear. However, again...they will make whatever you wish. I had two pairs of Tods heels copied and I am thrilled. They are $600 shoes and I paid $50.00 USD. We went to "CQ "shoe shop on Nguyen Thai Hoc and they are great! Make sure you specify all the details and the color of the buckle and laces etc. Bring photos of everything.

With all of this said, should you want really simple things made or copied and you have your own fabric, the small shops are fine.

Make sure you keep your receipts when you give your deposit in case there are any questions about how much you've paid.

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There is an absolutely ridiculous number of shops scattered throughout town, with most of them concentrated on the stretch of Hai Ba Trung south of Tran Hung Dao, and along Hoang Dieu as you approach the Can Nam Bridge. Made-to-measure shirts, blouses, dresses, suits etc. are on offer from the renowned tailors of Hoi An. As I was backpacking around SE Asia it wasn't possible to try any of them out but suits should cost around US$50 and up to US$100 for a good quality one. If you choose to pay US$30, beware that you get what you pay for, slightly lousier quality of cloth and problems with workmanship, such as misaligned stripes on the pants and blazer.

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During the full moon of every month, local shop owners turn off the electricity and hang lanterns bearing their shops names, and a candlelight lantern procession, complete with a few small floats, makes its way through the Old Town and along the riverfront. You can buy the lanterns from many shops and stalls around the Old Town which are switched on at night in order to entice you to have a look and buy.