The city of Hoi An itself is a very popular destination for tourists who love shopping and is certainly the place to visit if you want to go on a shopping spree before you leave Vietnam. The high quality goods produced in Hoi An galleries are often considered to be eclectic, unique, and – most important – reasonably priced. You’ll find handmade jewelry, quilts, pottery, clothing, and sometimes even furniture. If you can think of an item you’d like to buy you’ll probably be able to find it somewhere in Hoi An.

Hoi An tailors are particularly well known for their skill and efficiency and because they are all so skilled there is a lot of competition for the attention of shoppers. The average visitor to Hoi An can walk into a tailor’s shop and purchase a suit and jacket for under $50 and it would likely be completed within 24 hours of his visit. A woman can choose the cloth for a silk dress and have it completed in the same amount of time for a mere $35.

Some of the best places to shop in Hoi An include the Galleries in the Old Town, where you’ll find great paintings, carvings, lampshades, etc; the Central Market, where you’ll find foods, silks, and tailors; the House of Hoi An Traditional Handicraft, where you’ll find dozens of vendors selling contemporary Vietnamese handicrafts, sleeping mats, pottery, and pieces of artwork; the Cloth Market, where you can buy almost any colorful material or silk you can imagine and have it turned into your dream outfit; and Yaly Couture in Hoi An, where you’ll find even more beautiful silks, cloths, and tailors.

Arts & Handicrafts

Hung Long Art Gallery

Address: 105 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hoi An

Tel: 0510/861-524

This popular gallery features fine lacquer-works by artist Nguyen Trung Viet. These stylized images, mostly of young women, are quite appealing. Prices are affordable and they can ship anywhere on the globe.

Hand-painted Chinese scrolls make a great souvenir, and Mr. Ly Si Binh, down the street from this gallery at 21 Nguyen Thai Hoc St. (Tel. 0510/910-721), can script anything from peace or determination to your best buddy’s name in Chinese (if it’s wrong, he won’t know the difference anyway). And it’s fun to watch cheery Mr.Binh at work.

Kim Bong Carpentry

106 – 108 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 862 279

Que Noi Gallery

83 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 863 184

Recently opened gallery showcasing the contemporary artwork of acclaimed local artist Bui Cong Khanh.

Reaching Out (Hoa Nhap Handicrafts)

103 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 910 103

A centralised marketing service for gifts & handicrafts made by disabled Vietnamese. “Great gifts for a Great Cause”.

Fashion shops

Yaly Couture

Address: 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hoi An

Tel: 0510/910-474

47 Tran Phu St., Hoi An

Tel: 510/861-119

580 Cua Dai St., Hoi An

Tel: 0510/914-997

If you’re confused by the glut of small tailor storefronts and wonder about the quality of the work, Yaly Couture is your answer. Yes, the prices are higher, but quality comes with more of a guarantee and the same efficient service (12-hr. turnaround for a new suit). Also try their many ready-to-wear items in the small showroom at the town center. Good track record.

Bao Khanh Tailors

37 Phan Dinh Phung St, Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 861 818

Popular tailors specialising in made-to-measure fashion, formal wear and casual clothing. Well patronised and enjoying a good reputation.

Bambou Company

Address: 96 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hoi An

Bambou produces their own unique T-shirts with local themes and designs, all in real cotton with big Western sizes available. They also have cool Asian-inspired clothes, like string-button Chinese shirts and loose travel togs like fishermen’s pants and loose shirts.

Hanh Hung

Address: 39 Phan Dinh Phung St, Hoi An

Tel: 0510/910-456

This is one of the best of the town’s many budget tailor shops. Ms. Hung is friendly, speaks English well, and cuts good budget deals or can do higher-quality work with better materials for just a hitch more. You can’t miss this two-story, neon-lit place on the corner of Phan Dinh Phung and Nhi Trung or at 02 Le Loi (also near Phan Dinh Phung). It’s open daily from 8:30am to 10pm.

Son Ca

127 Tran Phu St., Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 861 569

Napkins, table linen and mare all beautifully embroidered by hand. Son Ca also offers bespoke fashions and ready-to-wear.

Thuong Gia

41 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 910 712

Foreign-managed tailor shop housed in a converted ancient shophouse which was used as a set during the filming of The Quiet American.

Yaly Couture

47 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An

Tel: (84-510) 910 474

High-quality tailors specialising in modern fashions for ladies and gentlemen. Wide range of fabrics & styles. All tailoring is carried out on the premises – unlike many other Hoi An outlets.

Leisure Activities

Jeremy Stein’s RAINBOW DIVERS

Hoi An Beach Resort, Hoi An

Tel: 0914 224 102

PADI 5 Star IDC&National Geographic Divecentre

www.divevietnam.com

Tags: Hoi An, Hoi An travel guide, Hoi An Vietnam, Shopping in Hoi An