Hoi An, located in central Vietnam, is a magical place with true Vietnamese charm mixed in with Japanese and French Colonial influence. The Thu Bon River in Hoi An is bustling with boats and lights while the streets of this historical trade city are lined with the most gorgeous shops and restaurants. To be honest, for lack of a better comparison, it brought me instant memories of strolling through Adventureland in Disneyland in Anaheim.
The exotic and international essence of the city is exciting and alluring which is why Hoi An is one of my favorite cities in Vietnam. Aside from its well preserved history and architecture, a major attraction of this city is its abundant shopping options. I found it to be the best shopping in all of Vietnam in this quaint city. Here is a complete shopping guide of what to buy in Hoi An:
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Tailor Made
If you are going to visit Hoi An, the one souvenir you must buy to avoid living a life of regret is something tailor made. There is no shortage of tailors to choose from. Whether you want a blouse, pants, suit, dress, two piece outfit— whatever your heart desires, you can have made to measure from scratch.
Find inspiration from one of their many binders of outfits or show them a picture you found from the internet. You can even change elements and they will draw it up for you! This is your chance to live out your fashion designer dreams! After coming up with a design and picking out a fabric and color, the tailor will measure every inch of you, or like I like to say, “nipple to nipple”. Come back the next day for the first fitting and adjustments and pick up your new tailor made outfit the third day.
My date night dress that I designed set me back $60, which is so much cheaper than to buy off rack back home! It’s hard to say no to that and makes for a one of a kind, practical souvenir that will last you a long time. Plus, if you ever have issues finding clothes that fit you, this is your chance to stock up on a new affordable and custom made wardrobe.
You can even find cobblers who will make sandals and other leather footwear from scratch too. They will measure your foot and take a rough outline of it on paper before crafting your new shoe within 24-48 hours. A service like this in Italy would set you back hundreds of Euros, but in Hoi An expect to be able to haggle down the price to roughly $50 for basic sandals. The more you buy also, the cheaper each pair gets! Just be sure to always haggle with a smile and don’t be afraid to walk away.
Knock Offs
If you know where to look, you can find very authentic-looking knock off handbags, backpacks, and wallets of every imaginable designer brand. Some are made from real leather and some are faux leather and more cheaply made. The more expensive and higher quality knock offs will usually be towards the back of the shop. Be sure to inspect the item and see if the asking price matches the quality.
Don’t go overboard though, since you might have issues at customs at the airport if you show up with a suitcase full of knock offs. Expect to be able to haggle down to $50 for a medium-sized, medium-quality, faux leather designer bag, that would go for a couple grand if it were authentic.
Word of advice though–Some shops may accept card, but under no circumstances pay with card. Always pay cash to avoid issues. A friend of mine was accidentally charged $970 instead of $97 when she paid with card and had extremely difficult time dealing with the shop owner to have it corrected the next day.
Silk
Vietnam is known for its silk products. You’ll find many shops and stalls carrying silk scarves and clothing in Hoi An. Silk is very expensive in the States, whereas you can get a very good deal on silk in Hoi An. Being lightweight, it also makes for great gifts for friends and family back home. You can even get your tailor-made outfit in silk for a very reasonable price.
Jewelry
You can find some real nice boho jewelry in Hoi An for very cheap. I paid $4 for silver ring with a red stone that probably would cost $30 if it were in a Free People Boutique in Los Angeles. This is the place to stock up on jewelry and is another item that is easy to haggle for, especially when buying many pieces.
Classic Souvenirs
I’m still a sucker for a classic souvenir like magnets and patches and postcards. With so many options to choose from in Hoi An, you’ll have the upper hand at haggling since you can always go to another shop just a few meters down.
Matching Clothing
I noticed multiple families walking around the streets of Hoi An in cutest matching outfits. Father, mother, and child all in the same print fabric, looking like straight out of an annual Christmas card. Some may find it cheesy, while others find it adorable. If matching is your thing, most shops in Hoi An can hook you up since they reuse the same fabric prints in all genders and ages!
Art
From embroidered wall art to midcentury-esque prints, you can find various art pieces to fit your collection back home. I paid just $6 for a stunning embroidered painting of two traditionally dressed women in rice fields. Art has become one of my favorite souvenir staples– It’s an easy to pack souvenir, since art can usually lie flat or be rolled up into tubes for extra protection, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face when I look over to see it hanging on the wall reminding me of the lovely time I had in Vietnam.
Silk Lanterns
All lit up like a scene out of the animated film Tangled, Hoi An is known for its silk lanterns. They’re literally everywhere you look. A small lantern can be as cheap as a few American dollars. You can even make your own in a lantern making class in Hoi An, like I did, which is both an experience and a memorable souvenir. They are collapsible which is useful for packing, though they still take up more space than I’d like. It’s worth it though for such an iconic Hoi An souvenir.
