Shopping in Hoi An: What I’ve Bought and From Where
Wondering where to go shopping in Hoi An? Lucky for you I am… let’s say a very enthusiastic supporter of local economies when I travel, and this town in particular has a lot worth supporting!
I’ve been to Hội An three times now and I still somehow forget how incredible the shopping is here! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve done my fair share of spending in the rest of the country, but Hội An is a mecca for just about everything you could want in a solid souvenir. It’s probably tied to its history as a trading port, and if I find some interesting article that properly explains it all, I’ll share!
On my most recent trip, I wound up shopping far more than I intended and decided I’d finally sit down and write a little guide to help all of you with navigating the seemingly thousands of storefronts and shops.
Quick Hoi An Travel Tips
- Getting in: Whether you take the train or fly, you’ll likely land in Da Nang, which is an hour away. From there, just get a taxi, Grab car, or private transfer. I’d also ask your hotel about transfer options because sometimes it’s a little cheaper.
- Stay in Touch: I always get a SIM card (or eSIM these days) for Vietnam. You can get them at any airport but if you just want to pre-book, this is a good option.
- Getting Around: Hội An Ancient Town is small, so you’ll be able to just walk everywhere you want to go. For tours out of town, just talk to your hotel about arranging transport. Everyone always recommends cycling but I’ve cycled twice and hated my life both times. Also to note – I don’t believe Grab works in town!
- Where to Stay: I like staying within a 10-minute walk to Ancient Town but not in the thick of it (too noisy and crowded). Anantara Hoi An is fantastic for luxury, and I just stayed at De’Colore Villa right across the street for something more affordable.
- Money Matters: Vietnam is still very much a cash country, though many places in Hội An are CC-friendly due to all the tourism. Just make sure you take out enough cash for markets and street eats.
- Packing & Style Tips: Pack next to nothing if you want to make room for all the things you’re going to buy!!
A Guide for Shopping in Hoi An
I should note here that this is a guide for someone with a little extra to spend. Even when I was staying in hostels and on a bit of a shoestring budget, I was never very interested in cheap finds or plastic souvenirs. I think I learned my lesson at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok when my elephant pants straight up tore after two wears.
I’m also not going over prices because who knows how often they’ll change based on where and when you go. Plus as an adult, I frankly don’t believe in haggling – especially in places where the currency I make my money in is stronger than the local one. Feels a bit gauche to be perfectly honest.
Anyway… my guide to shopping in Hội An!
Let’s talk tailors…
The number one thing everyone and their mother will tell you to do in Hội An is to get clothing made. And rightfully so – there are probably more tailor shops in Ancient Town than there are cafes, and if you know Vietnam, that’s saying a lot.
However, not all tailor shops are created equal, and I’ve met countless friends who get something made only to be disappointed by the quality less than a year later. My key advice is to keep it simple, choose quality, natural fabric, and have patience.
Tailoring is super competitive in Hội An, so a tailor will never tell you they can’t do something even if they can’t. Use common sense – you can’t ask for ten intricate items to be made and expect them to deliver them perfectly made the next day! Make sure you have time for at least one fitting and be very clear about what you want.
** I should also note that now whenever I get clothing made, I actually go to my tailor in Ho Chi Minh City. I prefer her work, work flow, and fabric choices **
Izi Wear
I still have the clothes I had made with Izi Wear back in 2021 and wear them regularly. My friends who’ve gotten clothes made there also still like all their pieces, so at least you know the longevity is there! If you go to their instagram, you can see examples of their work. Also know that like half their tagged photos are me lol.
Yaly Couture
I’ve only been to Yaly Couture once – back in 2016! They’re one of the bigger tailor names in Hội An, and even back then they had set prices. Walking around, I noticed at least two locations, and reviews seem great when I did some research for this post.
I loved my dresses from them (one above) but unfortunately there’s like 50-60lbs between me in 2016 and me today, so I gave them away!
Leather Goods
Besides tailors, the next thing you’ll notice in Hội An is all the leather shops. And if you go now, you’ll notice the Taylor Swift effect – there are cowboy boots everywhere! Most of these shops offer custom bags and shoes so, again, give yourself enough time to get something made. Also be realistic – you’re probably never gonna get the exact replica of a complicated Polene bag!
On my first visit back in 2016, I had a bucket bag custom made by the sweetest man and his family. If he’s still there, he’d be at 69 Nguyen Thai Hoc St and his toddler will now be a pre-teen.
This last trip I wasn’t planning on getting anything but I stumbled across the cutest red shoulder bag (seen above) and I couldn’t resist. All the shops have pretty much the same pre-made leather stuff. Not sure if they source it from the same supplier or just copy each other’s designs, but just shop around to get an idea of prices.
Painted & Silk Lanterns
I swear the next time I come and have a better idea of my interior design preferences, I’m coming with an empty suitcase I can just fill with all sorts of hanging lanterns. I’m still kind of obsessed with the idea of having an accent wall filled with them like above, but I need to live in one place for longer than a year before I commit to that.
This trip, I was determined to at least get a few, and I found this great article from Hidden Hội An on where to go. I wound up going to Ông Canh. The owner and her husband seemed lovely from their description, and I can confirm that I had the loveliest experience as well even though my Vietnamese is not nearly fluent enough for a conversation. She had three options – silk, pre-made pattern nylon, and hand-painted cotton. I picked up four silk ones because of course I did.
Another option a lot of people seem to like are lantern making classes. Considering it took me ten minutes to pick four solid colored lanterns and adult coloring books stress me out… I passed.
Anything Silk
Fun fact (or maybe an obvious fact) – Vietnam is one of the top producers of silk! I’ve tried to understand the differences in silk weaves, but honestly it goes over my head. What I do know is that I like how it feels even if it can be a little high maintenance. All my go-to formal dresses are silk and I just had two silk skirts made for fall and winter wear.
Besides tailors, here are two brands I like in Hội An:
Sunday in Hoi An
Back in the day Sunday in Hoi An’s pink wall was all over Instagram. It’s such a pretty shop filled with all sorts of home goods. I loved my silk pillowcase from them and was very sad when I lost it in the mayhem of moving. I also wasn’t sure if they were making it through the pandemic, so I was very happy to see them still up and running on this recent visit!
Their shop has totally changed and the pink wall is no more, but they still have all the cute, feminine products I was hoping to find. Obviously picked up two pillowcases as well as some silk scarves from this collection on historical Vietnamese women they had stocked.
Metiseko
While I don’t have experience with Metiseko in Hội An but rather in their HCMC branch, I can say their stuff is as gorgeous as it seems. All their silk prints are hand screened printed and like little works of art, I swear. Also because they emphasize slow fashion, they keep many items stocked for years. Their physical stores also have clearance sections with items you may not find online. I just wish the clothing came in larger sizes without needing to get things custom fitted!
Handicrafts & Artisan Goods
This is why I say skip the cheap souvenir stalls. They’re usually just imported junk from China anyway – so really what’s the point of buying them? There are quite a few handicraft shops that focus on employing local artisans – get something from them instead.
Reaching Out Tea House
Not only is Reaching Out the loveliest teahouse imaginable, it also stocks a ton of artisan home decor and jewelry in their back rooms. Back in the day I got the prettiest teapot necklace from them and if I had the space and money, I would’ve bought all my kitchenware from them on this trip!
Sens Faifo
My friend and I stumbled across this shop wandering around and were surprised by all that they fit into one store. Lots of little collections with stories of the artisans and areas where they were made. This is a good shop if you’re looking for food or drink souvenirs too.
As a bonus there were some cute little cats hanging out as well and the top floor is a coffee shop!
Artwork and Photography
Another thing you’ll notice around Hội An – a plethora of art galleries. Heck you’ll also see artists painting on the side as well. Artists in this town are ridiculously talented so of course I wound up spending money on art I hadn’t meant to!
Prints from Le Dac Tu
When I went to work at The Espresso Station, I saw they had some watercolor prints from artist Le Dac Tu. Instantly fell in love with his style and bought a few with my coffee! I then proceeded to run into him at work on the street shortly after, which made me laugh. He was also selling his prints and maybe some original artwork, so maybe next visit I’ll get an original piece.
Embroidery Art from SoVa
I stumbled across SoVa walking along the main street. Back when I visited Trinidad, Cuba, we met this incredible artist, Yudit Vidal Faife, and I fell in love with her pieces that incorporate embroidery. Naturally when I saw all the embroidery artists at work I knew I had to go in and check it out. The work here is insane. Half the pieces straight up look like photographs until you get up close and see the embroidery strings. Had to get at least a small piece to take home with me!
Réhahn Fine Art Photography
If there is one photographer to check out, it’s gotta be Réhahn! His work is practically ubiquitous when it comes to imagery of Hội An, and he has a both a gallery and a museum in town. If you stay in Anantara, each of the rooms has one of his works in them.
Coffee & Tea
And last, but most certainly not least, in this guide to shopping in Hội An are the drinks that keep this country running – coffee and tea! You can find them in a ton of different shops and I remember seeing coffee on sale in Hoi An Roastery as well as in Sens Faifo. Sense Faifo also had tea and my friend got some from them. Even the one place I went to get dinner last minute had a whole wall full of tea for sale.
If you want, you can even take a coffee making class to learn more about why it’s so popular in Vietnam!
And there you have it – a little guide to shopping in Hoi An. I know, I know – I’m probably missing hundreds of small shops and businesses, but I am just one person with limited funds! If you have a place you want to add, let me know below.
For more Central Vietnam travel, read these next:
- 13 Unique Vietnam Gift and Souvenir Ideas
- All the Quirkiest Things to Do in Dalat: Where to Go, Eat, Stay, and More
- A Semi-Relaxing Phong Nha Travel Itinerary
- Hue in One Day: Can It Really Be Done?!
- 26 Incredible Things to Do in Hue + Tips for Your Historical Trip
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