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What to Buy in Hoi An?
Hoi An is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Vietnam with its antique but lively beauty and the remarkable Asian cuisine. Notably, it is also well-known for its tailor-made suits, silk, ao dai, and lanterns. However, there are far more goods to shop in Hoi An.
If you have the chance to come and visit this wonderful place, you should not miss the vintage decorating items, jewelry, artworks, and souvenirs. Not only can they make great choices of shopping for their qualities, but they are also something that reminds you of Hoi An, an antique but dynamic town.
In the following parts, we will provide you with the must-buy items if you are planning to do a shopping day in Hoi An. Now, let’s dig into it!
Tailor-made Suit
Whenever it comes to shopping in Hoi An, the first thing to bring up would be the tailor-made suits. Hoi An, as mentioned, is reputable for its finest tailor-made suits delivered to the natives or visitors. You are likely to figure out a vast range of materials, which will be used to make your customized suit.
Moreover, there are numerous tailors, who are well-known for their excellent skills and elegant taste. If you have never worn a suit before, then you may want to ask for their advice on which form would be the best for you, as well as what kind of material goes with it.
Tailor shops are various, and they can make the best suits, in whatever styles their customers may demand. The price range is also flexible as it is highly dependent on the materials used, and the complexity of the progress.
The ordered suit will be delivered to you in 1 or 2 days, with all the features you’ve requested in advance. This is one of the must-try activities when visiting Hoi An. Hence, put a tailor-made suit on your to-do list. Some of the most popular vendors in Hoi An, where you can experience this would be:
- A Dong Silk Tailor at 38-42 Le Loi Street
- Kimmy Tailor at 70 Tran Hung Dao Street
- Hoi An Tailors at 335 Nguyen Huy Hieu Street
Shoes
Gentlemen, who love to have their suits customized, perhaps would like their shoes to get featured too. Apart from tailor-made suits, Hoi An is also famous for its leather-featured shoes for tourists. When you drop by Hoi An, you would find out that many shoe stores offer clients the freedom to choose what type of leather would be used to produce their shoes, or what color would be the best.
Besides, the shoemakers will also measure the size of each customer coming to their workshops. That’s why the shoes you order are going to fit you perfectly. And it is also the reason why so many people love to have a pair of Hoi An leather shoes for themselves. The price range is flexible as some of them cost 18 dollars, and leather boots made in Hoi An can be as expensive as 60 dollars. Recommendations when it comes to leather shoes in Hoi An are sandals and boots. Here we have some of the most reliable address that you can take as reference:
- Friendly Shoe Shop at 18 Tran Phu Street
- Hoi An Shoe Shop Number 9 at 65 Tran Hung Dao
- T&N Leather Shop at 34 Nguyen Thai Hoc
Leather Bags
Leather bags are among the most worth-buying and famous items in Hoi An, Vietnam to both natives and tourists. Leather bags are sold in a similar way to tailor-made suits and leather shoes. Once you’ve entered a leather bag shop, you can choose to feature your future-to-be bag from the smallest details so that it would meet your expectations after completing it.
As mentioned, since you can feature your bags when coming to Hoi An, you would get to choose the materials, the colors applied, and what type of bag you love the most. Some of the highly recommended bags are handbags, bags for your laptops, and travel bags. All types you may like to purchase are possible to produce here in Hoi An. Therefore, think carefully and pick up one model you love to feature in your bag, then go straight up to a leather bag shop in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Here are some addresses you can drop by:
- Da Bao Real Leather Hoi An with two branches at 78 Bach Dang and 32 Tran Phu Street
- Experience Leather Hoi An at 59 Phan Boi Chau Road
- Friendly Leather Bag Shop at 44 Phan Boi Chau Road
Lanterns
Lanterns are considered as Hoi An Ancient Town’s icon as when the night has come, you would be amazed by the glorious lanterns hung up in every corner you walk by. It is those lanterns that create the antique but lively beauty for the ancient town. They are not only special decorations but also a cultural symbol. They represent Asian cultures, a combination of Japan, China, and Vietnam, and are believed to bring good luck and fortune. If you have got the chance to visit Hoi An before, you would see the colorful lanterns made of different materials, lighting up the night sky of Hoi An.
Lanterns are also sold in Hoi An Ancient Town as a souvenir or home decoration. They are diverse in colors, materials, and patterns. Some of you can be fascinated by the complex patterns printed in Hoi An lanterns, while some are attracted by the simplicity but elegance of them. Each one would have its beauty that is appealing to different groups of people.
Lanterns can be purchased easily for a price from 4 dollars to 22 dollars, based on which size and materials are them, and some are even hand-painted by local artisans. The best time to buy a lantern in Hoi An is the night time as you can see the glory of them, letting up the small ancient town.
Addresses to purchase lanterns in Hoi An:
- Pho Hoa at 27 Hoang Dieu Street
- Ong Canh at 65 Tran Phu Street
- Thuy Tam at 84 Tran Phu Street
- Hoi An Night Market at Nguyen Hoang Street
Silk
Silk is claimed to be one of the most impressive, luxurious, and expensive gifts for anyone. Especially, this becomes even more true in Hoi An Ancient Town. Hoi An silk is among the most luxurious and well-known products for their quality. As you come to Hoi An Ancient Town, you are likely to gain an opportunity of appreciating the process of making silk, harvesting the silkworms.
The price range for silk in Hoi An is more expensive than almost every other province, and even the city, but the special features and fine quality have made them worth the greater expense. When buying silk products in Hoi An Ancient Town, you may have the chance to do mulberry leaves harvesting, feeding the silkworms, and comparing authentic and synthetic silk with the local artisans.
Addresses to look for silk products in Hoi An:
- Bibi Silk at 67 Phan Chu Trinh Street
- Matiseko Natural Silk at 140 Tran Phu Street
- B’lan Silk at 23 Tran Phu
Clothes, Jewelry & Accessories
Hoi An is also a great place to shop for clothes, jewelry, and accessories since you have a maze of such vendors there. Apart from tailor-made suits and featured leather items, clothes, jewelry, and accessories are unique in their way. The talented artists in Hoi An have tried their best to combine different components to make the best items ever. They are a combination of modern and classic, which makes them so special and worth purchasing.
All of them are created in the finest shapes, designs, materials, and colors. You can search for a soft silk dress and a stylish set of streetwear at the same time. How wonderful that is! Besides, the price range is reasonable. Notably, the more you buy, the more discount you can have.
Some stores to look up for:
- Lotus Jewelry at 82 Tran Phu Street
- Bebe Tailor 1 at 11 Hoang Dieu Street
- Duong Jewelry and Objects at 130 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
Conical Hat (Nón Lá)
Conical Hat, which is also called Non-La in Vietnamese, is a traditional hat and is worn by everyone despite gender, age, and social status difference. Conical Hat is a traditional value and is highly appreciated by the Vietnamese. Some of them wear Conical hats as national pride and an emphasis on the elegant beauty of Asian women when it goes with Ao Dai.
However, the Conical Hat is not only an ornament or accessory but also a protector against the sun and rain. Because of its width, it is convenient for anyone to avoid the direct heat of sunlight and the rain. A conical hat in Hoi An often costs tourists from 30,000 VND to 50,000 VND, depending on how big and how steady it is.
Some shop recommendations for Conical Hat in Hoi An:
- Hoi An Market at 19 Tran Phu Street
- Hoi An Night market at Nguyen Hoang Street
- Friendly Shoe Shop at 18 Tran Phu
Round Straw Bags
Vietnam is regarded as one of the top countries that are famous for its straw. Straw bags have long been a familiar item for Vietnamese people. Nowadays they are used for multiple purposes such as carrying stuff, making tools in photoshoots or film-making processes, or even home decoration for those who fall in love with the vintage style.
In Hoi An, you are likely to find seagrass and rattan bags, which are not only durable but also pretty items. To create such bags, the local artists have a long process to go through, from the step of collecting the straw, then drying them in the sunlight, harvesting, and creating beautiful bags as we see these days. If you’re lucky enough to visit Hoi An and get involved in this process, that would be an incredible chance.
Should you have fallen in love with these elegant and vintage bags, take notes of the below addresses:
- Sunday in Hoi An at 76 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
- Bloom Hoi An Store at 6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street
- Blue Chic Tailor at 3 Nguyen Thai Hoc
- Maytredecor at 82A Tran Phu Street
Scarves and Ties
If you are planning what to give your family members and friends after a nice vacation in Da Nang and Hoi An, then scarves and ties of high quality would never let you down. These luxurious items as gifts can make anyone pleased and they are something special reminding you of the antique beauty of Hoi An.
There was a story about the legendary maritime silk road, saying that Hoi An used to have the most skillful and talented artisans who could create the softest and most lustrous scarves and ties. It is believed that the most ideal material for these products is silk for its softness and elegance. The price of a scarf or tie made of silk may cost you approximately 200,000 VND (which equals 9 dollars).
Recommendations of scarves and ties in Hoi An:
- Cocoon at 55 Tran Phu Street
- Blue Chic Tailor at 3 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street
- Le Loi at 92 Phan Chu Trinh Street
Home Decorating Items
Home Decorating items if of the most diverse items in Hoi An because you have a high chance of finding various vases, clocks, types of wallpaper, lanterns, and ceramics to re-decorate your house, provided that you want to experience a fresh sense of Hoi An vibes at home.
The vintage vibe of Hoi An along with thousands of vendors, stores will offer you the most beautiful, suitable, and exciting home decorating items. Feel free to choose your items as the price range is reasonable and the products on display are of wonderful appearance and quality
Some recommendations to take as a reference when it comes to home decoration:
- LIT Decor at 98 Hung Vuong Street
- Sunday In Hoi An Flagship Store at 25 Nguyen Thai Hoc
- Blue Chic Tailor at 3 Nguyen Thai Hoc
Artworks & Souvenirs
Last but not least would the artworks and souvenirs in Hoi An. As you can see, Hoi An is well-known for its excellent artworks, which include ceramics, artifacts, and paintings. Some souvenirs in Hoi An that you can take as a gift for friends and family can be incredible cards, paintings of Hoi An, especially oil-and-water ones, straw bags, and many other things.
The best places to shop for souvenirs should be the market as they have a massive range of products on display, and their price is also more affordable for everyone. Remember to purchase several items as souvenirs and artworks when you’re in Hoi An.
Take some references about artworks and souvenirs:
- HAHA – Art in Everything at 155 Tran Phu Street
- Rehahn Gallery at 7 Nguyen Hue Street
Where to Shop in Hoi An?
Hoi An Ancient Town though quite small compared to another nearby tourist attraction such as Cu Lao Cham, but it is a wonderful place to do your shopping. While shopping in Hoi An, make sure you pay attention to the mentioned places below as they will help you save your time since they have already brought up the finest stores in town. Now let’s go further into the details.
Hoi An Central Market
Hoi An Central Market is located in Tran Phu Street, Nguyen Hue Street, and Thu Bon River. The opening hours begin at 5 a.m and end at 4 p.m. During the opening hours, enjoy the lively, dynamic, and close vibes here. Although the market is not so big, its vibration and aura are nothing different from those in the big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City.
Hoi An Central Market is busy throughout the day. Early in the morning, the local traders would see each other and try to trade for seafood and other fresh ingredients such as herbs, veggies, poultries, and spices. If you want to cook a delicious meal at your homestay in Hoi An, then going to Hoi An Central Market for some ingredients is an excellent idea. But if you are finding silk, then go to the east side of the market. That’s where they sell the best silk in Hoi An Central Market.
Hoi An Night Market
If Hoi An Central Market starts its day from 5 a.m, then Hoi An Night Market would begin from 5 p.m. Hoi An Night Market has its distinctive vibes of energy and nightlife. Notably, this place has been of favor for both domestic and foreign tourists. In the market, along with the energetic vibe it has, there are hundreds of stores and vendors which visitors can shop at for any type of goods.
It is believed that the night market contains about 50 stalls within 300 meters with a vast range of products from clothes, jewelry, bags, street food, and even electronic household devices. You can purchase many goods here, but it is advisable that you buy the love Tohe, specialties, and street food. If you want to experience Hoi An nightlife, then this place is the best one to do it.
A small tip for visitors to Hoi An Night Market is to never forget to bargain if you want to buy any products there. Bargaining hard down to 75 percent or even 50 percent is fine because the stall-owners may tell you the more expensive price of the products.
Stores, Boutiques & Shops on the Main Streets in Hoi An Old Town
The major streets and roads in Hoi An would be Tran Phu, Bach Dang, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Le Loi Street. Once you’ve entered these streets, you will stand a much lower chance of missing out on the most beautiful, sophisticatedly made items from clothes, jewelry, home decoration items, and silk products. Especially, you will get to see the most beautiful silk lanterns, which can be a worth-buying product to bring home.
Hoi An Silk Village
Hoi An Silk Village is the most popular place for its fine quality and elegant silk in the entire city. It is situated in Nguyen Tat Thanh Street. Though located 1 kilometer from the central Hoi An Ancient Town, many tourists and local people still find their way to Hoi An Silk Village with the wish to buy the most elegant, colorful, and softest silk there.
There are many types of products made from silk in the village, especially garments. The most remarkable item to mention here would be the traditional Ao Dai. With the softness and elegance of silk, along with the beauty of its own, Ao Dai in Hoi An Silk Village is more of a must-have item than anything else in other locales. There should be no surprise if you want to purchase your own Ao Dai after seeing those in the silk village.
B’lan Silk
B’lan Silk is an incredible shopping place with its location settled in a 200-year-old house. While shopping here, customers would get offered tours around the house with a tour guide speaking fluently in three languages, including Vietnamese, English, and French. Moreover, you can find the best items there in terms of garments at the best price in town. Besides, customers of B’lan Silk mostly wait for their customs to be completed. Many of them have a high opinion of B’lan Silk for their high-quality products and excellent customer services.
If you come to B’lan Silk with the education aim, then you will get informed of the historical lessons from every part of the house as the owner would tell you the history of this 200-year-old house briefly. If you want to exchange for some artworks, you‘d better discuss further with the artists there.
Yaly Tailor Shop
Even though Hoi An has more than 400 skillful and talented tailors in town, Yaly is still the most mentioned name for tourists and local people. With their long-term experience in the garment profession, they always make sure that their customers are satisfied with the products delivered, and their time of delivery is as fast as possible. Yaly Tailor when it comes to making garments, they would offer their customers an enormous range of materials and forms, then conduct that sketch and turn it into reality. A client of them once said that he was very satisfied when coming to Yaly Tailor shop as he asked for three shirts, and they gave him exactly what he wanted, and delivered the three shirts in less than a day.
Souvenirs Street
It is never a bad idea to buy your family members and friends some souvenirs after a trip to Hoi An. when visiting Hoi An, don’t forget to drop by Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc Street to see the most sophisticated handmade items, including ceramics, masks, straw bags, and paintings. It will not only be a delightful gift for your close ones but also a beautiful vibe of colors and diversity to reminisce of Hoi An.
Shoe Streets
Shopping for shoes in Hoi An Ancient Town is an interesting experience to have. As mentioned in the previous parts, shoes purchased in Hoi An will be featured from size to patterns, materials, colors, and types as you request. The result of this would be a wonderful pair of shoes just for you. And this special experience should be kept. Also, having a leather pair of self-customized shoes is not something that would happen to you every day in life. So why not try one in Hoi An? The street you can come by is Nguyen Thai Hoc, Tran Phu, and Tran Hung Dao Street.
“Paint market” in Hoi An Ancient Town
The paint market is one of the highlights of Hoi An Ancient Town with its area of 3 square kilometers and approximately 100 art galleries in Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. This place would be a heaven for those who fall in love with art, and especially it has attracted countless people who want to purchase paintings or sell their paintings to the galleries. The price of painting exchange can vary from a few hundred thousand VND to more than 10 million VND. About 20 galleries are exchanging unique and original paintings with excessive prices, which can be La Gai, Ha Ly, Thon Viet, while the other 80 galleries exchange copies of famous paintings for quite a cheap price. In conclusion, visiting the paint market in Hoi An Ancient Town would be an exciting experience to have.
Lantern Streets
Lying in the major streets in the ancient town, you can easily access the countless lanterns stores from Tran Phu, Le Loi, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Nguyen Hue Street. Beautiful lanterns should be found with no difficulties. There are many colors, materials, and forms you can choose from when buying ones for your beloved ones at home. With a reasonable price, which is about 7 to 8 dollars each, a lantern is going to make an impressive gift for anyone you tend to give to.
Ao Dai & Dress Streets
The Ao Dai and Dress Street will be found when you approach the Minh Anh Ward in Hoi An Ancient Town. It is there you will find numerous types of Ao Dai and dresses with all the colors you can think of and all the materials of the finest quality. The most recommended material to make your Ao Dai or dresses is Silk for its softness and elegance, which are suitable for a lady. Also, making your custom will barely take you any time as the products will be delivered to customers within 3 hours, an incredible speed to make any garments and deliver while they wander around over 57 stores in Minh Anh Ward. The most worth-visiting shops here would be A Dong Silk, Thu Thuy, Phuong Huy, and Thanh Loi.
Ba Le Market
Ba Le market lies between Le Thanh Tong Street and Cam Chau Ward. When compared to Hoi An Central Market or Hoi An Night Market, Ba Le Market is much smaller, and nothing in Ba Le Market can’t be found at the two mentioned markets. However; the Ba Le market has a more traditional market vibe, while the other two are more lively and dynamic. In Ba Le Market, the must-try dish would be Cao Lau, and the fresh farm produces. The pace in Ba Le Market is much slower and calmer, which suits many people who are not too interested in crowded places.
Tiger Market
The very last location on our list is Tiger Market, which is situated between Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and Son Phong Ward. The difference between the Tiger market and others would be the products it sells. Apart from fresh ingredients, the Tiger market would be your favorite place to purchase such products as cheese, frozen pizza base, Greek yogurt, olive oil, and nuts. Notably, when shopping at Tiger Market, you are going to meet nice traders who truly want to help you buy the best farm produce in the market.
Tips on Shopping in Hoi An
The last part of our article would give you some tips on shopping in Hoi An. The very first tip to take note of is to double-check the price you’re informed with the stall-owners. This is essential no matter where you shop. It would be best to be certain of the budget spent during your shopping trip. Especially in Hoi An, you can buy one product for a much cheaper price if you buy them in a comparative quantity. For this one, you can ask your friends, or your trip companions to share with you.
Next, you should be prepared to strike a hard bargain against the traders in Hoi An. they can tell you a much higher price than it truly is. So once you’ve thought the price is not so reasonable, try to make a good bargain, and don’t be hesitant to do so.
The next one would be for lantern shoppers. You had better purchase them at night when the lanterns are all lit up to see how beautiful they are and see if they meet your requirements or any special requests.
Last but not least, if you have a local companion with you, there is nothing that can be more ideal when shopping in Hoi An as he or she can tell you where to go or what to buy or what the right price is from the first place. But in case you don’t have one, that’s fine. Enjoy Hoi An Ancient Town and remember to buy the mentioned products in the previous parts.
