Shopping in Hoi An
Hoi An’s designation as a World Heritage Site on December 4th, 1999, was not for nothing. Wherever you are from, you will quickly realize that this historic town is a true living museum of Vietnam’s once-famous trading port and, today, a site of lyrical natural and human beauty coexisting peacefully. Then, when you depart, each moss-covered house you pass, each friendly Vietnamese you see, and each delicate memento you bring home leaves a lasting impression of Hoi An in your memory. Hoi An probably merits the title of World Shopping Site, assuming there is such a thing.
First and foremost, items expertly woven of silk will bring to mind Hoi An. They could be accessories for the home like lampshades and wall hangings or clothing, handbags, purses, and scarves. The highest grade silk is used, including Thai silk and Ha Dong silk. As a result, Hoi An is considered to as the silk Mecca of Vietnam, much as it once was an important stop along the Silk Road.
You won’t soon forget the extraordinary experience of having your silk suit custom-made in Hoi An. Here, there are just as many tailor businesses as there are tourists exploring the neighborhood. Most highly regarded among them must be A Dong Silk and Yaly.
You can get silk materials for less money elsewhere, such as at Cloth Market or Central Market, or you can simply visit these stores and shop staff will advise you on the various types of silk available and which one will suit you best. They are as soft as silk, speak endearing English, and extend such a cordial welcome. More intriguingly, regardless of how complex a design you like, your suit will be expertly made as quickly as you desire, even in less than 24 hours. After all, you won’t be let down by the buyer’s market in this situation.
Hand-crafted lanterns are another Hoi An landmark. They were crafted with the utmost dexterity and are the ideal fusion of silk’s aesthetic qualities and bamboo sticks’ resilience. As demonstrated in the glistening lantern festival held in Hoi An to celebrate the Lunar New Year each year, their colors and designs are incredibly diverse. In addition to other regional mementos like lacquer pottery, bonsai plants, and paintings, bamboo lanterns represent pleasure and wealth.
Despite the abundance of ATMs in Hoi An, none appear to support withdrawals of more than 2 million dong. All of them impose withdrawal fees. The least expensive banks are Agribank and Vietcombank, with fees of 20,000 dong and a $2,000,000 withdrawal limit.
- Money changer. If changing cash the best places are the gold shops near the market.
- Brass gongs and bells – There are many foundries on the road to My Son. Items can be made to order. This is the origin of the souvenirs sold in Hoi An tourist shops.
- Hand made silks and lanterns – Old Town tourist shops
Tailor shops
Hoi An is renowned as the hub for reasonably priced tailored apparel. In the city, there are about 400 tailor shops, some of which are superior than others. You might want to place an order when you arrive as most people can finish anything in a single day. There is no doubt that the caveat emptor maxim applies. inquire at your lodging. Before the work is started, you will likely need to leave a deposit equal to around half the total cost. You won’t receive a refund if there are issues; stores may or may not be willing to make adjustments. Several methods to reduce your risk include:
Use the recommendations from your hotel instead of those from motorbike riders because they often receive kickbacks whereas your hotel most likely does not.
Order one item at a time so that you only lose money if something goes wrong with that one item.
Take something that fits; copies function better.
As with pockets, shortening, etc., make sure they understand any unique instructions. The language barrier is not on your side.
Prices and materials differ, so compare prices at various stores.
Again, place multiple orders so that all of your eggs are not in one basket.
- Len Silk, 74 Tran Phu St, nguyenthuyvi@gmail.com. The proprietor is part of the family business’s sixth generation. Her grandma began making silk by hand when she was a little child. She persisted for fifty years. The rural women mainly abandoned their skill when mass-produced imported silk became the standard. She continued the business of employing time-tested methods because she believed that traditional methods of producing hand-made silk offered a superior product. This process was used to create almost all of the clothing in the shop. The only outfit made of hand-crafted textiles is for women.
- Song Trang ‘Moon River’, 166 Nguyen Truong To (next to Tran Hung Dao crossroads), +84 510 3936937, style@moonrivershop.com. 09:00-21:00. Men’s and ladies’ tailoring. 2-piece suits start about USD100. Many similar in nearby Le Loi St. From USD100.
- Vanda Tailors, 631 Hai Ba Trung, +84 984488811, vandatailors@gmail.com. 08:30-21:30. This tailor shop is very highly rated by many travellers.
- Yaly Couture, 358 Nguyen Duy Hieu St, +84 510 3914995, quynh@yalycouture.com. 10:00-22:00. Top end prices. You pay for the name, and the bag the clothes come in. From USD150.
Markets in Hoi An
Hoi An Old Town is one of the most popular tourist spots in Quang Nam province, central Vietnam. The town receives almost exclusively foreign tourists. Hoi An was once one of the busiest seaports in Vietnam with many ships and other boats passing through it every day especially those from China, this is why there are still a lot of traces of Chinese culture and history.
As Hoi An grew, numerous marketplaces were created to cater for the needs of the population at that time. And some of Hoi An’s best markets continue to operate these days thus being must-see places for visitors exploring the city.
Hoi An Central Market
Hoi An Central Market is conveniently located close to the heart of the old town and is the biggest and most well-known market in Hoi An. It is more than just a neighborhood market; it is one of the few historical landmarks in Hoi An’s old town that still serves as a reminder of a once-famous, thriving port. The yellow main structure stands out among all the other homes, practically maintaining the old town’s historical splendor.
Hoi An Central Market is always a busy and packed place in the old town, in contrast to the quiet of other parts of Hoi An, regardless of the time of day. It serves as a meeting place for the inhabitants to buy everyday foods such meats, vegetables, fish, and other necessities in both the past and the present. There is no better location in Hoi An for someone looking to learn about the culture and way of life of the natives than the market, which displays nearly unaltered daily activities of the populace.
Hoi A market is divided into various zones that are filled with little stalls that specialize in particular goods, making it easy for both customers. Visitors can browse the market to get everything they need, from food to souvenirs.
These days, it is also being developed as a “culinary paradise” for tourists. From street cuisine to nationally known delicacies like Cao Lau (Hoi An vermicelli), Mi Quang (Quang noodle), Com Ga Hoi An (Hoi An chicken rice), Bun Mam Nem (Vermicelli with Anchovy Sauce), and others, tourists may discover any foods showcasing local flavors at the market.
Although the market doesn’t have a lot of space, the stalls are organized well, especially the food stands, which make visitors feel completely at ease when they sample the food.
One of the factors contributing to Hoi An Central Market’s popularity with travelers who have the opportunity to visit is its convenient location. Tourists can easily explore more sites in the ancient town because it is close to the town center and on the bank of the Thu Bon River.
Opening hours: from 05:00 am to 04:00 pm daily
Hoi An Night Market
Hoi An Night Market, which is just 300 kilometers long yet resembles a smaller version of Hoi An city, is regarded to be a must-see for tourists that visit Hoi An Old Town.
On Nguyen Hoang street, which during the day is just a regular street next to the Thu Bon river, the Hoi An Night Market is only open at night, as its name suggests. Hoi An Night Market has only recently been available for tourist use, but it has already drawn a large number of visitors looking for family souvenirs, trying local cuisine, learning about local cultures, listening to local traditional music known as “Chi,” or just taking in the bustling atmosphere of a crowded place.
Only around 50 stalls can be found in the Hoi An Night Market, which is located along Nguyen Hoang street. There are vibrant lantern stalls with a variety of lanterns in all sizes, colors, and shapes at the entryway. Tourists that enter will find a variety of specialty gift stalls. For guests’ convenience, the majority of regional specialties from Quang Nam’s traditional craft villages are concentrated in the Hoi An Night Market.
In addition, the Hoi An Night Market is a must-visit location for everyone interested in learning about Hoi An cuisine. The Hoi An Night Market will meet the expectations of every visitor with more than 20 food vendors selling various local specialties.
The market’s free “Chi” performances given by local performers are its last allure. “Chi” is one of the traditional forms of Vietnamese writing, along with “H,” “Quan H,” and “Ca Trù,” etc. It originated in the Central Vietnamese region of Quang Nam.
Opening hours: from 05:00 pm to 11:00 pm daily
Ba Le Market
Between Hoi An Ancient Town and the seaside, on a street called Cam Chau, is where Ba Le Market is located. a well-liked residence for those seeking a more genuine and local Vietnamese experience in Hoi An. At Le Thanh Tong road, make a right turn if you’re approaching from the Old Town. Just a few meters ahead, on your right, is the market.
Although Ba Le Market is much smaller than Hoi An Central Market, it nevertheless offers a wide variety of necessities, including traditional dishes, fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables. Tourists should make sure not to miss the authentically prepared Cao Lau, a particularly popular dish in Hoi An Old Town.
Opening hours: from 05:00 am to 07:00 pm daily
Thanh Ha Market
The largest fish market in Hoi An, where you can buy the freshest fish and seafood, is located at Thanh Ha Market, which is located in Thanh Ha village, also known as pottery village, about 3 kilometers to the west of the Old Town.
The seafood served at Thanh Ha Market is usually fresh and delectable because, at around five in the morning, fishing convoys returning from a night of catching arrive with plenty of fish and shellfish.
Opening hours: from 06:00 am to 06:00 pm daily
An Bang Market
The market closest to the ocean in Hoi An is called An Bang Market, also known as Beach Market or Early Morning Local Market. Everything you can think of is sold there, from fruit and vegetables to seafood and regional street food. In particular, you might find it possible to purchase cheaply priced, really fresh fruit in An Bang Market.
Opening hours: from 05:00 am to 09:00 pm daily
What to Buy in Hoi An
Tailor-made Suit
Most of the vendors in Hoi An are into tailoring, making it famous for that. There are a few who have built a reputation for themselves as experts in the field. One interesting thing to do while in this area is to have your own suit made using such materials as cashmere, wool, linen, velvet, silk or cotton. Just say how you want your suit to look and he will take your measurements before making and delivering it for you within one or two days.
Shoes
In Hội An you can find stores that can make shoes specifically for your feet out of leather at a reasonable price. You can also think about taking these odd things home with you. When going to see a man working on leather items talk to him about the shoes you would like with an option of selecting the kind and color of leather needed. Then they will measure each foot so that they should fit properly when worn by their owner/s. You’ll no doubt be astounded when yours arrives; we guarantee it! Consider making ballet flats, flip-flops, moccasins and bootie styles if undecided on what tone of footwear should be considered here.
Leather Bags
Tourists may choose from various shops stocked with high-quality purses and other related products made from leather around Hoi An town in Vietnam. Leather Bag Tu Chi Shop and The Friendly Leather Bag Store are some examples among the many others which provide consumers with bags made from leather material only. These firms manufacture different types of ladies’ bags such as travel bags, handbags, laptop cases and wallets too. At this point tell them what fabric, design & size the bag has got to be? In less than twenty-four hours time it becomes ready.
Leather bag production is practiced by most businesses today hence if interested they could take you through their factory to observe how everything works.
Lanterns
The city is characterized by both Japanese and Chinese influences. At night, the whole world converge here to mix with one another as different lanterns brighten up the City.
You can buy a lantern to remember this historic village. The price of Hoi An lanterns ranges from 4 dollars to 22 dollars depending on their sizes, shapes, materials used and colors available. They are created using bamboo frames and Vietnamese silk as material. Lanterns are easy to be bought in town; besides, it is better to see them in all their glory at night. Moreover, purchasing such lanterns in Hoi An could be one of your most romantic experiences during twilight shopping ever.
Silk
Silk could be such an extraordinary and rare souvenir from Hoi An town that you may choose to purchase. It’s a place where genuine high-end Vietnamese textiles come from as you might know. You can visit a few traditional craft communities to buy some silk products for yourself or friends. Locals usually weave these silks into different items including high quality clothes, souvenirs and wall decorations which use traditional weaving looms made from ancient trees.
With much better quality than other provinces’ silk shops, its prices for silk are usually higher but worth paying extra costs for silk lovers out here who would want genuine ones instead of imitations too. In addition you will learn how to identify real mulberry leaves fit for feeding silkworms and distinguishing between pure silk from artificial ones.
Clothes, Jewelry & Accessories
The mere combination of skills and efforts from those working in the company being local as well as international serves to give it an exclusive and elegant product. They offer you with various innovative designs like softest silk dresses, unique casual wear, kid’s clothes and also awesome jewelry such as bracelets, charms earrings or necklaces which are quite interesting. Most of the clothing, jewelries and accessories come at reasonable prices.
Conical Hat
Non La is a traditional conical hat worn by Vietnamese locals with their traditional costumes. The leaf hat is usually made of leaves from palm tree, which are symbols of the rice farming culture in many parts of Vietnam . Many people opt to use Non La when they put on Ao Dai so that they can appear more authentic. Apart from being attractive these hats protect people against sunlight and different climates while still looking good. Cones regularly range between VND 30.000-50.000; nevertheless, larger markets usually have lower prices than tourist sites or businesses do.
