The town of Hoi An in Vietnam is known for three things: its beaches, its festivals, and its shopping opportunities. The beaches, to be honest, are very nice but they’re not necessarily as popular as they might be in a full-fledged resort town.

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What you will be amazed by, however, is the number of shopping opportunities available to visitors in Hoi An. In Hoi An you won’t find your average shopping mall but a series of eclectic galleries and markets featuring handicrafts and locally made goods.

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Hoi An is known most for its myriad of tailors and cobblers. Almost everyone working in Hoi An is prepared to give you the highest quality work available at the lowest price. This means you could, literally, have a suit made in one store and a jacket in another and both stores would have your clothes ready within 24 hours if not by the end of the day.

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There are dozens of incredible shopping opportunities scattered throughout the city. Some featuring clothes, some jewelry, some pottery, and some selling quilts. Some shops will sell furniture while still others will sell sheets. If you can imagine it, someone in Hoi An is selling it. The benefit, though, is that it’s likely to be locally made. So where are some of the best places in Hoi An to shop?

Galleries in the Old Town

Hoi An, while a small fishing town, is very old and most of the town can be explored by simply taking a walking tour. One of the most popular shopping destinations is Galleries in the Old Town.

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The houses in the Galleries in the Old Town feature antique Vietnamese architecture and are home to a wide variety of galleries. The galleries feature paintings, stone carvings, wall hangings, and even lampshades - all items you and your friends will love hanging in your homes when you return from your trip.

Central Market in Hoi An

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The only Vietnamese market in town, the crowded Central Market in Hoi An sits along the edge of the river. Within the market you’ll find a wide variety of products ranging from foods to silks and you’ll find a myriad of tailors working here as well.

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Make sure you take a few moments to check out some of the roadside shops on the way to the Central Market as well. Here you’ll find fresh fruits, vegetables, and a wide variety of spices at prices much lower than you pay in the west.

House of Hoi An Traditional Handicraft

If you love cultural arts and crafts then you’ll certainly want to visit the House of Hoi An Traditional Handicraft. Here you’ll find a wide variety of crafts including lacquer wares, sleeping mats, and pottery. You’ll also find yourself surrounded by some beautiful pieces of contemporary Vietnamese artwork.

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The house itself was originally owned by Phi Yen and is well over 200 years in age. Inside you’ll not only see some of the most beautiful Vietnamese artwork available but you’ll also have a chance to see local artists creating it. Further proof that the souvenirs you plan on taking home are authentic.

Cloth Market

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Hoi An is well known for being one of the best places in Vietnam to go if you want to purchase high quality silk. The Cloth Market is, therefore, the best place in the city to visit. Here you’ll find yourself faced with a line of tailor shops, all featuring their own beautiful silks.

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You will, of course, find other types of cloth for sale in the Cloth Market, but if you’ve ever wanted to own silk, this is the place to buy it. You’ll have a wide variety of colors and designs to choose from and you’ll pay less for silk here than anywhere else in the world. Besides, not only can you purchase your silk, but you can have it cut into a fabulous dress in under 24 hours. Imagine that - a silk dress in a day for around $35!

Yaly Couture in Hoi An

If you didn’t find what you were looking for in the Cloth Market you should definitely head towards Yaly Couture in Hoi An. Inside you’ll find dozens of tailors ready and waiting to hand stitch any type of clothing you want designed. All you need to do is bring a picture of a dress you’d like to own and our Hoi An tailor will likely be able to replicate it for you.

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The city of Hoi An features more than 200 different quality tailoring shops. The best ones can be found in Yaly Couture, where you’re destined to walk out with a piece of clothing that is everything you imagined it might be and more.

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Hoi An is a city full of culture and diversity. It just so happens to be one of the best places in Vietnam to head if you really want to have a great time shopping. Take some time to explore and - if the price is right - indulge!

Posted in Vietnam

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am and is filed under Vietnam. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.