Traveling in Vietnam? Visit a Hoi An Tailor

Visiting a Hoi An tailor is a phenomenal and unique experience to have while traveling in Vietnam.

Hoi An is located in central Vietnam on the Eastern coast along the South China Sea. It’s a charming ancient town and former port city. It’s incredibly walkable, colorful and filled with incredible food. Here I’ll share with you all about the Hoi An tailors.

This post is all about the Hoi An tailor experience!

Finding the right tailor

Hoi An is home to hundreds (some estimates say thousands) of tailors. There is no ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ shop. There are plenty of talented Hoi An Tailors, so I’ll give a few tips on how to choose your tailor. If you want clothing made by a local Hoi An tailor, these tips are helpful for making your selection.

Look for stores that have customers – This could mean they have more experience with making clothing.
Know what you want before going in – some stores specialize in shoes, belts and purses, others specialize in clothing and other stores exclusively make tailored suits.
Take your time – Depending upon how much time you’re spending in Hoi An, you can take time to peruse the streets, look around and pick the store that you believe could be best for what you’re looking for.

What the experience entails

Day 1:

The experience visiting a tailor in Hoi An is fantastic. It’s smart to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for. I went into the shop with screenshots of dresses that I had found online that I was hoping to recreate. In case you were wondering, the process begins when you meet your chosen Hoi An tailor and explain your design ideas.

Upon walking into the shops you’ll see countless different fabric options. You can peruse on your own or ask for assistance from any of the incredibly helpful ladies who work there.

After selecting a fabric and showing the tailor the article(s) of clothing you’d like they’ll take measurements and extensive notes. Your Hoi An tailor will be sure to note your preferences and measurements to provide a perfect fit.

Day 2:

The next day you can come back to the studio during the agreed upon time and try on the first version of the article(s) of clothing. As your Hoi An tailor works with you, expect to see your custom pieces come to life.

This is when minor adjustments are made. The length of sleeves, adjusting different hems or any other concerns you may have. At this stage, your tailor in Hoi An will make final tweaks to ensure the garment fits flawlessly.

Day 3:

Time to pick up your unique article(s) of clothing! Now you are ready to collect your finished outfit crafted by a Hoi An tailor.

Tailoring for women

My experience was fantastic. I chose a blazer style dress design – during my first try-on (photo on the left), I decided that I wanted it made in navy as well! Working with a skilled Hoi An tailor made the process seamless and fun.

We ended up shortening the sleeves, shortening the dress, chose which buttons we liked best and removed some of the baggier fabric in the chest. Thanks to my Hoi An tailor, every detail was customized to my preferences.

Tailoring for men

My boyfriend also had a wonderful experience! He opted to have a light blue short sleeved linen shirt, pair of tan linen shorts, and long sleeve purple dress shirt made. His Hoi An tailor created garments that matched his personal style perfectly.

The ability to truly customize the items is what is so special about this experience. Having clothing that fits your unique body, in fabric that feels good and looks good is fabulous. If you’re thinking of tailoring in Hoi An, a tailor can help you achieve a fit that’s truly your own.