If you’re travelling to Vietnam and plan to shop for handmade clothing, footwear and other pretty things, save some luggage space for a few days in the ancient town of Hoi An.
Roughly halfway between Vietnam’s two biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the seaside village of Hoi An is a must-see travel destination for all travellers.
Once the biggest port in Vietnam, known by sailors worldwide for its silk, Hoi An is actually two cities in one. At its heart lies the Old Town, a partially-restored, living example of life in South-East Asia during the 15th-19th centuries. Surrounding this is a modern township of French colonial houses, temples and markets.
The tailored clothing, footwear, lanterns, wall hangings and carvings that made Hoi An are still available today, some updated to appeal to western tastes, and still of the highest quality.
And the prices are amazing. A two piece suit can be tailored for as little as $USD50 ($AUD56), a sun dress for $USD5 ($AUD6), and a pair of all- leather riding boots for less that $USD100 ($AUD111).
The tailors of Hoi An are gifted mimics, and studiously reproduce items guided only by pages torn out of magazines. For best results, consider photographing or packing any items from home that you might like reproduced, as most tailors’ collections of fashion mags are pretty limited, favouring the '80s and '90s. It also pays to be explicit with your order, for example don’t assume your tailor will use black cotton with a black suit, or that the suit will be lined.
The other highlight of Hoi An is the food, particularly the local specialities, White Rose and Cao Lau. White Rose is a prawn, wrapped up in a rose-shaped dumpling, and Cao Lau is a pork, vegetable and rice noodle dish - authentic Cao Lau noodles are made with water from a particular well in Hoi An.
Getting to Hoi An is easy. From Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, Vietnam Airlines fly direct to Danang daily, for less than $AUD100. From Danang Airport catch a taxi to Hoi An – the half hour trip costs around $AUD10 – or alternatively take the bus.
Flights to Ho Chi Minh City have been getting progressively cheaper over the last twelve months, as low-cost carriers compete for south-east Asian fares. Return flight prices from Sydney vary from $AUD1000 to $AUD1,400.
The photo is taken by Chris Hann.