Hoi An tailor guide to getting custom clothes made at fair prices

After the lanterns light up the Old Town, another side of Hoi An comes alive behind its shopfronts. Sewing machines hum, scissors cut through fabric and steam irons hiss as local tailors work late into the night. With a tailoring tradition dating back around 200 years, Hoi An tailors have made the town one of Vietnam’s best-known destinations for custom-made clothing. Yet with hundreds of shops to choose from, knowing where to go for quality, fair prices and reliable service can make all the difference.

Where does Hoi An’s tailoring tradition come from?

Hoi An grew as a trading port, and cloth, silk and thread passed through its harbour for generations. Sewing has been part of local life for about 200 years, handed down in families and small workshops long before the first backpacker arrived. That long history is the reason the town has so many skilled hands, from cutters to pressers to the people who finish buttonholes.

The trade took its modern shape from the late 1990s, when visitors began to arrive in growing numbers. Many of them walked up to the fabric stalls around the central market and asked for clothes to be made from the cloth on sale. Word of mouth did the rest, and the promise of “measured in the morning, collected in the afternoon” became the town’s trademark within a few years.

Today the work happens in a network of small shops and workshops, and many tailors begin learning in their mid-teens. Fast fashion and the seasonal swings of tourism have pushed some small shops to cut back, but a garment cut to your own measurements is still something an off-the-rack shirt cannot match. That is why the Hoi An tailor trade has survived, and why it remains one of the most popular things to do in town.

How does tailoring in Hoi An work?

Most Hoi An tailor shops take your order, measure you and manage the fittings, while much of the sewing happens in a network of small workshops. The speed is real. A simple shirt or pair of trousers can be done in about three hours, and a jacket in around five when a shop is pushed, but those times leave almost no margin for adjustments. Many experienced shops prefer to start with measurements, schedule a first fitting the next day and finish with a second fitting before pickup.

A few shops, usually larger and pricier, run their own workshop and fabric supply, so adjustments happen on the spot. Mid-range shops often give the best balance of price and quality, since they can afford to choose better workshops. Very cheap market shops compete almost entirely on price, and the garment tends to match it.

How many days do you need to get clothes made?

Plan for three days if you want a result you will actually wear. The first day is for choosing fabric, designs and measurements, the second for fittings and adjustments, and the third for pickup and a final check. A rush job is possible, but a suit or a fitted dress rewards the extra day.

Tailoring works best when it fits around other plans. Order in the morning, sightsee through the afternoon, and return in the evening for the first fitting.

How much does a Hoi An tailor charge?

Paying by card often adds a 3-5% fee, so cash can help save money on larger orders. International shipping is usually available and typically costs around 770,000-1,540,000 VND, but alterations after delivery can be difficult. Ask for the final price in writing before work begins.

Read more: Hoi An in October: The Ancient Town in the Rain

Step by Step: From choosing fabric to picking up your clothes

Step 1: Decide what you want and bring pictures

The most common disappointment comes from a vague idea explained with gestures. Bring photos or screenshots of the lapel, neckline, hem and silhouette you like, and a garment from home if you want a copy. A shop that can see exactly what you mean is far more likely to deliver it.

Step 2: Choose the fabric by touch

Handle the cloth before you commit, because drape, weight and breathability matter as much as colour. Silk should feel smooth and cool, linen should have a slightly dry texture, and wool should spring back when you squeeze it. For a suit, ask whether the lining is sewn or glued, since sewn lasts much longer.

Step 3: Take your measurements

A shirt can need more than a dozen measurements, and a suit needs more. A tailor who rushes this step for a complex garment, or who does not ask how you plan to wear it, may be cutting corners. If you do not feel listened to, you can simply walk out and try another shop.

Step 4: Try the clothes on and ask for changes

Fittings are where a good garment becomes a great one. Even good shops need one or two rounds, and a shop that says it does not need any is a warning sign. These habits help you get the most out of them.

• Check the shoulders: The seam should sit at the end of your shoulder, not slip down your arm.
• Move around: Sit, lift your arms and walk to make sure nothing binds.
• Look inside. Seams should be neat, and lining should lie flat.
• Point out everything: Small details such as button position or hem length are easy to fix now and hard later.
• Bring the right shoes and undergarments: They change how a hem and neckline fall.

Step 5: Final check, payment and pickup

Try everything on again before you pay the balance, and ask for any last fixes on the spot. Get a receipt that lists each item, the fabric, the agreed price and the date. If you leave town before the final fitting, ask the shop whether it will deliver to your hotel.

Which fabric should you choose?

For silk, a tiny burn test on a loose thread is a common check, since real silk smells like burnt hair while synthetics smell like plastic. Ask the shop’s permission before you test.

What is worth having made in Hoi An?

Pieces that rely on precise fit give the best value. A well-cut suit, a linen shirt that fits your shoulders and an ao dai made to your measurements are the three most popular orders. Simple trousers and linen sets are also easy to get right.

Skip very cheap versions of complicated garments. A structured suit needs fabric, interlining and hours of skilled work, so a rock-bottom price usually means shortcuts. Order fewer pieces than you first think, because more items mean more fittings to check and more to pack.

Hoi An tailor scams: What to watch out for

Most tailors are honest, but a few habits of the trade can cost you money or leave you with clothes you do not want. Knowing the patterns makes them easy to avoid.

Cheap group tours with forced shopping stops

Some low-priced group tours include shopping stops that are not really optional. Once inside, visitors can be led into an enclosed showroom for a sales presentation, where walking out without buying feels awkward and the visit turns into a tourist trap.

Tailor shops are a common example. One comparison of two similar suits found about 7.5 million VND in a shop in the busiest part of the Old Town against about 4.2 million VND at a shop just outside the main tourist area. That gap is a reminder to compare prices rather than buy from the first shop a tour recommends.

Before you book any tour, ask in writing whether it includes shopping stops and how long they last. Check the itinerary for words like “visit a silk workshop” or “meet a local tailor”, which can signal a sales stop. If you do end up in one, you can politely decline to be measured and leave when you wish.

Read more: 3 Days in Hoi An: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary

When drivers, hotels or guides are paid to send you to a tailor

Drivers, tuk-tuk operators and even some hotel staff may receive a commission for sending customers to a tailor, commonly reported between 10% and 25%. That cost has to come from somewhere, and it often shows up in your price. A recommendation is not automatically bad, but it is rarely neutral.

Choose a tailor yourself after checking independent information, such as recent Google Maps reviews. If a referral is the reason you walked in, do not mention your hotel until you have agreed on the price.

Street touts and “free gift” offers

People who approach you in the street claiming to work for a tailor are usually paid to bring you in. Free gifts, free drinks and “special price for you today” can make it hard to leave. A polite “I have already booked, thank you” is enough.

Changing prices and hidden fees

Confirm the price per item and the total in writing before work starts. Watch for card surcharges and for different menus shown on different days. A written receipt with fabric, price and delivery date protects you if anything changes.

Same-day orders and swapped fabrics

A same-day order for a complex garment leaves no room for fitting, and rushed garments are the ones people regret. Check that the fabric on your garment matches the sample you chose. If something feels wrong, say so at the fitting, when it is still easy to fix.

5 small Hoi An tailor shops worth comparing

Linh Tailor  

• 128/37 Nguyen Truong To · 5.0★ (228 reviews) · 08:45-21:00 · +84 796 779 993

A couple runs this small shop a few minutes outside the busiest part of town, and Linh gives honest advice instead of pushing extra pieces. Prices and fabrics are explained clearly, and her measurements stay on file, so extra shirts or trousers can be posted abroad later, including to Germany. A suit, shirts and linen shorts can be ordered at 1-2 p.m. on Day 1, fitted on the evening of Day 2 and ready by late morning on Day 3.

Emy Custom Tailor 

• 106 Tran Cao Van · 5.0★ (412 reviews) · 08:00-21:30 · +84 905 706 748

Emy takes measurements slowly and explains each fabric and option before cutting anything. A skirt that needs shortening and tightening is driven to the workshop and returned within a couple of hours. Cold water and ice cream appear on hot days, and she has even brought a birthday cake for a customer collecting clothes on her birthday. Suits, formal dresses and tops for three people can be finished within three days.

Milan Linen 

• 116 Tran Cao Van · 4.9★ (637 reviews) · 09:00-19:30, closed Sunday · +84 773 425 776

Milan specialises in linen, so the advice on weight, weave and drape is specific. The quickest route is to bring a garment from home to copy, choose a fabric and return 24-48 hours later, when little or no adjustment is usually needed. Hanh is known for neat hidden zips on slip dresses, and shorts, trousers and co-ord sets can be adapted from designs already on the shelf. The shop is closed on Sundays.

Win Tailor 

• 29 Nguyen Thai Hoc · 5.0★ (381 reviews) · 09:00-21:00 · +84 905 984 436

Win works well for dresses and shirts, with staff who help match fabric and cut to your measurements. An old favourite dress can be copied in a new material, and Tina answers questions after the sale, even in the evening. Allow at least three days if a garment needs two fittings, such as a formal dress or a suit.

Be Li Tailor 

• 635 Hai Ba Trung · 5.0★ (2,605 reviews) · 09:00-21:00 · +84 905 820 116

Be Li is a calm, air-conditioned shop where Thu designs wedding dresses with brides who arrive with only a rough idea, and the first fitting can come 48 hours after the first meeting. Hanh takes careful measurements and helps choose colours, and cold bottled water is always on hand. A tuxedo can be ordered, checked at the fitting and followed by a second one, and prices run below those of the larger names.

A 3-Day Plan: Fitting your tailor visits around sightseeing

Tailoring is easiest when it shares your days with other plans. The schedule below gives each fitting a natural slot, so waiting never feels wasted.

• Day 1, morning: Walk the Old Town, compare two or three shops and choose one. Place your order, confirm the price in writing and book a first fitting for the evening of Day 2.
• Day 1, afternoon: Use the gap for a heritage walk or a lunch of mi Quang or cao lau. Hoi An Travel’s Hoi An City Tour runs at 8:00 AM or 1:30 PM, visits assembly halls, Tan Ky House, the Covered Bridge and a craft workshop, from 920,000 VND. Ask when you enquire whether any shopping stop is included.
• Day 2: Spend the day in the countryside while the clothes are made. The Tra Que Farming & Lantern Making tour runs from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, from 790,000 VND, and the Bay Mau Basket Boat Tour takes 2-3 hours, flexible, from 480,000 VND. Return in the evening for your first fitting.
• Day 3: Do the second fitting in the morning, then collect your clothes after lunch. Finish with a bowl of chicken rice or a plate of white rose dumplings, and see our guide to Hoi An street food for the evening.

Quick tips before you choose a Hoi An tailor

A few habits make the whole process smoother. These work in any shop in town.

• Compare two or three shops first: Walk in, look at finished garments and notice how each shop measures.
• Order early in your trip: Leave time for two fittings and a surprise or two.
• Keep your references: Photos on your phone are enough, and they prevent most misunderstandings.
• Pay a deposit, not the full amount: Settle the balance only after you are happy.
• Get a written receipt: It should list each garment, fabric, price and date.
• Ask about delivery: Many shops will bring finished clothes to your hotel.

Getting clothes made by a Hoi An tailor is one of the few travel experiences that leaves you with something you will wear for years. The craft has been part of the town for about two centuries, and it still rewards visitors who bring clear pictures, allow three days and speak up at every fitting. Fit, fabric and honesty matter far more than the name above the door.

The traps are easy to avoid once you know them. Choose your tailor yourself, ask any tour whether it includes shopping stops, keep prices and receipts in writing and never feel pressured to buy. With that approach, a few hours of fittings between a bowl of noodles and a basket-boat ride become the part of the trip you remember when you put the clothes on at home.

FAQs

How long does it take to get clothes made in Hoi An? 

Simple shirts can be ready in a few hours, but three days is a realistic plan for a result you will want to wear. That time covers measurements, a first fitting and a second fitting if you need it. A suit or fitted dress deserves the extra day.

How much does a suit cost in Hoi An? 

Most visitors pay between about 2 and 5 million VND for a suit, depending on fabric and shop. Premium shops can charge much more for formal wear. Ask for the price in writing before the shop starts cutting.

How do I avoid tailor scams in Hoi An? 

Choose a shop yourself, check recent reviews and agree on the price in writing. Avoid street touts and be careful with cheap group tours that include shopping stops. If a driver or hotel recommends a tailor, compare it with at least one other shop first.

Do I need to tip? 

Tipping is appreciated but not expected. A small thank you for good service is more than enough. Do not feel obliged to tip to leave a shop.

Can I have clothes shipped home? 

Yes, many shops will ship internationally, often for around USD 30-60. Alterations after shipping are difficult, so make sure the fit is right before you pack. Some shops keep your measurements for future orders.