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Central Vietnam shopping
Though hundreds of miles from the retail nirvanas of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, shopping opportunities abound in central Vietnam, especially for handicrafts, silk lanterns, and made-to-order clothing. The old trading port of Hoi An has Vietnam's greatest concentration of bespoke tailors. Hue and Nha Trang stock the usual lacquerware and home items, but there are also tiny shops selling antique textiles and fine art photographs. Haggling is expected at most small stores; it's best to go before noon and ask for a "morning price" discount (many shopkeepers believe an early sale brings good luck for the rest of the business day).
Busy Hung Vuong Street, south of the Perfume River, has a number of souvenir shops selling clothing, silken paintings, and "poem hats,'' conical Hue headgear...more
Dozens of stores in Hoi An sell handmade Vietnamese-style silken lanterns, but Mrs. Cuc Chuong's small shop is the best. She fashions strips of bamboo, fabric,...more
In a nation known for its needlework, no place counts more talented tailors per yard of fabric than Hoi An. Hundreds of small shops will stitch up made-to-order...more
Cheesy galleries of schlock art clog tourist-oriented Hoi An. This small shop on busy Le Loi Street isn't immune to the genre, but you can also find hidden gems...more
A group of physically challenged artisans developed this Hoi An store in 2000 to train handicapped youths and to market a wide range of crafts at fair-trade...more
Hoi An is well known for the quick turnaround of its talented tailors; this store offers the same speedy service for custom jewelry. Fancy a Tiffany-style...more
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