Contents
TL;DR
- Hoi An is Vietnam’s custom tailoring capital, home to roughly 350 tailor shops that can turn around a suit, dress, or linen set in 24 to 48 hours, generally for 780,000 VND to 3,120,000 VND ($30 to $120 USD) depending on fabric and complexity.
- Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the country’s streetwear and vintage hub, with curated thrift boutiques clustered around Hàng Buồm and Đào Duy Từ streets and a wholesale market, Dong Xuan, that has operated since 1889.
- Vietnam manufactures apparel for brands including Nike, Uniqlo, Zara, and The North Face, which has fed a cluster of factory-outlet and export-surplus shops on Hanoi’s Hang Gai and Hang Bong streets selling brand-name basics well below retail, though stock and authenticity vary by shop.
- Mad Monkey Hoi An and Mad Monkey Hanoi sit within walking distance of all three scenes, making Vietnam clothes haul a realistic add-on to a standard north-to-south route.
Why Vietnam Is Where Backpackers Build Their Wardrobe
Vietnam earned its reputation the practical way: a textile and tailoring lineage that runs back centuries, when Hoi An operated as a trading port for Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese merchants, and a modern Hanoi thrift economy that has grown around imported secondhand clothing from Korea and Japan. The two cities cover very different territory. Hoi An is where you commission something that fits exactly the way you want it to. Hanoi is where you dig for something nobody else will own. A Mad Monkey Vietnam route through both gives a traveler access to each side of that equation.
Where to Get Custom Tailoring in Hoi An
Mad Monkey Hoi An, located at 250 Cửa Đại in Cẩm Châu, makes a convenient base for a tailoring run into central Hoi An. Most established tailors cluster around the Old Town, so take a roughly 10–15-minute Grab, taxi, or motorbike ride from the hostel and start comparing fabrics, cuts, and prices.
Hoi An has roughly 350 tailor shops and fabric outlets packed into a compact Old Town, a density that TIME Magazine has called one of the fastest and most affordable custom clothing scenes anywhere. The gap between the best and worst of them is real, so it pays to know a few names before wandering in:
A Dong Silk
Operating in central Hoi An since 1998, A Dong Silk is known for tailored suits, shirts, dresses, and wedding attire. The shop takes a relatively structured approach to fittings, with measurements typically taking around 10 minutes before the tailor discusses fabric, cut, and styling. Orders can often be completed within two days, making it a practical option for travelers working with a shorter Hoi An stay. For a backpacker wardrobe, look at tailored shirts, linen trousers, lightweight dresses, and simple two-piece sets.
Location: 62 Trần Hưng Đạo, Hội An, Đà Nẵng 563800, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 989 515 650 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Yaly Couture
Yaly Couture is one of Hoi An’s larger tailoring names, with multiple locations and a broad selection of fabrics. It is better suited to travelers looking for more involved pieces where cut and construction matter, including structured suits, formal dresses, coats, and weddingwear. Expect a more detailed consultation and multiple fittings for complicated garments. If you’re ordering something you plan to wear for years rather than just taking home as a travel souvenir, this is the kind of tailor where spending more time on the fitting can pay off.
Location: 47 Trần Phú, Old Town, Hội An, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 948 445 443 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Bebe Tailor
Bebe Tailor is a family-run business with three locations around Hoi An and a large selection of fabrics and styles. Its established presence makes it a convenient option for travelers who want to walk in, browse fabrics, and start an order without spending hours comparing smaller workshops. The shop handles suits, dresses, shirts, trousers, and casual pieces, so it works well for travelers building a few different items into one order. If you’re on a tight schedule, confirm the fitting and collection times before leaving a deposit.
Location: 05-07 Hoàng Diệu, Hội An, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 235 2212 670 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Blue Chic
Blue Chic stands out as a useful option for travelers who want to move beyond the standard suit-and-dress tailoring menu. The shop works across custom clothing styles and can make everyday pieces as well as more polished outfits. If you already have a specific look in mind, bring a reference photo and use the consultation to talk through the cut, fabric, and fit rather than choosing from a preset design.
Location: 13 Nguyễn Thái Học, Old Town, Hội An, Đà Nẵng 560000, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 905 677 444 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Local Insight: Don’t let a fast turnaround rush you into a deposit. Ask what the fabric is made from, check the sample, and compare it with other options. If a shop promises a full bespoke suit in 12 hours or claims a $200 suit uses premium heritage wool, take a closer look before you commit.
How Much Does Custom Tailoring Cost in Hoi An
Budget for three rough tiers, all before the standard 30 to 50 percent deposit most reputable shops request upfront:
- 390,000 VND to 780,000 VND ($15 to $30 USD) for simple casual pieces from budget shops, usually with no more than one fitting.
- 780,000 VND to 1,830,000 VND ($30 to $70 USD) for nicer fabric and structured tailoring across multiple fittings.
- 1,830,000 VND to 3,130,000 VND ($70 to $120 USD or more) for premium pieces from larger, more established tailoring houses.
Most shops recommend two to three fittings across three to five days for anything structured, so booking a tailoring session early in a Hoi An stay leaves room for adjustments before checkout.
Where to Find Vintage and Streetwear Near Mad Monkey Hanoi
Mad Monkey Hanoi sits at 11 Mã Mây, in the Hàng Buồm ward of the Old Quarter, a five-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake and close enough to Đào Duy Từ street, where Twenty Seven Klub, a curated vintage store specializing in heritage motorcycle jackets and other archival pieces, is also located.
Hanoi’s secondhand scene runs on a different logic than Hoi An’s tailoring trade: it is built on imported bales from Korea and Japan, resold through curated boutiques and sprawling flea markets alike. A short list worth knowing:
Chăn Con Công
Chăn Con Công brings together vintage clothing from the US, Japan, Korea, and Europe with remade pieces from young Vietnamese designers. The Old Quarter boutique suits shoppers who want something more distinctive than standard market finds, with a mix that can include vintage shirts, jackets, denim, and statement pieces. It is a good first stop if you want to browse curated racks before heading into Hanoi’s more bargain-focused markets.
Location: 137 P. Đào Duy Từ, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 983 650 745 | Facebook
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
The 27 Klub
The 27 Klub sits on Đào Duy Từ Street in Hàng Buồm and leans heavily into heritage vintage. Its selection includes pieces such as motorcycle jackets and other older styles with a more rugged edge. This is the kind of shop to visit when you’re looking for a standout outer layer rather than a basic travel wardrobe. Take your time checking condition, especially on older leather and denim pieces.
Location: 34 P. Đào Duy Từ, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 389 930 209 | Instagram
Operation Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Leninn
Leninn takes a more contemporary route, with a skate-inspired aesthetic and clothing geared toward streetwear rather than traditional vintage. The brand has two Hanoi locations and carries pieces suited to travelers looking for relaxed fits, graphic designs, and skate-influenced staples. It works well as a counterpoint to Hanoi’s vintage boutiques if your haul needs a few newer pieces alongside secondhand finds.
Location: 340A P. Ấu Triệu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 936 076 009 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Lonely Stonie
Founded by local musician Wxrdie, Lonely Stonie taps into Hanoi’s hip-hop and youth-fashion scene. The label carries graphic T-shirts, jerseys, sunglasses, and other streetwear pieces with a distinctly contemporary feel. It is worth adding to a Hanoi shopping route if you want something connected to the city’s current music and fashion subculture rather than another vintage find.
Location: 322 P. Mai Anh Tuấn, Ô Chợ Dừa, Hà Nội, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 365 001 420 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Elise
Elise is a Hanoi-based womenswear brand with a polished, feminine direction, making it a good counterpoint to the city’s vintage and streetwear shops. Its collections cover dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers, tailored pieces, and occasionwear, with clean silhouettes that work for dinner, drinks, or a smarter city look. For travelers who want to add a few elevated pieces to a casual backpacker wardrobe, Elise offers a refined option without feeling overly formal.
Location: 28 Hoàng Quốc Việt, Tổ 17, Nghĩa Đô, Hà Nội 11300, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 24 3204 0037 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:30 AM – 9:30 PM
D.CHIC
D.CHIC is a Hanoi womenswear brand with a polished, contemporary look, making it a good alternative to the city’s vintage and streetwear-heavy shops. The label focuses on feminine silhouettes, with dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers, and coordinated pieces that work for both everyday wear and more dressed-up occasions. Its collections lean more refined than casual, so it suits travelers looking to add a few sharper pieces to a backpacker wardrobe without going fully formal.
For a Vietnam clothes shopping route, D.CHIC works well as a contrast to Hanoi’s thrift and vintage boutiques. Browse it when you want something new, structured, and easy to wear for dinner, drinks, or a night out.
Location: 141 P. Thái Hà, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam – MAP
Contact: +84 24 3206 0660 | Website
Operation Hours: Daily, 8:15 AM – 10:30 PM
Local Insight: Chợ Đông Tác, roughly a ten-minute drive south of the Old Quarter, is one of the country’s larger secondhand clothing markets, built from imported bales rather than curated racks. Expect to pay somewhere around 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND ($4 to $8 USD) for a T-shirt or jacket before bargaining, and inspect stitching and fabric closely since quality varies stall to stall.
What to Buy at Hanoi’s Weekend Night Market and Dong Xuan Market
The Hanoi Weekend Night Market runs Friday through Sunday evenings, roughly 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, stretching from Hang Dao Street to Dong Xuan Market as the Old Quarter’s streets close to traffic. Expect a mix of printed T-shirts, accessories, and the occasional streetwear stall, more useful for cheap finds and gifts than for anything curated.
Dong Xuan Market itself has operated since 1889 and remains Hanoi’s largest wholesale market, a three-story building where the ground floor deals mostly in clothes, shoes, and accessories, and the upper floors move into fabric and traditional textiles. It runs as a trading hub for local buyers by day and opens to browsing tourists in the evening.
Location: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi 100000, Vietnam – MAP
Hang Gai street, sometimes called Silk Street, runs a separate track entirely: a 300-meter stretch of silk boutiques and tailors that predates the Old Quarter’s modern streetwear scene by generations, worth a stop for anyone who wants a made-to-measure áo dài or silk piece to bookend a Hanoi haul.
Location: Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam – MAP
Where to Buy Cheap New Clothes and Brand-Name Basics in Hanoi
Vietnam manufactures apparel for Nike, Adidas, Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, The North Face, Patagonia, and other global brands travelers will recognize. That manufacturing base has also created a retail niche for export-surplus, factory-second, and overrun clothing sold below standard retail prices. It sits somewhere between conventional shopping and thrifting, with Hanoi’s Old Quarter becoming a popular stop for travelers hunting for affordable brand-name basics.
Where to look:
- Hàng Gai Street: A busy Old Quarter shopping street with clothing and textile stores, including shops selling export-style goods.
- Hàng Bông Street: Another central shopping street where you’ll find inexpensive clothing and stores advertising “Made in Vietnam” goods.
- Made in Vietnam: A local retail chain selling casualwear, basics, and clothing associated with Vietnam’s export manufacturing industry.
- 2M: Another Vietnamese chain specializing in casual clothing, basics, and export-oriented apparel.
Locally, this type of stock is sometimes called VNXK, short for Vietnam xuất khẩu, or Vietnam export goods. The label can refer to clothing associated with Vietnam’s export manufacturing sector, but it doesn’t automatically prove that an item came directly from an international brand’s factory or failed to ship to its intended market.
Local Insight: Don’t take “factory” or “export” at face value. Flip the garment inside out, check the stitching, read the fabric and care labels, and inspect the tags before you pay. If a big-name logo comes with a suspiciously low price, examine the piece closely before adding it to your haul.
Prefer official retail? Head to Vincom Center, Lotte Center Hanoi, or Trang Tien Plaza for international brands in standard retail stores. Just compare prices before you buy. Zara, H&M, and similar labels can cost the same as or more than they do at home, depending on local pricing and taxes. Uniqlo has a significant production presence in Vietnam and a broad domestic retail network, so it can offer more competitive pricing on some pieces.
Hoi An vs Hanoi: What to Buy Where
| What you want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A tailored suit, dress, or wedding outfit | Hoi An | Centuries of tailoring infrastructure and same-week turnaround |
| Archival streetwear and heritage vintage | Hanoi Old Quarter boutiques | Curated stock from Korean and Japanese import bales |
| Cheap bulk secondhand | Chợ Đông Tác or Dong Xuan Market | Volume over curation, best for bargain hunters |
| Brand-name basics at a discount | Hang Gai and Hang Bong streets, or Made in Vietnam and 2M stores | Export-surplus stock from Vietnam’s own manufacturing base |
| Silk pieces and áo dài | Hang Gai Street, Hanoi, or Old Town tailors in Hoi An | Both cities have deep silk trade histories |
Building a Vietnam Clothes Haul Into a Route
A Hanoi-to-Hoi An route gives your Vietnam clothes shopping haul plenty of range. Start in Hanoi for vintage, streetwear, bargain finds, and pieces you can wear straight away, then leave the heavier tailoring orders for Hoi An once you’re closer to the end of the trip. Mad Monkey Hanoi and Mad Monkey Hoi An make convenient bases for both stops, so you can spend less time figuring out where to leave the bags and more time deciding what actually deserves a place in yours. Just leave some room. Your backpack may come home with a very different wardrobe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoi An has roughly 350 tailor shops and fabric supply outlets, a legacy of its history as a Southeast Asian trading port from the 16th century onward.
Most shops complete simple garments within 24 to 48 hours, though true bespoke work with multiple fittings takes at least three to five days.
Yes. Hanoi’s Old Quarter has a cluster of curated vintage boutiques, particularly around Hàng Buồm and Đào Duy Từ streets, alongside larger secondhand markets like Chợ Đông Tác for bulk bargain shopping.
Staying in the Hàng Buồm ward, where Mad Monkey Hanoi is located, puts travelers within walking distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Hanoi Weekend Night Market, and several of the Old Quarter’s curated vintage boutiques.
Most reputable shops ask for a 30 to 50 percent deposit upfront before starting work, with the balance due on collection or after final fitting.
They are stores, concentrated on Hang Gai and Hang Bong streets and in chains like Made in Vietnam and 2M, that sell export-surplus and factory-seconds apparel originally produced for international brands. Quality and authenticity vary by shop, so items are worth inspecting closely before buying.
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