Shopping in Vietnam
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A Dong Silk
Hoi An is bustling with tailors; get something made up to order here.
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Spa Tropic
Spa Tropic is a good place to spoil yourself with a top-notch 'proper' massage. This Zen-like beauty spa offers an array of aromatherapy facial treatments, body treatments and therapeutic massage, from Swedish and deep-tissue to shiatsu. Call ahead for reservations.
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Lotus Jewellery
If you’re interested in jewellery beyond the bits and bobs sold in souvenir shops, try Lotus Jewellery, which has very affordable and attractive pieces from all over Asia.
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Hieu Phuc Loi
Local watercolour artists all have their own stamp with which they sign their works. Such elegantly designed, personalised stamps can be purchased at cluttered little shops such as this one for around ₫35 or more. The designs are hand-carved on wood blocks, and you'll get a red-ink stamp pad along with your purchase. Stick around to watch 'em make yours.
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Reaching Out
Reaching Out is a very worthwhile fair-trade gift shop started by a Vietnamese couple, one of whom is disabled. The shop employs disabled artisans, and proceeds are ploughed back into the business to train and employ the disabled all over Vietnam.
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Song
A central boutique that specialises in sophisticated linens and cottons for men and women.
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Phu Quoc Pearls
On an isolated stretch of Long Beach, Phu Quoc Pearls is a requisite stop if you’re in the market for pearls. A small shop sells pearl necklaces and earrings, and wall panels describe (in English) how the oysters yield their bounty. There’s a small cafe on site. Avid pearl hunters can find cheaper wares at kiosks in the village of Ham Ninh, but at least you have a guarantee of authenticity here.
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Hoi An Cloth Market
Pop into the Hoi An Cloth Market for a selection of local fabrics.
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Diamond Plaza
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the sleek, high-end Diamond Plaza. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
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Life Photo Gallery
Finely printed enlargements of Do Anh Tuan's documentary photography cover the walls of this small shop. Do has been capturing reflective and provocative images, mostly in B&W, since 1971. A 5x7-inch print (US$12) makes a nice gift or keepsake.
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Saigon Centre
If you're pressed for time, several shopping centres are great one-stop destinations, including the shiny, modern Saigon Centre It's a great place to browse for electronics, clothing and handicrafts.
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Old Propaganda Poster
For communist-propaganda art posters there are several good places on Hang Bac in the Old Quarter, including Old Propaganda Poster.
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Fahasa Bookshop
Government-run bookshop with dictionaries, maps and general books in English and French. They have another branch at 40 ÐL Nguyen Hue
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Han Market
Han Market is a fine place for a casual stroll or to shop in the evenings.
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Yaly
Hoi An is bustling with tailors; get something made up to order here.
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Fivimart
One of the best-stocked supermarkets in the centre of town.
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Art Galleries
The presence of numerous tourists has turned the fake-antique business into a major growth industry for Hoi An. Theoretically you could find something here that is really old, but it's hard to believe that all the genuine stuff wasn't scooped up long ago. Proceed with scepticism. On the other hand, there is some really elegant artwork around, even if it was turned out only yesterday.
Paintings are generally of the mass-produced kind, but are still hand-painted; for a few US dollars you can't complain. A row of Art Galleries, inside the gorgeous old buildings just across from the Japanese Covered Bridge, are great to browse through.
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Old Market
Despite the name, the Old Market is not the place to find antiques, although it is quite old. This is the place to buy imported food, wine, shaving cream, shampoo and so on. However, if its Vietnamese name, Cho Cu, is written or pronounced without the correct tones it means ‘penis’; your cyclo driver will no doubt be much amused if you ask for this. Perhaps directions are a better bet – the Old Market can be found on the north side of Ð Ham Nghi between Ð Ton That Dam and Ð Ho Tung Mau.
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Ben Thanh Market
The most central of all markets is Ben Thanh Market. The market and surrounding streets make up one of the city’s liveliest areas. Everything that’s commonly eaten, worn or used by the Saigonese is available here: vegetables, meats, spices, sweets, tobacco, clothing, hardware and so forth. There’s also a healthy selection of souvenir items. However, you will need to bargain efficiently here, as prices are usually higher than elsewhere.
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My Tho Central Market
This market is in an area of town that is closed to traffic. The streets are filled with stalls selling everything from fresh food and bulk tobacco to boat propellers. In an attempt to clear these streets, the local government has built a three-storey concrete monstrosity on the riverside, intending to relocate vendors inside. With the high rent and taxes, however, most sellers prefer to take their chances on the street.
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Tax Department Store
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the inspiringly named (and cheap) Tax Department Store. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
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Cocoon
The contemporary designs in this smart and charming little shop are quite striking. Silk garments for women are the mainstay, and these typically update traditional Vietnamese motifs. Many of the pant-and-shirt ensembles feature jazzed-up patterns and florid colours and convey the fluid beauty of the ao dai (Vietnamese national dress) without the formality. Original jewellery is also sold here for very little money.
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Ha Gallery
In this busy atelier, half a dozen painters crouch before easels and knock out reproductions of classic paintings such as the Mona Lisa and Edward Hopper's Nighthawks. The quality of the works varies and would never be mistaken for the originals - but, let's face it, you can't afford the originals (these copies cost from US$40). You can also commission portraits of yourself, your sweetheart or your dog.
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Song
Valerie Gregori McKenzie's original designs have garnered her a strong following, and many traveling clothes hounds deliberately seek out her shop. McKenzie's company uses traditional Asian textile techniques, and avoids sweatshop environs by contracting with independent Vietnamese women, who do much of the actual stitchwork. The clothing is casual, comfortable and stylish, generally using subtle, earthy colour schemes.
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Nguyen Frères
Finely selected antiques, quality reproductions and stylish silks are attractively displayed in this beautiful two-storey shop, which projects a sophisticated and appealing hybrid of Asian and European aesthetics. Cool Deco lamps, groovy print scarves, old Buddhas, French Catholic statuettes and H'mong textiles are just some of the items sold here. The shopkeepers will offer you hot tea, to induce you to linger awhile.
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