Custom Tailoring in Hoi An, Vietnam - Have You Done It?

[+ MysticMenace]

If you have, what tips and recommendations do you have about how to navigate, negotiate, and get the best experience and value out of your money?

[marylander1940]

1 hour ago, MysticMenace said:

If you have, what tips and recommendations do you have about how to navigate, negotiate, and get the best experience and value out of your money?

Link? 

[mike carey]

Custom tailoring costs vary, and for obvious reasons are cheaper in low-wage countries. South East Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Hong Kong are often cited as the places to have clothes custom made. Local knowledge is often the key to it. Old Hong Kong hands (as they were called) would have a favourite tailor, but there, and elsewhere an occasional visitor can find a suitable tailor at a reasonable price.

Much of the art of that sort of deal is transferable between cities, and Hội An and other cities in Việt Nam will be much the same as anywhere else in the world where prices are negotiable, so as with anywhere, finding locals there who you trust or people who have visited will help you navigate the exercise. If the tailor is the real aim, rather than one in Hội An specifically, asking for general advice or advice specific to other cities may be the way to go. I know there are forum members who visit Asia frequently or live there, and they may be able to offer general advice or advice about the cities they are familiar with. I know that when we had an air base there, the Australian air force people had at least one favourite tailor in Penang (no longer in operation fwiw).

Yesterday during the radio cricket commentary from Sydney, one of the BBC commentators told of having had a shirt custom made by a tailor in Pakistan when he was there to cover a tour for the BBC. He told us that when he put it in the washing machine all the buttons had come off. I'm sure that is a hazard from the past, but you never know.

Good luck finding information, and if you find your tailor in Hội An, please share the information with us!!