Shopping in Hoi An: Leather, Tailoring and Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home

Hoi An — The Shopping Paradise You Didn’t Expect

Hoi An is usually known as a peaceful ancient town with glowing paper lanterns, sun-drenched old streets, and centuries-old buildings. But here’s something most travelers don’t realize before arriving: Hoi An is one of Southeast Asia’s most valuable handcraft shopping destinations.

This isn’t about shopping mall chains or cheap imported goods. It’s shopping in the truest sense: skilled artisans creating products right before your eyes, tailored precisely to your measurements and preferences, with real value that justifies every dong you spend.

The Faifo Express driver team has brought thousands of international travelers to Hoi An over many years. This article pulls together everything we know — from direct experience and customer feedback — to help you have a genuinely worthwhile shopping trip.

Part 1: Handcrafted Leather — Reason #1 to Shop in Hoi An

If there’s one reason to shop in Hoi An, it’s handcrafted leather.

Hoi An has a leatherworking tradition dating back to the 16th-17th century trading port era, when merchants from around the world arrived with specialized requests for leather shoes, bags, and accessories. Over centuries, this skill was passed down through generations and developed into a complete craft village.

🥇 59A Shoe Shop — Most Trusted Leather Address in Hoi An

⭐ Faifo Express Recommended Partner — 59A Shoe Shop gives exclusive 20% discount on original prices for Faifo Express customers

After years of bringing guests to Hoi An’s leather district, 59A Shoe Shop at 121 Phan Chu Trinh is the address we most confidently recommend — and we’ve never received quality complaints from our customers.

59A Shoe Shop’s Specialties:

• Custom-made leather shoes: Oxfords, loafers, boots, mules — made from your own images
• Premium leather sandals: Natural leather straps, rubber or leather soles, long-lasting
• High-end leather bags: Totes, clutches, wallets — full-grain and genuine water buffalo leather
• No faux or PU leather: 100% natural cow and buffalo leather only

📍 59A Shoe Shop Hoi An 121 Phan Chu Trinh, Minh An Ward, Hoi An | ☎️ 0705 543 311 🎁 Exclusive Offer: Arrive by Faifo Express → 20% off original prices at the shop 🚗 Book pickup from Da Nang airport →

What Leather Goods Are Worth Buying in Hoi An

Most Worth It:

1. Custom leather shoes fitted to your feet — This is Hoi An’s absolute strength. At 320,000-700,000 VNĐ (~$13-28) per pair for completely handcrafted products that fit your feet perfectly, you won’t find this value anywhere else in the world.

2. Summer leather sandals — Perfect for tropical climate, lightweight and durable. 180,000-400,000 VNĐ (~$7-16).

3. Daily-use leather tote bags — Stitching that lasts, leather that improves over the years. 500,000-1,500,000 VNĐ (~$20-60) depending on size.

4. Slim leather wallets — Easy to bring home, doesn’t take much luggage space. 150,000-350,000 VNĐ (~$6-14).

Reference Price Guide for Hoi An Leather 2026:

[!TIP] Faifo Express tip: Visit 59A Shoe Shop on your first morning in Hoi An. Place your order, then explore all day. Come back the next day to pick up — no time wasted waiting.

Read more: Top 8 Best Leather Shops in Hoi An 2026 | How to Spot Real Leather vs Fakes in Hoi An

Part 2: Custom Tailoring — An Experience You Can’t Get Anywhere Else

If leather is reason #1, then custom tailoring is reason #1A to visit Hoi An.

Hoi An has over 400 tailor shops — a number large enough to show the scale of the “tailoring empire” here. But not every shop is trustworthy. Here’s what you need to know for a successful tailoring experience.

Understanding the Pricing Structure

Tailoring in Hoi An is typically calculated in two parts:

• Tailoring fee (labor): 200,000 – 3,000,000 VNĐ depending on garment type
• Fabric cost: highly variable depending on material

Many shops advertise suspiciously cheap tailoring fees to attract customers, then mark up fabric prices. Always ask for the total final price before agreeing to anything.

Hoi An Custom Tailoring Price Guide 2026 (Reference)

Trusted Tailoring Shops in Hoi An

Yaly Couture — International standards, English-speaking staff, transparent process. Good for customers who want no haggling and quality assurance. Pricing is 20-30% above average market rate.

Bebe Tailor — Owner with 30+ years experience, can estimate your size just by looking. Good prices, genuine attitude. Doesn’t take too many orders at once — arrive early.

Kimmy Fashion — Specializes in modern dresses and skirts from photos. Diverse fabric selection, fast turnaround.

[!TIP] Important tip: Go to the tailor shop first thing in the morning your first day in Hoi An (8am-10am). Place your order, then explore the old town. Return the next afternoon to try on. Avoid arriving after 4pm when tailors have filled their daily quota.

Which Fabrics Are Worth Buying?

• Hoi An silk cocoon: Premium option, soft and luxurious. 200,000-500,000 VNĐ (~$8-20) per meter
• Linen fabric: Breathable, perfect for tropical climate. 80,000-200,000 VNĐ (~$3-8) per meter
• High-quality cotton: Durable, easy to wash, reasonably priced. 50,000-150,000 VNĐ (~$2-6) per meter

[!WARNING] Alert: Some shops claim “real silk” but sell polyester. Simple test: pull a small thread and burn it — real silk burns slowly with a hair-like smell; polyester burns quickly with a chemical smell.

Part 3: Best Souvenirs to Buy in Hoi An

Hoi An has countless souvenirs — but not everything is worth your precious luggage space. Here are the genuinely worthwhile items:

Hoi An Paper Lanterns

The unmissable symbol. Hoi An lanterns are handmade from silk or thin fabric with bamboo frames. Prices range from 30,000-200,000 VNĐ (~$1-8) depending on size.

Best place to buy: Nguyen Thai Hoc Street area and alleys within the old town. Avoid tourist attractions where prices are typically 30-50% higher.

Packing note: Large lanterns can get squashed in luggage. Ask the shop for careful packing or carry by hand.

Lacquerware Paintings

Hoi An’s lacquerware tradition is famous for multi-layered technique, deep colors, and durability. Small paintings from 100,000-500,000 VNĐ ($4-20); large paintings from 500,000-5,000,000 VNĐ ($20-200) depending on size and quality.

Where to buy: Small galleries on Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets. Look carefully at the surface — real lacquer has distinctive depth and shine; printed versions look flat and glossy.

Thanh Ha Pottery

Thanh Ha pottery village is about 3km from the old town. You can watch potters at work and buy directly at source prices. Handmade bowls, plates, and vases from 30,000-300,000 VNĐ (~$1-12).

Note: Ceramics break easily — request careful packaging. Faifo Express can take you to Thanh Ha as a stop on your journey.

Local Food Specialties

Small, easy to carry, and genuinely appreciated gifts:

• Dried Quang noodles — cook at home, 20,000-50,000 VNĐ (~$1-2) per package
• Hoi An mung bean cake — beautiful packaging, tasty, lasts a few weeks
• Hoi An fish sauce — pack carefully, tends to leak
• Locally roasted coffee — buy from roasters on-site, not supermarkets

Hoi An Silk Fabric

If you’re not getting custom tailoring, you can still buy fabric to tailor at home. Silk shops concentrate on Tran Phu Street with numerous colors and materials.

Part 4: Optimal 2-Day Shopping Itinerary

This is the itinerary the Faifo Express team recommends based on real experience with thousands of travelers:

Day 1 — Place Orders & Explore

Day 2 — Pick Up & Finalize

[!TIP] Faifo tip: With only 1 day in Hoi An, order everything first thing in the morning (8am-10am). Some shops can deliver in 8-12 hours with an expedite fee. Ask before placing your order.

Part 5: Getting from Da Nang to Hoi An for Shopping

Hoi An is about 30km from Da Nang airport — a 35-45 minute journey. This is an important trip to plan well, especially if you need to return to try items on multiple times.

Transportation Options Compared

Faifo Express — Optimal Choice for Shopping Trip

With Faifo Express full-day tour rental service, you get a dedicated vehicle all day to:

• Go directly to 59A Shoe Shop and place orders early
• Visit multiple tailor shops to compare and choose
• Return to try items on in the afternoon without extra transport costs
• Visit Thanh Ha pottery village — a place regular taxis often refuse to go
• Carry heavy purchases comfortably — no stress like with Grab

And when you arrive by Faifo Express, 59A Shoe Shop gives you exclusive 20% discount on original prices — real savings if you’re buying multiple items.

🚗 Book full-day tour rental Da Nang–Hoi An → ✈️ Da Nang Airport Pickup Service → 💰 View pricing →

Final Tips Before Shopping in Hoi An

About Cash

Most leather shops and tailors in Hoi An still prefer cash. Some accept cards but may add 2-3% fee. Withdraw money in Da Nang or at ATMs in Hoi An’s old town.

About Timing

Hoi An opens very early — many shops open at 8am. Morning is the optimal time to place orders because tailors have the most energy and can often complete items the same day.

About Luggage

If you’re buying a lot, plan your luggage carefully. Leather shoes and bags can be quite heavy — pack them carefully and distribute evenly. Some shops provide shoe boxes free — ask beforehand.

About Quality

Read How to Spot Real Leather vs Fakes in Hoi An before you buy to avoid being fooled by synthetic leather.

Related Services & Routes

Faifo Express provides complete pickup, dropoff, and rental services across Da Nang–Hoi An–Hue:

• 🚗 Da Nang Airport Pickup & Dropoff →
• 🎒 Full-Day Tour Rental →
• 🛣️ Da Nang–Hoi An Route →
• 💰 2026 Pricing →

💡 Faifo Express Recommendation: Planning 2 full days in Hoi An is ideal for a complete shopping trip. Book Faifo Express for comfortable travel between shops — and don’t miss 59A Shoe Shop (121 Phan Chu Trinh) to claim your exclusive 20% discount on original prices. ☎️ 0705 543 311