The Best Tailors in Hoi An for Making Custom Clothing

The Custom-Made City in Vietnam

In Hoi An, with over 200 tailor shops, it is a paradise for fashion victims or tourists wanting to indulge and have a garment tailor-made at a price that is unbeatable and much cheaper than back home. You can have almost anything made, even copies of major brands (oops, wasn’t supposed to say that).

Tailoring in Hoi An has a long history that dates back to the Silk Road. It has been over 20 years since tourists began to discover the stunning landscapes of Vietnam. Alongside the growth of tourism, custom tailoring has also developed. You can find tailor shops on every street corner of this ancient city, and most of Hoi An’s tailors earn their living by making shirts and suits.

Tailor or subcontractor?

Among the many shops, the vast majority subcontract and have their garments made by the same manufacturers, also called makers in Hoi An. Most also source their fabrics from the same vendors.

Most shops are there just to take your measurements and pass them on to the workshops. Just wander the small alleys of Old Town Hoi An to stumble upon one of the clothing manufacturing workshops.

The reason is simple: it would be too costly to have a dedicated seamstress for each shop.

You will be disappointed if you thought it was the little grandma who makes the clothes in the back of the shop, even though this does exist, albeit rarely among the 200+ shops.

Market shops vs. mid-range vs. high-end

There is very little difference among all the shops in the city’s clothing market. If you choose those, only the price will differ, and you will need to negotiate hard especially since with 5 million tourists in Hoi An each year, the sellers won’t make any effort to retain you.

TikTokers often go there to make a video “I got a tailor-made garment for 15 €”. However, they don’t make a video about the lifespan of the garment… Probably less marketable.

Mid-range tailors can afford to choose better workshops and this is often the best value for money.

Quality follows the price curve, and if you negotiate too much, you’ll get a garment at the negotiated price.

There are only a handful of shops that have their own seamstress and their own fabric supply. They are more expensive, but the quality is much better. It’s up to you to decide if you want a more expensive but durable garment, or a cheaply priced garment of far lesser quality.

Of course, paying a high price doesn’t guarantee a quality product, you also need to check certain points.

How many days does it take to have a custom garment made in Hoi An?

The tailoring time depends on the garment.

• For suits and dresses, it takes about 24 hours to make one.
• For simple garments, tailors can make them in half a day.

You should allow enough time for fittings and adjustments. Having the advantage of living in Hoi An, I get my custom clothes made outside of the high season, which means the service is ultra-fast.

Step-by-step guide to having a custom garment made

1. Choose the type and model

The first step is to choose the model and type of clothing you desire. Most shops have catalogs or, for the more modern ones, an iPad with thousands of photos where you can choose THE DREAM GARMENT: a suit, a shirt, a dress, etc. You saw a star with a gorgeous dress, Princess Leia’s bikini in Star Wars, or a suit. Bingo, you can have it made. Everything is possible in Hoi An, even the most extravagant outfits.

Let your imagination run wild.

2. Choose your fabric

After choosing the perfect model, it’s time to pick the fabric. There are hundreds to choose from in all colors. From linen to silk, through leather or cotton, printed or plain, you will be spoiled for choice. Among the Vietnamese, the most popular is the banana print… that’s another story, anyway. I’ve noticed in most shops, except the big tailors, that the linen was inferior to what you find in France.

3. Take your measurements

After these first two steps, it’s time for measurements. For example, for a shirt, there may be 15 to 20 measurements ranging from the collar to the cuffs, shoulders, etc. It’s not always obvious how many measurements are needed for a simple shirt.

Some shops keep your measurements, allowing you to order custom clothes from your country.

4. Fitting, adjustments, and alterations

As with any custom-made garment, adjustments and alterations are often necessary, especially for more sophisticated outfits like suits and dresses.

In my case, it was under the arms and the sleeves where the fabric was a bit too loose. The shop noted the issue and sent my shirt back to the workshop. Unlike big tailors like Bébé Tailors or Yaly, who do it on-site.

5. Collect your garment

If you don’t have time to go to the shop to pick up your garment, the shop will come to you to deliver your final garment (hotels or homestays, and some even travel to Da Nang). This is what I call five-star service.

Not all shops do this, especially if you choose a low-end tailor where you will need to go to the shop.

My recommendations for tailors in Hoi An

Bebe Tailor

Bebe Tailors is one of the best tailors in Hoi An. Although they have only been around for 10 years, the once small shop has grown into a business with three stores (no less).

Known not only for its high-quality work and unique style, but also for its transparency between the customer and the business. In their flagship store, you can see what happens behind the scenes, which for me, is a guarantee of quality. If you wish, you can take a tour of their on-site factory. They do charity work as part of their initiative.

Address: 05-07 Hoang Dieu, Cam Chau, Hoi An
Opening hours: 8am – 8pm
Website: https://bebetailor.com/

Kimmy Tailor

Kimmy Tailor is the oldest tailor shop on this list, open since the 1970s. This shop passes down its unique skills and secrets of custom tailoring from generation to generation.

It is now owned by a Vietnamese-Canadian couple, which sets it apart with their international experience, combined with the colorful craftsmanship of the Vietnamese.

Address: 70 Tran Hung Dao – Hoi An
Opening hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm
Website: https://www.kimmytailor.com/

Bibi Silk

Bibi Silk is a small independent store listed on Rough Guide and TripAdvisor, with many years of experience in making clothes for foreigners.

This is the one I choose for my custom-made clothes.

High quality at a good price compared to high-end stores. No connection with hotels, travel agencies, etc.

Adress : 58A Phan Chu Trinh – Hoi An
Opening hours: 8:30am – 9pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/bibi.silk