Hoi An has been a trading port for four hundred years, and cloth was one of the things it traded. Today the old town has hundreds of tailor shops, and the quality runs from excellent to awful on the same street. I've taken guests to fittings here for a decade. This is how I'd do it if I were trading the London session the same week.
How long does a Hoi An tailor need to make a suit?
A good tailor needs about three days for a suit: measurements and fabric on day one, a first fitting the next morning, and a final fitting on day three. Shirts take 24 to 48 hours. Shops that promise a suit overnight usually skip the fittings that make it fit.
Three fittings is the number that matters. The first checks the basic cut, the second fixes the shoulders and sleeves, the third is for small changes and finishing. If you only have two days in Hoi An, order shirts and trousers and leave the suit for a longer stay.
How do I fit tailoring around my trading sessions?
Book every fitting before 13:00. In Vietnam time London opens at 15:00 and New York at 20:00 in winter, so mornings in the old town are yours, and the shops are cooler and quieter then too.
| Day | Morning (tailor) | Afternoon and evening (desk) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Choose shop and fabric, full measurements (about 60 min) | London 15:00, New York 20:00 |
| Day 2 | First fitting (30–45 min), adjust shoulders, length, waist | Trade as normal |
| Day 3 | Final fitting, collect or arrange shipping | Trade as normal |
| Day 4 (spare) | Extra fitting if anything is off | Light day or travel |
If you stay in Da Nang, Hoi An is 35 to 50 minutes away by car, so a morning fitting still gets you back to the desk well before London. Our Hoi An or Da Nang guide explains how we split a week between the two.
How much does tailoring cost in Hoi An?
Roughly 180 to 450 USD for a two-piece suit, 25 to 70 USD for a shirt and 80 to 250 USD for a silk dress at a reputable shop. Fabric is the biggest variable: imported Italian or English wool costs far more than local blends.
| Item | Budget shop | Reputable shop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-piece suit | $100–160 | $180–450 | 3 days |
| Shirt | $15–25 | $25–70 | 1–2 days |
| Silk dress or ao dai | $50–80 | $80–250 | 2–3 days |
| Leather shoes (made to measure) | $50–80 | $90–200 | 2–3 days |
Indicative 2026 ranges, not quotes. Agree the price, fabric and number of fittings in writing before you pay a deposit.
How can I tell real silk from fake?
Ask the shop to burn a thread. Real silk burns slowly, smells like burnt hair and leaves soft ash you can crush; polyester shrinks from the flame, smells like plastic and leaves a hard bead. A good shop will do it without fuss.
- Feel it. Real silk warms quickly in your hand; synthetic stays cool and slippery.
- Check the price. A "silk" scarf for 5 USD is not silk.
- Look at the sheen. Silk shifts colour in the light; polyester has a flat, even shine.
Where does Vietnamese silk come from?
Vietnam has centuries-old silk villages: Van Phuc near Hanoi, Ma Chau in Quang Nam near Hoi An, and Bao Loc in the central highlands, which today grows much of the country's mulberry silk. Some workshops let you watch the whole chain, from silkworm to loom.
If you're staying in Hoi An, a silk village visit fits into a morning: you see cocoons being boiled and reeled, the looms, and the dyeing, and you come away understanding what you're paying for. In the north, Van Phuc is an easy half-day from Hanoi that we can add to the All-Time High route. Bao Loc sits on the road between Saigon and Da Lat on The Full Swing.
Which Hoi An tailor should I choose?
Choose by how they work, not by price: a shop that measures carefully, insists on at least two fittings, shows you fabric labels and gives you a written order. Avoid anyone who pushes a same-day suit or won't let you see their workshop.
Hotels and taxi drivers often earn commission for bringing guests to particular shops, so judge the shop by the checks above, not by who brought you there. Bring a well-fitting jacket so they can copy what already works on you, and keep your expectations reasonable for very fine fabrics, which need more fittings than a three-day stay allows.
FAQ
How many days do I need in Hoi An to get a suit made?
Three days is the minimum for a well-fitted suit: measurements on day one, a first fitting on day two and a final fitting on day three. Shirts can be ready in 24 to 48 hours. Allow a spare day if you can.
How much is a tailored suit in Hoi An?
At a reputable shop, roughly 180 to 450 USD for a two-piece suit in 2026, depending mainly on the fabric. Budget shops go lower, but usually with fewer fittings and cheaper cloth.
How do I know if silk is real in Vietnam?
Ask for a burn test. Real silk smells like burnt hair and leaves soft, crumbly ash; synthetic fabric melts into a hard bead and smells like plastic. Real silk also warms quickly in your hand.
Can Hoi An tailors ship clothes home?
Most established shops can ship internationally by courier if you leave before your final fitting. It is better to stay for the last fitting, because small changes are hard to fix once the clothes have left the shop.
Can I get fitted in Hoi An and still trade the London session?
Yes. Book every fitting before 13:00. London opens at 15:00 Vietnam time and New York at 20:00 in winter, so the old town mornings are free, and Da Nang is under an hour away by car.
The bottom line
Give a good tailor three days and three morning fittings, check the silk with a flame, and keep your afternoons for London. It's one of the few souvenirs from a trip that you'll use for years.
Next: eat well around the sessions with our Vietnamese food guide for traders, or plan a stay in Da Nang.