Hoi An is known for it’s romantic vibes, it’s abundant tailors and it’s silk lantern. Here’s what you need to know about getting a suit done in Hoi An.

Lesson #1 : Don’t pay in advance

They will tell you that they will make modifications until you are happy and sell you the full kit. The truth is that as soon as you pay. They don’t really care anymore. You can try to ask for a reimbursement but like anywhere in South East Asia, it’s a challenge.

Lesson #2 : Most garments are fake brand or poor mixed wool.

They will tell you that they get their garments in Singapore or Hong Kong, some will even say UK. The truth is that it’s probably all made in China. You usually can see the authenticity tag on the garments rolls. The problem is that even those are fake. I first noticed this when I saw spelling mistakes on these so called big named brands. Also, they will never be able to give you the exact composition of the material. At best, they will just make it up. Try the burn test and you will see for yourself. A quick Google search should enlighten you on the subject if you have any issue with this click here.
Note: Just came back from Mumbai and had the same issue over there.

Lesson #3 : They will lie to you.

They will tell you it’s a family business, that they don’t use the town manufactures and that it’s their dad, brother or husband that does the stitching. It will be a bespoke suit just for you. The truth is that they all do business with the sweatshops around town and that they are only there to sell. Your suit will come from a standard pattern design and they will adjust it for you. It’s actually not a bargain if you think about it. A 100-200$ Wal-Mart suit well fitted or a Moores suit for the same price will probably look better. If you rent a scooter and drive around the back alleys of Hoi An and peep through the windows of those big no names shops you can see the sweatshops operating.

Lesson #4 : Plan enough time for the fittings.

It takes one visit to choose the garment and agreeing on the price. They will then make a rough version. You will go for a first fitting. Then you will usually come back the next day for the second fitting. Blogs usually recommend having 3 days to have a suit done. I say you need 4. What if the second fitting is still not right but you have a plane or a train to catch ?

Lesson #5 : Nothing will ever be perfect.

You might read reviews online about “the perfect suit” or “the best tailor in Hoi An”. Keep in mind, that there’s a lot of fake paid reviews out there and also just clueless people. I love when I ask someone about something like making a suit in Hoi An and they tell me “Go to this tailor, it’s the best in Hoi An.” Then I ask them, “Have you ever used another tailor in Hoi An?” Or worse, “Have you ever ordered a tailored or bespoke suit before?” And the answer is inevitably “no”.

Unless you are extremely patient or that you speak Vietnamese, some things might get lost in translation. Besides that, notice if the person who you are talking to is taking notes about the details you spend so much energy explaining. Don’t forget that your order will go through a heavy process where many hands will be at work. The finish might be a bit off or the shoulder padding might be a bit too much. The material you chose might have ran out and they used another one. The cut might be off. Things happen and since you already paid a deposit and spent so much time over there and you are leaving tomorrow or worse today, you might just buy the damn thing. They know that and they are ready for it. They will be willing to give you a discount at least, a small one though.

Conclusion

Since I started this blog post, I have been shopping for suits in Thailand and India and the same applies. Make sure you have enough time for the fittings, choose your material carefully, keep a sample throughout the process, try the burn test and negotiate hard. Even if after putting all your effort you still feel you got ripped off in the end (it happens to the best of us), just keep in mind that “sometimes you win some, sometimes you loose some”.