Tips for Getting Tailored Clothes in Hoi An

By words of mouth going around here and there, Hoi An is home to the cheapest tailored clothes in the world. However, after spending a good amount of money on flight tickets to Vietnam, you do not want to damage your budget staying here. So, hopefully, travelers will avoid first-time tailoring mistakes, learn how to find the best shops for clothing, and leave with their wallets intact with the tips as follows:

Decide on a budget before booking flight tickets to Vietnam

It’s easy to get caught up in the purchasing madness of custom tailoring in Hoi An. For this reason, it’s best to set limits. Know exactly how much cash can be parted with before heading out to the shops. It makes avoiding the impulse purchases, and the inevitable buyer’s remorse a whole lot easier.

Shop around

Most tailors in Hoi An are good. Some are truly great. With so much talent in such a small place, it’s tough to go really wrong. Still, diversifying purchases is a good idea. It distributes business, and it increases access to textiles, fabrics and leathers, too, since each storefront has its own supply to work with. Diversifying also helps to avoid disasters. Only a couple of items are being produced at each shop, so should a tailor turn out to be a major miss, all is not actually lost.

Consider using more upscale tailors with fancier show rooms and a wide selection of wool and silk materials for suits and career clothes. Opt for more standard-issue tailors that offer interesting fabric selections for less expensive items.

Know what you want

Rather than window-shopping, know what you want and need before arrival; otherwise you’ll quickly find yourself drowning in a sea of silk. It’s very important to have the right knowledge and strategy before even walking into a tailor shop. If you go the tailor unsure of what you want, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. The first step is to research what clothes you want. Then, it would have been really helpful to have done a little research on things like fabric types, hemlines, double-stitching etc. so that you didn’t have to rely so heavily on the tailors opinions and expertise. Finally, don’t forget to print out pictures before visiting Hoi An with flight tickets to Vietnam.

Splurge on at least one item

Stay cheap on standard items like dress shirts, skirts and pants, but go for broke on at least one big-ticket item and it’s unlikely you’ll be sorry.

Be prepared to bargain

Prices are rarely marked in the shops of Hoi An, so it’s all about the barter when it comes to getting a decent price. Some tailors offer bigger discounts the more you buy, but most are eager to drop the price at a mention of a better deal down the street. With so many options, shops are in constant competition, which is a serious advantage for consumers.

Also, be sure the tailor is using the best exchange rate. The cost of items is in USD and, depending on where you go, they may pad the price a bit by using a less favorable exchange rate. Everyone has a calculator and will type in the numbers, but just show you the end amount. It’s okay to refigure it using the exchange rate that’s posted at banks and go from there.

Allow enough time

The most important thing is to leave yourself some time. Although there are a bucket load of tailors who will turn around items in 1 or 2 days, it is much more risky and the craftsmanship may not be as good.

Even they measure you properly; there are always the possibilities to fix it here and there. So, it can be disappointing when you try your items for the first time and they are not right, but that is quite common and the purpose of the fitting process. To get the most out of the tailoring process you need enough time for multiple fittings by letting the tailors know when you have to leave the town and checking with them at least few hours before you have to go.

After your flight tickets to Vietnam, getting custom made clothes in Hoi An is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Basically what it comes down to is the more prepared and assertive you are, the better your end product will be. Have fun shopping!

Sources:

http://nomadcapitalist.com/2013/07/25/the-cheapest-place-in-the-world-for-custom-suits/

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/10-08/custom-clothes-in-hoi-ann.html

http://runawayjuno.com/runaway-tales/how-to-successfully-getting-tailor-made-clothes-in-hoi-an-vietnam/

http://xotours.vn/blog/2013/08/18/custom-made-yes-please-a-guide-to-custom-tailoring-in-vietnam/

http://gogirlguides.com/shopping-2/how-to-get-custom-made-clothes-in-hoi-an-vietnam/

http://twenty-somethingtravel.com/2011/02/wardrobe-lose-mind-hoi/

http://indianajo.com/2013/07/tailors-in-hoi-an.html

Quy Nhon - Vietnam Travel Guide

In Vietnam, there is one place that deserves to be visited by more people: Quy Nhon, the little visited provincial capital of Binh Dinh province. Even though it is not considered as a tourist destination, this medium-sized town is bordered by stunning beaches and the countryside that surrounds it is also breathtaking. So, when you have flight tickets to Vietnam, if you’ve got the free time, spend a day or two at this city as a stopover between Da Nang and Nha Trang.

WHEN TO GO

About climate, weather in Quy Nhon is divided into two specific seasons: dry season (from March to September) and rainy season (the rest time in year). It is recommended to book flight tickets to Vietnam during the dry season. You don’t want to take your umbrella along with you all day long.

HOW TO GO

Easily reached by plane, train and bus, it's surprising that more people don't choose to spend a day or two here. To be more specific, after your flights London to Vietnam, follow by flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, train or bus access through Highway 1.

WHAT TO EAT

Naturally, fishing is the main industry in Quy Nhon, making it a great source of exceptional seafood. This destination is highly recommended for all seafood lovers. There is something you can’t miss when visiting this place: Fish noodles. This traditional dish is not only famous in Binh Dinh but also well-known in Vietnam due to its flavors and cooking ways.

WHERE TO STAY

At this time there are only two resorts worth considering: the Bai Tram Hideaway, is arguably one of Vietnam's best kept secrets and the Avani Resort & Spa, 40-minute drive south of Quy Nhon.

WHAT TO SEE

Quy Nhon has a lot of different areas. Its geography landscape is very diversified such as mountains and forests, hills, fields, saltmarsh, plains, lagoons, lakes, rivers, coasts, peninsulas, and islands. Quy Nhon's coast-line is 42 km with a big lagoon area, brackish water lake and abundant sea creature resource and many of valuable specialties with high economic worth.

1. Cham Towers

If you choose to make a stop here, there are some Cham Towers within easy reach:

The Thap Doi Cham Towers is unique because of the number of towers as well as its location. Most Cham towers are in odd-numbered groups and usually found on the hilltops, while this one consists of only two towers and is located in town. Anyone would be impressed with the relief on the sculptures, since they are still in good shape after all these years.

Twin Brick Tower (Hung Thanh Towers is an architectural structure with two similar towers while one is 18m high and the other is 20m.

Banh It Towers is 25 km away from Quy Nhon, include total four towers, also called Thap Bac (Silver Towers). Standing by Banh It Towers, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of this very fertile countryside.

Duong Long Towers is also called Thap Nga (Ivory Towers), located 50 km from Quy Nhon, 8 km from Cha Ban. It is a group of three towers. The central one is 24 m high. The two others are 22m high. The largest one is embellished with granite ornamentation representing Naga and Elephants. This tower complex is one of the most beautiful in Central Viet Nam.

Thap Doi Cham Towers is right in town. The sight is actually less spectacular than the walk through this quiet little neighborhood to a sea inlet where you'll find a few local seafood places. The relief work on the tower sculptures is in good shape, particularly the floral lintels, and the little park area around the towers is a place to rest.

Thap Doi tower is a pair of towers situated right in the city and located in a small park, both in very good condition.

2. Unspoiled beaches

For the beach lovers, Quy Nhon north beach boasts some of the most beautiful fishing boats. You will find many fishing junks out in the sea that provide wonderful photo opportunities. The town counts fishing as its mainstay and not surprisingly, the seafood here is excellent. Also you can take a break on the boardwalk along the beach sitting on a bench feeling the cool breeze and watching the fishermen leave shore in these round basket tubs. Meanwhile, the south beach is quieter and nicer for swimming, and watching the local kids playing there is certain to give a lively feel.

3. Museums

Quy Nhon has few museums to boast about:

Quang Trung Museum is dedicated Nguyen Hue, a national hero of the 18th century. It was built in his native land of Kien My village in Tay Son district, 45 km from Quy Nhon, and 5 km off the highway. On visiting Quang Trung Museum, one will enjoy music and Vo Tay Son demonstrations, a traditional martial art of Binh Dinh.

Binh Dinh Museum is a small museum with a few good examples of Cham sculpture and pre-Cham Bronze Age pieces. More for school trips than international tourists, but you can expect signs in Vietnamese and English.

4. Other attractions

Some other attractions worth the visit:

Long Khanh, Quy Nhon's main pagoda, is also worth the trip. Built in the 18th century, this attraction is notable because of its 17-metre high Buddha.

Thi Nai Bridge is the longest sea overpass in Vietnam (2477.3m)

Genh Rang Hill is located to the South East of Quy Nhon city; it is the national tourist spot and a natural piece of work with groups of mountainous stones alongside the sea. Here, stones and soil created blocks of hills, caves, sea gates with fresh air and beautiful scenery

Quy Hoa Leper Colony consists of a hospital surrounded by gardens and homes of former patients.

If you want an undisturbed, luxurious and healthy break from the busy life and travel in Vietnam then Quy Nhon may be just the solution. Easily reached by train, plane and bus, if you’ve got the time and a disposition for seafood, book flight tickets to Vietnam and then you could do a lot worse than spending a day or two here.

Sources:

http://www.travelfish.org/location/vietnam/south_central_vietnam/binh_dinh/qui_nhon

http://www.toursinvietnam.com/Quy-Nhon/

http://www.visit-mekong.com/vietnam/quy-nhon.htm

http://www.indochinatravelservice.com/Travel/Vietnam/Quy_Nhon/

http://www.selectiveasia.com/vietnam-holidays/travel-guides/quy-nhon

Binh Ba - Vietnam Travel Guide

The Binh Ba island in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province is famous for the name “lobster island”. As being among places welcoming the earliest dawn in Vietnam, Binh Ba gazes attract from travelers with its wild beauty. Binh Ba is very suitable for traveling in a short time, away from the hectic life. If you can book cheap flight tickets to Vietnam, then visit this pristine island as a short stop during your trip along the coast of Vietnam.

WHEN TO GO

Best time to travel to Binh Ba is from February to August. Also, during this time, cheap flight tickets to Vietnam are easier to book (excluding Vietnam national holidays).

HOW TO GO

After departing with your flight tickets to Vietnam, you can visit Binh Ba island by long distance buses from Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi or Da Nang to Cam Ranh bus station. Here, rent motorcycle taxi or taxi to reach Ba Ngoi port and spend about one hour on for sailing to the island.

WHAT TO EAT

There are many delicious specialties of this island, especially fresh seafood such as red shrimp, squid, marlin, oyster… But to come to Binh Ba without tasting its delicious lobster will be a real disaster. Binh Ba lobster can be made into various tasty dishes such as the mixture of alcohol and blood of blue lobster.

WHERE TO STAY

On the island, there are homestays and hostels for groups of tourists. Otherwise, guests can contact the locals here to sleep overnight or sleep at boat in order to enjoy the night at sea.

WHAT TO SEE

There are 3 famous beaches in Binh Ba including Bai Chuong beach, Bai Nom beach, and Nha Cu beach. Each one has its own characteristic for visitors to explore. Nom Beach is the most beautiful beach on the island, having a bow back sand beach with the gigantic stones on the two top sides. You will be pleasure in the blue beach stretching out to the skyline. Nha Cu Beach has dense coral. Take your diving eyeglasses, just bow your body into the water will be a scene of a beautiful ocean with a group of colorful fishes in the beach. Chuong Beach is an ideal place to watch the sunrise on the island. The sun progressively rises, a red covering the sky creating a mystery moments.
The beaches on the island are close together so tourists can walk or hire a motorbike from the locals. Besides beaches, tourists can visit famous places on the island, such as Ngu Hanh Tomb and Binh Ba Communal House and war relics left from the war.

The most interesting and attractive things are viewing the sunset, catching the sunrise on the island, enjoying the seafood, going to the market soon... Those contribute to wonderful memory of your trip to Binh Ba island. From now on, don’t hesitate when booking cheap flight tickets to Vietnam and Binh Ba trip will become your shining glory.

Sources:
http://www.vietnamplaces.info/2014/01/binh-ba-island-of-wild-beauty.html
http://threeland.com/vietnam-travel-guide/binh-ba-island-robinson-crusoe-island-cam-ranh-bay.html
http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/attractions/nature-adventure/beaches-and-islands/7-reasons-you-should-visit-binh-ba-island.html
http://nhatrangbeauty.com/601/binh-ba-island-in-khanh-hoa/
http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/attractions/nature-adventure/beaches-and-islands/binh-ba-island-should-not-be-missed-during-summer-holidays.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-c209747/Vietnam:Tips.For.Binh.Ba.Island.Excursion.html
http://www.vietnamtoursholiday.com/blog/destinations/travel-to-the-binh-ba-lobster-island.html