I’ll only mention a few places to shop in Hoi An. You will notice (should you stray from the tour guided path) that most shops stock exactly the same thing. This is due to the governments control of what shop owners can sell and where. For example, if you have a shop in the market, you have a choice of only 12 types of shop you can open, and your stock is prescribed to you.
Buyer be ware – Vietnam is a bartering country. I saw an American tourist pay $25 for a t-shirt I bought for $2. Seriously. If you don’t care, fine, but know that you can typically offer half of the original asking price and still know you’re not getting a good deal!
If you are visiting on a tour or with a guide, be aware that your tour guide will be getting a commission from every shop they take you to where you make a purchase. Be independent and go to shops other than the ones you are directed to purchase from – you’ll likely find exactly the same item three doors down the road, for a much cheaper price as that shop will not be hiking up their prices for tour groups.
But really, how many ‘I went to Vietnam’ t-shirts do you need? Here’s a few suggestions where you will find wonderful and unique souvenirs from your trip to Hoi An, while also supporting some great causes.
The Lifestart Foundation Workshop.
Shop 5, Viettown, 127 Phan Chu Trinh St
The Lifestart Foundation Workshop is a co-operative of disabled and disadvantaged people from Hoi An and surrounding areas. Everything in the shop is made by the people in the co-op and 100% of your money will go directly to the makers. The running costs of the shop are covered by independent fundraising by Lifestart Foundation. This is a truly unique operation in Vietnam and well worth supporting.
Fiona with Nghi from Reaching Out in the childrens section.
103 Nguyen Thai Hoc (next to Tan Ky House)
Reaching Out is another charity-based organization selling really lovely hand made products. The shop does support disabled and disadvantaged crafts people, however they are on a set wage which is not effected directly by your purchase. It is not clear exactly where the profit from this organization goes, but I feel that there is heart in this organization and a good will for the people it supports.
Fiona with the team at Lotus.
100 Nguyen Thai Hoc St
If you’re into sterling silver, this is the place to shop – frankly all the other jewellers in town are simply inferior in quality and service. Phil and Nguyen run the show and are soon to open a second shop in town. They stock wonderful hand crafted sterling silver pendants with designs such as the iconic conical hat and lotus flowers. Just stunning. Give them an Aussie G’Day from us.
Shop 45 – for all your clothes and shoes!
Hoang Deu – down near the bridge.
Huyen and her mother have to be the most reasonable shop keepers in Hoi An! Their prices for shoes, clothes and bags are the most competitive in town. Bring your favorite pants, dress or anything for them to copy, or bring in a picture of what you want made. Forgot to? Never mind, Huyen has piles and piles of fashion books you can flick through. Point to your favorite garments and come back and try it on in under 24 hours! Having clothes tailor made for you is a fun experience – let your imagination run wild! I had 50s-style summer dresses made for $18 each, Converse-style shoes made for $10 a pair and dress shoes made for $12 and $18 – and everything was made to measure!
COMMENTS
Had a wonderful shopping experience recently in Hoi An? Tell everyone about it in the box below!
Tags: bags, charity, clothes, Hoi An, Lifestart Foundation Workshop, Lotus Jewellery, Reaching Out, shoes, shopping, sterling silver, Vietnam, Viettown
January 17th, 2010 at 12:58 am
[...] Shopping in Hoi An. [...]
January 17th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Hello Fiona
I am a volunteer at Reaching Out and would like you and your readers to understand that Reaching Out is not a charity, but rather a Fair Trade, social business, meaning that all profits go back into the business.
The workers are indeed paid a set wage, which is above the average in Hoi An for similar work, BUT more importantly they have a full benefit package AND do indeed earn bonuses based on production, sales and creative improvements.
The aim of the business is primarily to enable people of disability to lead independent lives and integrate fully into society. We measure our success in these terms.
January 19th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Thanks so much for the additional information Elaine!
Jade
x
January 20th, 2010 at 6:11 am
Hello Jade,
Thank you for including Reaching Out on your blog entry about “best places to shop” in Hoi An. We always appreciate positive coverage.
I would like though to clarify that Reaching Our is NOT a charity, but rather a Fair Trade social business. We do not seek donations, but rely on our successful business practises and the quality and uniqueness of our products to prosper. In a social business like ours, all profits are channeled back into the business. No dividends are paid. Our profits have allowed our staff to grow to 50 people and we look forward to hiring and training more people of disability as our profits grow. By developing a Strategic Plan and an annualmarketing plan and filtering all business decisions through our framework of core values, including people before profits, we are able to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations. These expectations are clearly delineated in the feedback which we make a point of soliciting formally on an on-going basis.
Fair Trade means that the workers are paid a fair wage and this is true for Reaching Out. All of our staff, artisans, team leaders and sales staff earn a basic wage which surpasses the average wage paid in Hoi An for similar work. They also can earn bonuses through reaching and exceeding production, sales and creative improvement targets. In addition we are proud of the fact that Reaching Out staff all have a benefit package including health insurance, pension, unemployment insurance as well as initial skills training and on-going training in skills such as English language, sign language and leadership skills. Because our aim is to provide an environment where people of disability can attain independence and integrate fully into their communities, it is paramount that we all earn our living and do not rely on handouts, thus the social business model, which encourages empowerment and involvement.
I hope that this information will help you and your readers to understand the aims of a social business. Our website http://www.reachingoutvietnam.com is fairly comprehensive and will give you even more detail about our business and our people.
Thank you again sharing the story of Reaching Out on your blog.
Yours truly,
Reaching Out
Mai Kim Quyen
Sales and Marketing Manager