Vietnam is famous for its stunning landscapes, rich culture and delicious cuisine, but what comes to mind when one thinks of the country are its famous conical hats (nón lá) and elegant tunics (áo dài), the latter of which is made of silk. Vietnamese silk is renowned for its softness, smoothness and natural sheen, and these qualities have enabled the country to compete with the likes of China, India and Thailand on the international stage. The use of traditional weaving techniques that have been perfected over centuries has resulted in high-quality silk products that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Southeast Asian nation.
Here’s our guide to the top places for buying silk in Vietnam.
The Hội An Silk Village pays homage to the 300-year-old history of the Maritime Silk Road. This community space is owned by a resort of the same name, and the site is surrounded by verdant mulberry gardens, lotus ponds and horticulture farms where paths wind through the gardens and houses typical of Quảng Nam architecture. The silk village employs a dozen artisans who manufacture and weave silk into various garments and tapestries using ancient looms. Visitors can experience the natural silk weaving process first-hand by checking out the Champa mulberry garden to study about the raw material of these products. If you visit the silkworm rearing house, you can see the silkworm cocoons, learn how farmers feed them, how the silk is unravelled from the cocoons and even handpick mulberry for the silkworms yourself.
Address: 28 Nguyễn Tất Thành, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam
Since 1982, Toàn Thịnh Silk has been supplying the fibre to silk markets in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Now, its clientele includes Korea, Japan, Denmark, France, England and the USA, too. The company's silk fabric comes in all sorts of patterns, designs and colours, and they pride themselves on making textiles that are wrinkle-free. There is a large variety of silk available to buy here but keep in mind that all prices are fixed, so no haggling is involved.
Address: 258 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 00283
Silk products are available in most stores around the Old Quarter of Hà Nội. Everything from sleeping bag liners to dressing gowns to áo dàis can be bought for very reasonable prices in the city, but the best place to buy authentic Vietnamese silk is on Hàng Gai Street. The name translates to “Silk Street” in English and the place lives up to its name. Here, you will find tailor shops stacked sky-high with a rainbow selection of silks ready to be sewn into a design of your choice, at approximately USD 10 (INR 840) per metre. You can find everything from ready-to-wear items such as shirts, trousers and pyjamas to silk ties, embroidered tablecloths and wall hangings to take back home as a souvenir.
Address: Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
The Hội An Cloth Market abounds with cotton, polyester, linen, silk and wool fabrics. The market is made up of a grid of 50 stalls, which are easy to navigate and most of them are 2x3 metres wide. The silk sold here is tailored for the most part, but you can dig up a few unvarnished textiles, too. According to the market’s tailors, just before 10AM is the quietest time, and late afternoon before 6PM is the busiest.
Address: Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam
This is another leading Vietnamese textile producer and supplier in Hồ Chí Minh City whose products are trusted by locals and foreigners alike. While not all of its items are expensive, Thái Tuấn Silk’s high-end product line showcases dazzling áo dàis that are the preserve of the city’s fashionistas. Customers can choose from a wide range of silk and pay set prices for their purchases.
Address: 246A Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh, Phường 21, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh 700000
The Cocoon store is the perfect place to buy silk and cashmere products. There is a wide variety of silk displayed on the racks here and all of them are priced and graded so no bargaining is involved. The place abounds in shawls, scarves and ties, and the owner welcomes questions from customers about the quality of their stock. To verify the product’s authenticity, the staff conduct a silk test in person—a flame is held to the fabric, which will not ignite but give off a smell of burnt hair.
Address: 128 Trần Phú, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam