Have read here to get it from Hoi An, but not looking to travel far unless thats the only way, but suggestions that there should be really good prices around Vietnam city in general or has that changed recently?
Just looking for decent suit but cheapest price importantly, and is a week enough for them to make a few suits?
But stuff is popular, huh? I’ll give it a go next time I am there…
I had a few suits made in Hoi An before (I don't remember the names of the places) over a period of a couple of weeks while I was there and they looked good and seemed to fit well too.
But when I took them to the dry cleaners and then went to pick them up, they said that they couldn't press the lines properly because the seams didn't line up. Then they laid out the suits on the table to show me - the seams were indeed pretty crooked!
(Not saying that they're all like that, but that was just my own experience).
Hmmm
I've only bought mine in Hoi and it was a great painless experience, only took 36 hours from measurement to final fitting. 12 years later and many wash cycles (yes i've chucked it in the washing machine) and it's held up better than any department store suit that i bought.
Just a pity i grew a few sizes over that time :(
As for Ho Chi minh, maybe look up tripadvisor for tailors around there?
I don’t know if Covid killed it off or if it is still going, but Bến Thành markets there were heaps of shops in there that catered to clothing. Surely one of them would know of or is a tailor.
Wife is Viet and just got back from visiting family, when she gets home later, I’ll see if she knows of anyone that knows of a good tailor.
Will it be crowded and rushed service? as it looks like a tourist hotspot.. did your wife recommend any places to look around
A few tips;
Unless you're going with a well reputed tailor that also makes sales online - make sure you tell them you want your suit a day or two before your last day - just in case there are delays, so you still have a buffer to pickup the suit in person. Many tailors offer to mail the finished product to you, but I'm not sure you can trust a less reputable tailor to follow through.
Make sure you know waht a suit should feel like.
Make sure they make the inner lining and have you test the fitting with inner lining first (i.e. it's a proper bespoke suit, and not them just taking an off the rack suit and trimming down) (sure, they will have premade inners and premade outter jackets that they will modify to fit, but the key thing is the tailored fit is happening, and fits well).
Wool , not polyester (or a very low polyester blend).
What's the price range for wool suits from Vietnam? 2 and 3pcs if you know?
Do they have grades e.g. Superfine or is it typically generic - Polyester, Wool, Blend etc.?
You can pick the fabric, with an impact on the price. Cheapest starts around $150-$200.
The places I've been had good selections, with probably more than 100 choices.
You can get whatever you want made, so add a waistcoat if desired, I'd expect it to add $50.
I got a business shirt made, more to quiet the strong recommendation of the tailor than because I needed another shirt, but damn if it wasn't the best shirt I ever had.
They will also happily make casual clothes too, like chinos or polos. Probably even jeans, I guess.
If you have pictures from magazines/websites/catalogues of what you want, they can make them.
You will never find a 'bespoke' suit in most of Asia.
What most do is custom tailoring.
I will also suggest counter intuitive as it may seem, but bring a suit with you that you know fits well and looks good. This way you have a benchmark when trying a fitting.
Tailors always like to push back on adjustments etc, so be prepared to have few days just in case two or more fittings are required.
Thats great, might visit Vietnam to get a couple of pairs
Phan's Custom Tailor was one from tripadvisor, but looking to go even cheaper maybe? as I only wear suits on special occasions
No recommendation, but a week is long enough.
FWIW, I really liked Hoi An, though it is touristy.
But stuff gets popular with tourists because it is good.