Silk tailors in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

The thing to watch with silk in Saigon is the fabric itself. At Elegant Silk, two reviews allege the shop delivered something other than what was paid for, including a '100% silk' order that turned out to be a silk-cotton blend. At Nice Silk Tailor, 3 of 55 reviews say fabric sold as silk was polyester or synthetic satin. Ask to see and feel the exact bolt your piece will be cut from, and check the finished garment before the final payment. Ao Dai Couture by Anna Hanh Le weaves its own natural silk, and most of its reviewers describe a workshop where you learn how the silk is made and can cut and sew your own ao dai.

Silk pieces here are often quick. At Viet Thanh Silk a set of silk kimonos was made and delivered to the customer's hotel within 24 hours, and full-length robes in heavy silk came to about C$100 each; the shop asks for a 50% deposit. Thao Silk Tailor has finished two dresses and an ao dai in under 24 hours, and one reviewer paid US$60 for an ao dai. At Tailor Ralan a silk dress and a cheongsam were done within a 4-day stay.

For a more complex piece, allow time for a fitting. S.T Tailor reproduced a couple's own design for a silk tunic, with clean finishing, while at TuyetLan Orchids Tailor one detailed 2-star review, written after months of wear, describes a silk piece with a collar that doesn't sit right and badly cut sleeves. Bring a photo or a garment to copy, and try everything on before you leave. For typical figures across the city, see the Saigon tailor prices guide.