Ao dai - Traditional costume of Vietname

Which clothes Vietnamese often wear?

People in Vietnam wear cotton clothes. Styles differ in northern and southern Vietnam. Many people wear sandals made of old tire rubber (North). (South) Many men and women wear western styled clothing. Some women still wear the traditional ao dai.

In most rural areas women wear loose white-shirts with skirts. Men in rural areas wear western clothes too. In the cities, many girls and women wear the traditional au dai, a long tunic worn with loose-fitting pants. However, a growing number of urban women wear dresses and shirts.

Where to buy

In Vietnam, clothes are sold in three main areas: shopping centers, local markets, and small shops along streets.

- Shopping malls are located mostly in big cities in Vietnam, namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Danang and the likes. In shopping malls, apart from high-end clothes, you still have a chance to grasp clothes of your taste with reasonable prices and of good quality, which are of Vietnamese popular domestic brands such as Blue Exchange, N&M, Canifa and Ninomaxx or Nem (more costly, expect $70 for a decent dress).

One of shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh

- To save your money, it is suggested to go to local markets and make full use of your smile and bargaining tips to get the best deal. Almost all clothes items sold at local markets are made in China with low quality. Moreover, almost all shops in local markets have no place for you to try on clothes, so it could be quite inconvenient to find your best suit.

Yet, sometimes, luckily, you could catch clothes of acceptable quality and in trendy designs. Just keep in mind that you have rights to bargain and you should not miss the chance to do that.

Night market at Hanoi Old Quarter

If you are not fond of local markets, its ambience as well as its inconvenience, clothing shops scattering on streets could meet your demands. Shops with Made in Vietnam signboards would be your ideal choice as their clothes are of quite good materials, in elegant designs and at reasonable prices. Better still, they have your size as almost all of their products are made for exporting.

Hanoi silk shop

Shops of Vietnamese names or with English names that sound funny such as” Boys”, “Vietnamese Name+ Mode”, “Vietnamese name + Fashion” and the likes often display and sell clothes made in China, and the quality as well as the price are also “better” than those sold at local markets.