Hoi An Travel Tips
Hand Embroidery in Hoi An: How to Spot the Real Thing and What to Pay
Hand Embroidery in Hoi An: How to Spot the Real Thing and What to Pay
Hand embroidery in Hoi An can be a beautiful, packable souvenir, or a machine print sold at a hand-made price. Here is how to check, what to pay, and how to order a custom piece safely.
Most guides to this craft simply praise it, and our old version did too. This one is a buyer’s guide. We don’t sell embroidery and we earn nothing from any gallery. We’ve kept prices as rough ranges, because they depend on size, thread and framing, and we haven’t surveyed every shop. What we can give you is a way to judge what you’re looking at.
How to spot real hand embroidery
| Check | Hand work | Machine work |
|---|---|---|
| Shading | Colors blend gradually, like a painting | Flat blocks with clear edges |
| Stitches | Small natural variations | Perfectly even, repeated |
| The back | Thread paths follow the design | Often very regular |
| Sameness | No two pieces are identical | Rows of the same picture |
Ask to see an artisan at work, or a piece in progress. A shop with real makers usually has no problem with that. Vietnam’s silk embroidery tradition is often traced to Quat Dong village near Hanoi, and the finest workers even make double-sided pieces.
If a shop has thirty of the same picture at the same price, you are probably not looking at thirty weeks of someone’s work.
What hand embroidery costs in Hoi An
| Type | Typical size | Rough price |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | 30×40 cm | 900,000–1,500,000₫ |
| Botanical, floral | 40×60 cm | 1,200,000–2,500,000₫ |
| Custom portrait | By order | From 2,000,000₫ |
A piece can take 3 to 15 days of work, so a suspiciously low price tells you something. On the other hand, a high price proves nothing on its own. Compare at least two or three shops.
Ordering a custom piece of hand embroidery
- Bring a clear imageA sharp photo with simple lighting gives a much better result.
- Get it in writingPrice, size, thread, framing, pickup date, deposit, and what happens if you’re unhappy.
- Ask for a progress photoA reasonable request if you’re leaving town before it finishes.
- Sort out shipping before you payAsk who pays, who insures it, and whether it travels framed or rolled.
Where to look, and how to get there
Galleries around Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Nguyen Phuc Chu make comparison easy on foot. Motor vehicles are restricted in these streets at 09:00–11:00 and 15:00–21:30, so park at the edge or use a bicycle. Our Hoi An souvenirs guide gives you more options if embroidery isn’t quite right. For background on the craft, see this overview of embroidery.
Shopping around town?
Bicycles from 50,000₫ a day, scooters from 110,000₫. Collect free at 84 Phan Chau Trinh, or get delivery from 30,000₫.
Zalo 0935 439 306Frequently asked questions
How much does hand embroidery cost in Hoi An?
As a rough guide, a small landscape of about 30×40 cm starts around 900,000–1,500,000₫, a 40×60 cm floral piece around 1,200,000–2,500,000₫, and a custom portrait from about 2,000,000₫. These are not fixed prices, so always get a quote.
How can I tell hand embroidery from machine embroidery?
Turn it over if you can. Hand work tends to show small irregularities and natural color shading. Machine work looks too even, with flat blocks of color. Ask to see the back before you buy.
How long does a custom piece take?
Usually 3 to 15 days, depending on size and detail. Agree the price, size and pickup or shipping date in writing before paying a deposit.
How do I carry embroidery home?
An unframed piece rolled in a tube is lighter and safer. Ask the studio to pack it, and only frame it at home if weight or breakage is a concern.
Where can I buy hand embroidery in Hoi An?
Galleries around Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Nguyen Phuc Chu make it easy to compare. We do not sell embroidery or take commission, so visit a few places before choosing.
Prices are rough ranges from our earlier guide, not a survey of every shop, and were not re-checked at the gallery counter. We do not sell embroidery or earn commission from any gallery.
E-Bike · No license
E-Bike · No license
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Pick your ride in Hoi AnChọn xe cho chuyến đi Hội An
Scooters, electric bikes and bicycles from one shop in the Old Town — delivered to your hotel with helmets, plus free roadside help within 10 km of Hoi An.Xe máy, xe điện và xe đạp — giao tận khách sạn, kèm hai nón bảo hiểm, cứu hộ miễn phí trong bán kính 10 km.
Not sure which one fits? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll recommend a bike for your plans.
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