There’s a particular pleasure in watching a Hoi An craftsman trace your foot onto a sheet of paper and then, a day later, hand you a pair of shoes made for no one else. This little riverside town has quietly become one of Vietnam’s great destinations for handmade leather, and the best leather shops in Hoi An will run you up a custom bag, jacket, wallet, or pair of boots in a day or two, for a fraction of what you would pay at home.

We’ve walked the lanes of the Ancient Town so you don’t have to guess. Below are the top 5 leather shops in Hoi An worth your time, what each one does best, what you should expect to pay, and how to tell genuine leather from the fakes.

Top Leather Shops in Hoi An at a Glance

✪ You may also love: Motorbike Rental Hoi An

Nony Leather Shop

Right on Tran Phu, in the thick of the Ancient Town’s lantern-lit bustle, Nony is the shop we steer first-timers toward. It’s the confident all-rounder of Hoi An’s leather scene, turning out shoes, handbags, backpacks, and jackets made to order, usually in a day or two, with a quote given cheerfully on the spot. Bring a photograph of something you love and watch the team reverse-engineer it in the leather and colour you choose. Reckon on roughly $30 to $60 for a handbag and $40 to $90 for custom shoes, and do ask, plainly, whether you’re getting full-grain or a thinner split hide before you pay.

Blue Lotus Leather

A short stroll west along Hung Vuong, Blue Lotus rewards the shopper who likes to browse before committing. This is the place to see bags, wallets, belts, and jackets lined up side by side, comparing grain and stitching under one roof. The staff are unfazed by a phone full of screenshots and will colour-match a hide to whatever you have in mind. Small pieces such as wallets and card holders start around $15 to $25, while a made-to-measure bag lands somewhere between $35 and $80. Our advice: order in the first day or two of your trip, leaving yourself room for a fitting, or a change of heart on colour, before you leave town.

Hoi An Soul Leather Shop

Tucked away at 186/2 Tran Phu, Hoi An Soul is the shop for travellers who care about the hide itself. It’s a younger name than some of its neighbours, yet it carries the patient, old-craft-village spirit you come to Hoi An hoping to find.

Everything here is cut, stitched, and finished by hand, and the difference shows the moment you pick a piece up.

The house speciality is full-grain leather, the top tier of the material, alongside a handsome waxed cowhide that only looks better with age.

Buy a bag here and it rewards you slowly, softening and deepening in colour the longer you carry it. Expect prices from around $40, and give any custom order a day or two to come together.

Friendly Shoe Leather Shop

The name is a promise, and Friendly Shoe keeps it. This is the address for anyone whose heart is set on custom leather shoes, from brogues and boots to sandals and sharp dress shoes, each cut to your own measurements. Bring a well-loved pair as a reference and allow a day or two for fittings so the finished shoes feel just right. A custom pair generally runs $40 to $100, and the shop will happily make a matching bag or jacket to go with them. One editor’s tip: check that the soles are stitched rather than merely glued, because stitched soles are the ones that survive the journey home.

Pretty My Leather Store 

Save Pretty My Leather Store, at 27 Tran Phu, for the moment the collector’s bug bites. This is the romantic of the group, devoted to handcrafted vintage-style leather and the woven sedge bags that carry a faint whiff of old Indochina. Pieces come in every size, each with a character of its own, and the prices stay refreshingly gentle, with many bags starting around $20. It’s where you find the souvenir you didn’t know you were looking for.

How to buy leather in Hoi An: a quick checklist

When shopping for leather goods in Hoi An, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Research the shops: Look for recommendations from friends or travel blogs and check the reviews before choosing a shop. You can also ask hotel staff for recommendations.
2. Know your budget: Leather goods can vary in price, so make sure you know what you are willing to spend before you start shopping.
3. Choose high-quality leather: Check the quality of the leather before making a purchase. Look for leather that is soft, supple, and free of blemishes or scratches.
4. Customize your items: Many leather shops in Hoi An offer custom-made items, so you can get exactly what you want in terms of design, size, and color.
5. Allow sufficient time: Custom-made leather goods can take several days or more to complete, so make sure to give the shop enough time to complete your order.
6. Negotiate the price: Prices in Hoi An’s leather shops are often negotiable, so don’t be afraid to ask for a discount or to negotiate the price.

Here are some tips to help you tell the difference between real leather and fake leather:

1. Smell: Real leather has a distinct, natural smell, while fake leather often has a synthetic smell.
2. Touch: Real leather is soft and supple, while fake leather is often stiff and plastic-like.
3. Appearance: Real leather has natural grain patterns, while fake leather often has a uniform, fake-looking grain pattern.
4. Price: Real leather is usually more expensive than fake leather, so if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
5. Burn test: You can perform a burn test to distinguish between real and fake leather. Light a match and hold it close to the leather. Real leather will have a natural, musty odor and will char but not melt. Fake leather will produce a chemical smell and will melt like plastic.
6. Quality of stitching: The stitching on real leather products is usually tight and even, while the stitching on fake leather products is often loose and uneven.
7. Flexibility: Real leather will bend and crease easily, while fake leather will crack and break.

Leather shopping in Hoi An: FAQ

Hoi An is a popular destination for those looking to buy leather goods, as there are many shops and tailors in the area that specialize in leather products. From bags to shoes to jackets, there is a wide range of leather items available in Hoi An, with varying quality and prices. When shopping for leather goods in Hoi An, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable shop or tailor. You should also communicate your design preferences and specifications clearly, and be prepared to spend a bit more for a custom-made leather item.

Additionally, be aware that the type of leather used for a product can impact its quality and durability, so it’s important to understand the different skin types and their characteristics when making a purchase. With the right information and careful consideration, you can find the perfect leather item to suit your needs in Hoi An.