Day 18-20 .. Shopping in Hoi An

Design your dream dress with a dressmaker.

There’s a sign when you entering Hoi An, saying that the old town is an UNESCO sight, what the sign fails to mention is that it is also a shopping Mecca with every street lined with tailor shops, totalling over a 100 shops.

So here’s my story. After arriving into Hoi An we went for a lovely lunch in the Cargo bar, which had a picturesque setting overlooking the river. Feeling stuffed from lunch, all I wanted to do was walk off my food, but we only walked a few hundred meters to Anna’s tailor shop. I sat down and flicked through the catalogues not really looking at them, since I didn’t have any intention to buy anything. Some of the group already had planned to buy suits for work or coats for the winter. I, well, I didn’t need anything and you but be right to assume that I didn’t get anything. The saying “hook, line and sinker” comes to mind. May I also add it rained none stop the whole time we were in the beautiful town, and I had planned to spent lots of time taking arty photos of the old French style single story architecture. But plans change! Whilst sitting there looking through all this seasons British high street catalogues, I thought maybe I should treat myself to a pretty short sleeve shirt that I could wear on my upcoming birthday. So I choose the colour fabric I wanted, I choose the style I wanted, I was measured, I paid the $15 for it upfront and early the next morning I went back to try it on. Since the shirt had been especially tailored for me it fit perfect, I really liked it. With that, I was convinced to buy not 1 but 2 more. So when I went back to try them on I liked to so much and was convinced to ‘buy something else.’ after a total of 4 different fittings I finally left the shop with my purchases, 3 shirts, 2 ¾ lengths, 2 trousers, 1 skirt and one winter coat . Needless to say I was happy that they sent the post woman to our hotel later that day so I was able to send all my purchases home.

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