Hoi An

The elegant chocolate assortments sold at Pheva make for great gifts and souvenirs. Their chocolate is made exclusively from beans grown in the southern Vietnamese region of Ben Tre, and then enhanced with a touch of Madagascar vanilla and a variety of flavours ranging from white pepper to the signature dark sesame and peanuts. Pick and choose from individual pieces to create a set that best suits your taste.

Tailor-made clothing is big in Hoi An, and many visitors eagerly take advantage of the incredible price-to-quality ratio offered by local tailor shops. Getting a garment made will normally entail an initial consultation, where you discuss the desired piece and its design, followed by as many fittings as needed to ensure the final product complies with all the requirements. Customers are also free to select their fabrics of choice. Some trusted local tailors include A Dong Silk, Hoang Kim, Kimmy and Yaly. If you're in the market for custom-made shoes or bags, try The Friendly Leather Bag Shop or Tu-Chi Leather Bags. Fabrics and private tailoring are also offered at the Hoi An Central Market; having a garment made here will cost less, but will likely not be up to the same high standards kept to by specialised tailor shops.

This ethical craft and souvenir shop supports artists with disabilities, selling their original designs while making a tangible impact into the lives of disadvantaged local creators. The wares themselves are of excellent quality, and range from silver jewellery (which is a great buy here) to linens, tableware and home decor pieces.

A great little store to browse through for fun Vietnam-themed gifts and souvenirs that aren't you typical Chinese imports. Some of their best buys include wallets made from recycled storage bags, high-quality retro posters on rice paper, and unique postcard collections. They also stock a fantastic selection of books on all things Vietnam (in English).

Formerly the main street of Hoi An's French Quarter, Phan Boi Chau is currently going through a renaissance: art galleries, exhibition spaces and sophisticated craft boutiques have opened shop here, bringing the street to the forefront of the town's cultural life. There is a free guide to the area's venues that can be picked up free of charge.

The bustling Hoi An market takes a little getting used to: it's distinctly more hectic than the downtown area, and teems with local vendors and shoppers as much as it does with tourists. Abundant Asian herbs, souvenirs like lacquered coconut shell bowls, Vietnamese coffee-makers and traditional cone hats are some of the wares on sale. Of particular interest are the indoor food stands serving up scrumptious snacks at some of the lowest prices in town.

From 6 to 9 pm daily, Hoi An's Nguyen Hoang Street transforms into a 300-metre long bustling night market, unfolding underneath a myriad colourful lanterns. It's a great place to stock up on souvenirs: prices are low and can get even lower if you don't hesitate to haggle: prices can go down up to 70% from starting level.