SHOPPING AO DAI (Vietnamese Traditional Dress) Ladies, Like to dazzle your guests coming to dinner with unique fashion in exotic Far-East? Why not try the traditional Vietnamese dress called ao dai embroidered or painted with flowers, leaves or landscapes or any particular preferrence requested by clients. Some Ao Dai Tailoring Shops: Hoan My : 114 Ly Tu Trong Street, Dist. 1; Tel: 8242837 Lam Nguyen: 160 Tran Hung Dao Street, Dist. 1; Tel: 8331140 Tuan : 16Bis Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Dist. 1; Tel: 8258991 Thien Thanh : 8Bis Bui Thi Xuan Street, Dist. 1; Tel: 8392366 Ngoc Sang : 216 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Dist. 3; Tel: 8452064 Lien Huong : 111Bis Pasteur Street, Dist. 3; Tel: 8226074 Tam Nguyen: 324 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Dist. 4 Hoa Tuoi : 218D Minh Phung Street, Dist. 11; Tel: 8559717 Yen Hong : 89 Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thanh Dist.; Tel: 8430383 Trang : 163 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Tan Binh Dist.; Tel: 8651590 EMBROIDERY AND SILK SHOPS Ready-made silk clothes, pillows, table cloths, ties can be purchased at most embroidery and silk shops located in District 1 on Dong Khoi, Le Thanh Ton, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Mac Thi Buoi streets. You can have your favourite designs or styles made. Foreigners, as usual, will be charged at higher prices. Bargaining is the way to go. Vietnamese art silk embroidery pictures priced from US$35-US$950 could be found in two shops belong to XQ Da Lat company with famous pictures at 259 and 76A Le Thanh Ton Street. Hand-made silk hats, handbags, backpacks are displaying and sold at reasonable prices. The Chinese-style shantung shirts and kimonos( Japanese traditional dress) with hand-embroidered designs are widely popular among French, Japanese and Korean clients. Hoang Lan : 76E Le Thanh Ton St. Dung : 129 Le Thanh Ton St.; Tel: 8296126 Bich Ha : 110 Nguyen Hue St.; Tel: 8244252 Thanh Thuy : 114B Nguyen Hue St.; Tel: 8251790 Bach Tuyet : 141 Dong Khoi St, Tel:8296466 Viet Silk : 21 Dong Khoi St.; Tel: 8291148 Bich Son : 135 Dong Khoi St.; Tel: 8297208 Dong Khoi : 211C Dong Khoi St.; Tel: 8222845 Nguyet Cung : 213A Dong Khoi St. Kim Yen : 143 Dong Khoi St.; Tel: 8222530 Cat Thinh : 95 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8251968 Thien Huong : 104 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8291520 -8292860 Minh Huong : 85 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8223074 Mai Anh : 81 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8295367 Truc Oanh : 75 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8224522 Chau A : 65 Mac Thi Buoi St.; Tel: 8297959 EYEGLASSES Sunglasses are very popular and fairly cheap in Vietnam. To cope with relentlessly hot sun rays or fashion statement? Either way is correct. You can select sun-glasses or contact-lenses from many styles of glasses on the eyewear market in HCM City. Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1 is crowded with optical shops. Almost all glasses are imported from foreign countries -France, Italy or the U.S. Famous labels such as Armani, Cartier, La Coste, Dupont, Rayban, or Charmant are available and of course , a wide variety of prices as well. Those from Thailand or Singapore are usually cheaper. The price of glasses depends on their quality, label or model. The cost of one pair of sun glasses ranges $US10- 100. Imitated products do exist and it is not easy to distinguish unless you are a pro. Some seller even guarantees the quality and the origin of their products. For glasses cost above $US50, the warranty time is often 12 months. Getting tired of bargaining? Skip that hassle by purchasing at shops offering fix prices: * Saigon Optic - 46-48 Pham Ngoc Thach St., Dist. 3, Tel: 8290248 * Rang Dong - 775 Tran Hung Dao St., Dist 5, Tel: 8352061 District 1 Phong Phu: 100 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel: 8224267 Dai Quang: 106 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel; 8241559 Nhat Quang: 126 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel: 8293240 Ngoc Toan: 128 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel: 8296883 Quang Minh: 130 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel: 8230091 Kinh Tien: 274 Le Thanh Ton St; Tel: 8225952 District 3 Saigon Optic: 46-48 Pham Ngoc Thach St: Tel: 8290248 Saleoptic: 201 Dien Bien Phu St; Tel: 8225533 District 5 Xuong Vinh: 216 Tran Hung Dao B; Tel: 8554872 Cam Thanh: 226 Tran Hung Dao B; Tel: 8578783 Van Quoc: 246 Tran Hung Dao B; Tel: 8554494 Thanh Tam: 258 Tran Hung Dao B; Tel: 8577963 District 6 Phuoc Tuong: 499 Hau Giang, Tel: 8759023 Vinh Tuong: 3 Thap Muoi, Tel: 8560966 District 10 Vinh Tran: 335/902A Vinh Vien, Tel: 8558219 District 11 Dong Phuong: 56A/40 Lac Long Quan, Tel: 8556446 26B/12 Lac Long Quan, Tel: 8555090 Go Vap District Mat Kinh Sai Gon, 516 Le Quang Dinh, Tel: 8940344 Binh Thanh District Thanh Nguyen: 338 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Tel: 8997481