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			Shopping in Vietnam Vietnam is certainly a bargain hunter's delight. Foreigners are attracted to a huge variety of souvenirs and traditional handicrafts. Popular items that fascinate visitors are the remains from the Vietnam War-Army watches - clothing - compasses and all kinds of military equipment left behind by the US Army over 20 years ago. Vietnamese are very skilled jewellery manufacturers but you must make sure about the quality of any piece before you decide to make a deal. Hanoi is the finest place for shopping for antiques or imitations. The export of any item of historic or cultural significance is not permitted by the Vietnamese Government. Saigon has the best buys for modern goods like CDs and clothing. A variety of products are displayed in the streets that have rows and rows of shops, so you can get just about anything. You can shop at the Tax market (across from the Rex), Ben Thanh market, and Don Khoi Street where you can get a good variety of products though they may be more expensive. Clothing Tailor shops also abound in just about every tourist area, especially in Hoi An. You can have shirts, suits, dresses or whatever you can imagine made to order, and often ready within 24 hours. Be wary of shops touted by taxi drivers, etc. They're almost never very good. Another tip is to avoid places offering deals too good to be true, such as a suit for $25. The work is often slipshod. The old maxim really is true: you get what you pay for. Antiques Goods designed in an old or traditional style are referred to as “antiques”. Prices can be excessive in places that cater to tourists. Don’t just be scared, you need to haggle a lot to bring down the quoted prices of the items; all depends on how good you are in bargaining with the merchant. If you pretend to having lost interest in the item you’d decided to purchase and move ahead, the merchant may call you back and you can make quite a deal. Genuine antiques -- things more than 100 years old -- require special permission to be taken out of the country. Remember to ignore the purported age of an item when negotiating the price, and if the seller insists on an unreasonably high price because of an item's age, ask to see the export permit for the item. Lacquer ware This traditional craft has evolved with the times, even though old style goods are still generally available. Some of the nicest items are those with mother of pearl inlaid in the black lacquer. The modern variations include bright metallic finishes that can make a simple piece the focal point of a room.