XQ Sài Gòn

XQ Silk is one of those unsung craft heroes that are trying to keep alive the beautiful traditions of silk embroidering in Vietnam. The shop is easy to find. It is about 150m past Binh Tanh marketon the same side of Le Lai Street. It looks a bit like a private gallery, but inside are some of the most beautiful embroidery works you will ever see. They use embroidery like oil colour paintings with the ability to capture light variations and depth of field. Why this really does stand out is because to be honest most of the stuff sold in markets in Vietnam is just tourist crap. This is the real thing, with a weaving school in Dalat and lots of pictures that the art is indeed truly Vietnamese as it is often pictured being given to visiting dignitaries. Costs for this quality are actually quite low ranging form around US$40 to $300. Staff are all beautifully attired in Ao Dai, the stunning traditional costume for women. Truly this is a breathe of fresh air for those who want to get away from the copy watches, cheap sunglasses and Lonely Planet clutching backpackers.