Tiger Tales

Shopping in Saigon

Thirty-year-old Adrian Nguyen learned the design trade in Bangkok before returning to his native Ho Chi Minh City to set up his own Valenciani brand. Now in its third year, the label has quickly become one of the hottest in the region.

1 DMC: One of my favourite stores in town, it’s the brainchild of Do Manh Cuong, one of the best Vietnamese designers out there. His new line, DMC, is more affordable than his previous line. You can find pretty chiffon tops and silk skirts here along with some cardigans, just in time for fall. The look of the store itself is worth the trip. 213 Ly Tu Trong, District 1, tel: +84 (0)8 3521 0122, www.dmc-vn.com

2 Kelly Bui: If you’re a fan of Dolce & Gabbana, you will come across many items here that you’ll want to wear. The shop is new to Saigon, though it has been around for years in Hanoi. An abundance of skirts and shirts can be found here. Kelly Bui specialises in silk and many of its fabrics are designed exclusively for the brand. Vincom Center, 72 Le Thanh Ton, District 1

3 Song: These stores always smell so good and that’s what I love about them. That coupled with the relaxed, resort-life clothing line. The brand is becoming very popular, so much so that Cameron Diaz wanted to wear Song for a Vogue cover and Anna Wintour readily agreed! I also love the fedoras and some of the canvas/ leather bags, which are perfect for weekend trips to the beach. 76D Le Thanh Ton and Saigon Centre, District 1, tel: +84 (0)8 8822 6827

4 L’usine: This is my new favourite lunch and shopping spot. It is an international clothing and lifestyle store, and I’m telling you, the sandwiches are really nice on the taste buds. I can come here every day just for a bite to eat and a stroll around the sales floor. Some pieces by Tylor Ho can be found here. I love his floral silk shorts and tops. 1/F, 151 Dong Khoi, District 1, tel: +84 (0)8 6674 3565

5 Valenciani: It’s easy when you talk about yourself! We have a great selection of silk and chiffon tops, floaty skirts and structured dresses using beautiful imported fabrics. We also do custom orders. The clothes are so pretty that we have been featured several times in international magazines like this one. Saigon Centre and 66-68 Nguyen Trai, District 1, tel: +84 (0)8 3821 2788