How much does a suit cost at HC Hien Cao?
One reviewer paid a little over US$100 for a dress, a top and a skirt and was happy. Another was quoted US$117.50 for a dress, which dropped to US$78 when she walked away. One was quoted 3,000,000 VND for a custom dress, and another paid over €100 for two pairs of trousers that never fit and got 300,000 VND back.
Reviews are split between very reasonable and overpriced. Payment is taken in advance, sometimes before you have seen the fabric, so check it first. See the Hanoi tailor prices guide.
| What was ordered | What the customer paid |
|---|---|
| dress | One reviewer was quoted 3,000,000 VND for a custom dress in her size (1★); another was first quoted US$117.50 for a dress, lowered to US$78 after she walked away (1★). |
| dress + top + skirt | One reviewer paid a little over US$100 for a dress, a top and a skirt (5★). |
| trousers | One reviewer paid over €100 for two pairs of custom trousers she says never fit; she was refunded 300,000 VND (1★). |
Collected from recent reviews, not the shop's price list.
How long does HC Hien Cao take?
When it works, HC Hien Cao is fast: a formal gown in two days, a gala dress in 24 hours, three sets overnight and four pieces in under two days. Since July 2024 a reviewer was told custom work now takes 3 or more days, not the 12 hours once advertised, and several unhappy customers say deadlines were missed.
There is usually one fitting at pickup, with changes made while you wait. One customer had four pieces delivered to her Airbnb and a missed shirt sent on to Sapa at the shop's cost. Another says items promised to her hotel never arrived, and one says the shop refused to ship unfinished pieces.
What 58 reviews of HC Hien Cao mention most
Praised
- Friendly, patient staff41% here · 36% across Hanoi24 of 58
- Quality of the finished clothes40% here · 50% across Hanoi23 of 58
- Fast turnaround28% here · 28% across Hanoi16 of 58
- Careful fittings, fit right22% here · 30% across Hanoi13 of 58
- Good value for the price19% here · 20% across Hanoi11 of 58
- Copied a garment or photo well16% here · 4% across Hanoi9 of 58
- Wide choice of fabric9% here · 7% across Hanoi5 of 58
- Good advice on style and fabric5% here · 19% across Hanoi3 of 58
Complaints and caveats
- Fit problems not fixed19% here · 2% across Hanoi11 of 58
- Made differently from what was asked12% here · 1% across Hanoi7 of 58
- Stitching or fabric problems10% here · 2% across Hanoi6 of 58
- Pricier than other tailors9% here · 2% across Hanoi5 of 58
- Slow or late9% here · 1% across Hanoi5 of 58
Counted from the 58 most recent Google and TripAdvisor reviews of HC Hien Cao; one review can mention several things. The mark on each bar is the share across 3,254 reviews of 73 tailors in Hanoi.
What customers ordered at HC Hien Cao and what they paid
| Order | Paid | Ready in | Fittings | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A blue dress copied from the customer's own design | 3 million dong | four days | — | |
| Two shirts, a pair of trousers and a skirt | — | about 2 days | — | |
| Wide dress trousers and wide capri trousers | over €100 | 1.5 days agreed | 2 | |
| Formal gown made from a photo | — | two days | — | |
| Dress described as silk | US$78, lowered from a US$117.5 quote | a week | — | |
| A dress, a top and a skirt | a little over US$100 | — | — | |
| Brown linen maxi dress added at the last minute | — | about 24 hours | — | |
| A custom top and a custom set | — | within 48 hours | — | |
| Gala dress | — | 24 hours | — | |
| Three sets, a skirt and two tops | — | overnight | — |
As reported in individual reviews, in the currency the customer used.
What customers say about HC Hien Cao
Do not come here. Extremely overpriced, nothing was the correct fit, lied about when things would be done. Items were already fraying when we came to pick them up. My dress was four sizes too large.
Dear Becca Banks. I would just like to say how saddened I am that you were unhappy with our service. Sometimes we get very busy and as you well know, space is a premium here and it is difficult to be at 100% every time.
Quoted from recent Google reviews, as written — critical ones included.
Complaints to know before visiting HC Hien Cao
- 10 of 60 reviews (seven 1★, two 2★, one 3★; 8 of them in the last 9 months) report garments that did not fit or did not match the reference photo: a dress 'four sizes too large', trousers that were tight and loose at once, two pairs of pants of different lengths, a top that 'looked like a tablecloth', no waist shaping, missing pockets.
- 6 of 60 reviews (1★ and 2★) say refunds were refused or partial after a failed order: offers of 200,000 VND or 300,000 VND back on orders over 100 dollars/euros, half the money back after 30 minutes of negotiation, or nothing at all.
- 5 of 60 reviews (1★ and 2★) say promised deadlines were missed: told to come back at 9 pm and then the next day, a week instead of 12 hours, nothing ready after three days, items still half done when the group had to leave Hanoi.
- 5 of 60 reviews (1★) call the shop overpriced or a 'tourist scam', one comparing the silk to cheaper fast fashion; a further two 5★ reviews also say it is 'definitely not cheap'.
- 4 of 60 reviews (1★, 2★, 3★) describe fraying seams, holes from unpicking, cheap fabric or a limited fabric selection.
- 4 of 60 reviews (1★ to 3★) found the staff dismissive or rude when raising a problem, or unwelcoming on arrival.
- 1 of 60 reviews (3★) received a pair of trousers in the wrong fabric, colour and size, corrected the next day.
Who HC Hien Cao is best for
HC Hien Cao suits travelers who want well-made linen off the rack, or a simple custom piece with enough days in Hanoi for a proper fitting. Many reviewers praise the linen and the free alterations done on the spot.
Read the complaints above before you pay: they describe poor fits, missed deadlines and partial refunds. Avoid it for complex designs or a tight deadline. Agree the price, fabric and date in writing, and remember quotes can drop if you walk away.
- Hiennamed in 7 reviews · the owner-designer, copying garments from photos and adjusting the fit
Before you order at HC Hien Cao
- Do not count on the 12-hour turnaround advertised online. In July 2024 the shop told one visitor that custom orders took three days or more, and another customer said a top and a skirt took a week and seven return visits.
- Several negative reviews come from travellers whose pieces were unfinished or did not fit when they had to leave Hanoi. One was told five items could easily be done in three days and left for Ha Giang with them still unaltered.
- Payment is taken in advance, and refunds reported for disputed pieces were partial: 200,000 dong in one case and 300,000 VND in another. One customer advises checking the cloth itself before you pay.
- The shop also sells ready-made linen pieces. One customer bought those instead because custom work needed three days.
- Alterations can be done while you wait, and one customer who came back four times on the same trip was never charged for them.
Real photos from HC Hien Cao customers
Posted publicly by customers with their Google or TripAdvisor reviews of HC Hien Cao; they belong to the people who took them. If one is yours and you'd rather it wasn't here, email janusaimaagency@gmail.com and it comes down.
HC Hien Cao compared with nearby tailors in Hanoi
If HC Hien Cao isn't right for you, these are the closest alternatives, with what their customers reported.
| Tailor | Distance | Suit | Ready in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HC Hien Cao | — | — | 24–48 hours | 4.1 (88) |
| Anh Village Silk | 400 m | about $110 | 24–48 hours | 4.7 (166) |
| Đức Nhật Tailor | 410 m | about $250 | 24–72 hours | 5.0 (1,194) |
| NGO GIA Tailor | 440 m | $280–500 | 24–48 hours | 4.9 (532) |
| Kingsford Tailor | 440 m | — | — | 5.0 (17) |
| Tailor Thanh | 710 m | — | 26 hours | 5.0 (16) |
| Chương Tailor 42a Hai Bà Trưng | 820 m | — | — | 4.6 (10) |
How to get to HC Hien Cao
HC Hien Cao is at P. Hàng Gai, an easy walk from the Old Quarter — the map above has the exact spot. If a driver or a tout tells you it's "closed today", it isn't: that's a commission pitch. You can call ahead on +84859641616.
Grab drivers work from the Vietnamese address. Copy it, paste it into the Grab app as your destination, or show it to the driver.
HC Hien Cao: frequently asked questions
Is HC Hien Cao in Hanoi reliable?
Reviews are split. HC Hien Cao has 45 five-star reviews among the 60 read, but 10 one-star reviews report clothes that did not fit, missed deadlines and refunds of only 200,000 to 300,000 VND. Payment is upfront.
How fast is HC Hien Cao?
Many reviewers had pieces in 24 to 48 hours. Since July 2024 a reviewer was told HC Hien Cao needs 3 or more days for custom work, and several say promised dates were missed.
Can you bargain at HC Hien Cao?
One reviewer was quoted US$117.50 for a dress at HC Hien Cao, and the price fell to US$78 when she walked away. Agree the price before paying, since payment is taken upfront.
