I'm interested in getting a wedding dress (simple design) made in Thailand or Vietnam on an upcoming trip. Has anyone had any experience with this? What kind of silks are available besides Thai silk?
Also - I won't be spending enough time in Bangkok to have it made there (but could shop for fabric). But I'll be in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Chiang Mai for longer.
Thanks in advance!

our experience is that if you bring pictures and know exactly what you want a good asian tailor will make just what you want...

we purchased some of the dress makings for our youngest daughters dress in bangkok a few years ago...

there are many kinds of silk available all over asia...not sure about viet nam however...better check carefully...thailand yes...nubby, non-nubby, lite weight, heavy weight, etc...

don't go for the cheapest tailor or it may mean disappointment...go for lots and lots of fittings...

good sources in bangkok:

anita thai silk on silom road
jim thompson main store on surawong road and his two outlets on soi 93, shkhumvit rd and on surawong rd, down from the main store...
sinwatra silk on soi 23, sukhumvit rd

there are dozens of other fabric shops in bangkok

We've used Thu Thuy 60 Le Loi St Hoi An in Vietnam twice. They made me two fab thai silk jackets for formalwear & they are gorgeous!! They are tailors of exceptional talent and if you have a picture of what you like they will copy it. They are more expensive than anywhere else in Hoi An. The quality is worth it! Careful of fabrics-maybe be better to take sample fabric you like from home to compare with what they have available. Happy times!

ttt

Couple of times I have noticed dress designers buying plain colours in silk at the JimT factory outlet at Soi 93. It is a bit out of the way but worth it if u do a lot of shopping there. Another good tailor is NYSilk in the lane behind the Oriental Hotel, away from the water. They do express orders - I comp agree with Bob tho that the key to success is taking advanteg of the 2 fittings they offer.

the jim thompson main store also does custom gowns

Pull up a an article in T&L - http://www.travelandleisure.com. Search for HK or Vietnam and you will find an article which lists tailors including phone numbers - article is a bit dated but know at least one of the places in Hanoi still exists coz I went there in Feb. Also has the name of a 24 hour seamstress in Hoi An who still givs you 2 fittings.