Heeeeeeey there my gorgeous darlings, oohhhh how I’ve missed you! I can’t wait to tell you all about my latest adventure in a place I’ve always wanted to explore. A land of beautiful, mysterious landscapes, bustling street markets, and street food to die for. It’s not too far from Thailand so I thought I’d jump on a little plane ride and finally tick Vietnam off a bucket list as long as my neck! As LUC8K’s brand ambassador and Spokesgiraffe, I made it my mission to investigate Vietnam’s unique, ever-evolving fashion scene with a focus on ethical, sustainable, and responsible practices. I also had to sample the delights of egg coffee in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (aaaaaand, spoiler alert - I did, and it was divine!) The sun was shining, I had my Gucci sunglasses, 4 litres of Evian and some cashew nuts in my LUC8K Weekender travel bag, and some hoof cream in case I had to do a lot of walking – which I did, and this trip did wonders for my calf muscles!
The Joy of Hanoi: Tradition Vs Trendsetting
It was so nice to find Hanoi and lose myself in this vibrant city. The people are so friendly and welcoming, but the roads leave a lot to be desired! There are no rules here, and it’s every man, woman and giraffe for themselves! I have never seen so many TukTuks, motorbikes and scooters, and you’d think they would stop or at least slow down to let a tall, elegant giraffe cross the street. Apparently, the trick is to spot a gap in the traffic, make a run for it and hope for the best, but as I trotted across the road, the not-so-easy riders just carried on going under my legs! I was like some kind of exotic tunnel for them to drive under! I eventually made it unscathed to the street market where I found local vendors selling everything from hand-embroidered dresses to silk scarves. I gracefully strutted around the famous Old Quarter, where the colourful streets are packed with traditional artisans crafting leather goods, textiles and really good tailor-made outfits.
I paid a visit to Tan My Design, which is Hanoi’s oldest and most famous embroidery store. It’s very quaint darlings, and I was made more than welcome by a wonderful group of women who have dedicated their lives to preserving the ancient art of hand embroidery. They hand-stitch delicate patterns onto silk, and each thread tells a story of Vietnamese history and heritage. It really was a joy to watch! They invited me to test my own embroidery skills but sadly, my hooves are not as nimble as theirs! But their passion for slow fashion really struck a chord for me. Like LUC8K, they craft each stunning piece with passion, patience, and precision, and this for me, beats mass production any day.
I then jumped on the back of a motorcycle taxi and headed to Chula Fashion. They are an ethical fashion brand founded by a Spanish-Vietnamese duo who employ very talented differently-abled artisans. I’ve heard so much about this company, and their creations ticked every box for me – bespoke, colourful and sustainable. Sound familiar? ;) So, I indulged in (coughs) seven dresses, a silk scarf and various other items that my husband will never find out about unless he reads this blog and his credit card statements…I also felt obliged to give the poor motorcycle taxi driver a huuuuge tip to help towards the cost of his terminally damaged suspension.
Sapa: Textiles, Tribes & Trekking
Hanoi is fast, furious and frantic, so I welcomed the chance to escape for a little bit of luxurious serenity. I chartered an executive minibus with air con and plush leather seats to Sapa. It’s a stunning mountainous paradise that is home to Vietnam’s indigenous tribes – a place where sustainable fashion isn’t just a trend - it’s a way of life. For generations, the Hmong, Tay, and Dao communities have perfected the art of crafting textiles using natural dyes and organic cotton. Watching their traditional, intricate weaving techniques is like poetry for the soul, and I felt truly blessed to be welcomed so warmly by these wonderful two-legged people, especially Madame Mai, who is my new ‘spirit human’ ;)
Mai Hmong dyes her fabrics with beautiful indigo plants that actually grow in her garden (it took all the strength I have not to eat them!) and she took me through the entire process, from fermenting the exotic leaves to dipping the fabric and letting it oxidize into a deep, mesmerising blue. There is no such thing as ‘fast fashion’ in this part of the world, because like LUC8K, each piece takes weeks, sometimes months, to make entirely by hand. Craftmanship over consumerism darlings. It’s the new black, and we’ve been perfecting it for decades!
Mai then took me on a delightful trek through the epic, picturesque rice terraces, and it was like strutting back in time! As I clumsily tried to navigate the seemingly endless winding mud paths, it was hard to look effortlessly cool and chic whilst trying not to disturb and freak out the curious water buffalo – who, rather surprisingly, had never seen a giraffe in high hooves and Gucci shades before!
Hue: The Hidden Couture of The Imperial City
Vietnam’s former imperial capital is called Hue - an ancient citadel with regal architecture, absolutely perfect for a sassy, long-legged princess! It’s a very Instagrammable place but I didn’t hot-hoof it here for more gorgeous selfies darlings. Hue has a rich silk-making history, and at Thai Nam Silk, I discovered how traditional Vietnamese silk is produced using methods dating back hundreds of years. I was treated like royalty on my private tour, and it felt like a privilege to be able to watch the workers spin, dye, and weave the silk entirely by hand. Sustainable and responsible artistry is literally woven into every single fibre, and they were suitably intrigued and impressed when I told them about LUC8K’s own leather-dyeing techniques.
I then had the honour of meeting Minh Hang, a modern-day ‘ao dai’ designer (I’m almost fluent in Vietnamese now!) who is well-known for adding a sustainable twist to Vietnam’s national dress. The ao dai is a colourful, long tunic and it’s still a very popular icon of Vietnamese culture. Minh Hang sources organic dyes and locally-produced silk to create these wearable works of art – so, naturally, I had one hand-made, and I’ve never felt so majestic! I used up all her silk though, so she had to close her store once I left!
Ha Long Bay: A Luxe Cruise Darlings
This was the part of my trip I was so excited about! Now, my dears, there are two ways of seeing the staggering natural beauty of Ha Long Bay. You can either go on a cheap, tatty little wooden boat with holes in it, or you can splash out and enjoy a luxury cruise with bubbles, delightful nibbles, and classical music playing as you gently sail through towering limestone karsts and emerald-green waters as a gentle breeze makes your ears flap.
After my close encounters with kamikaze motorbikes and curious yet deadly water buffalo, this was just what the doctor (or my LUC8K credit card) ordered. The very short yet weirdly handsome captain told me all about the region’s delicate marine ecosystems and the importance of responsible tourism to protect this UNESCO World Heritage site. It was nothing short of magical as I lounged on the deck sipping fresh coconut juice (and a bottle of my favourite bubbly of course!), kayaked through hidden caves, saw a floating fishing village, and watched the sun dip below the horizon in a spectacular blaze of colors.
This, to me, is what true luxury is all about, and it was a privilege for me to be able enjoy the beauty all around me whilst showing off my new, bespoke ao dai to everyone that wanted to take a selfie with me.
Final Thoughts: With Love from Vietnam
Vietnam is very similar to Thailand in many ways, but I found it to be less hectic and dangerous for a giraffe to some extent! It’s a beautiful country where the luxury of fashion is woven into its identity and history. From the Hmong indigo dyers to the avant-garde up-cyclers of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is a place that values craft over convenience, heritage over haste, and purpose over profit.
As I sit at the airport waiting to see how much my excess baggage will cost (I packed waaaaay too much ethically made fashion treats!) I bid Vietnam a very fond farewell. It’s a beautiful country that proves to the world that the future of fashion doesn’t have to be wasteful. Real luxury is meant to make you smile, and it’s no wonder so many Vietnamese fashionistas have big smiles on their faces – looking good and feeling the joy that only truly bespoke and totally ethical creations can bring.
Now, I’m just plotting my next adventure, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about it! Be sure to join me, and stay happy, stylish, and sassy!