Fast fashion in Vietnam has made trendy clothes so cheap that I can buy a new outfit every week for less than a bowl of phở, but I'm starting to wonder if the hidden costs are worth it. My last five shirts from a popular online store all shrank after three washes, which means I'm actually paying more per wear than if I'd invested in quality pieces. The environmental damage from textile waste is piling up in places like Bắc Ninh, yet we keep chasing the next Instagram look without counting what we throw away. Is the thrill of constant newness really better than owning fewer, better-made clothes that actually last?