Culture Shop : Best Buys Beyond the Malls : Little Saigon

A concentration of Asian immigrants gives this part of Westminster its name. However, most of the merchandise in its two main shopping areas is imported from Hong Kong.

With its elaborate golden pagoda roof, the Asian Garden Mall (6200 Bolsa Ave.) looks like a Buddhist temple. Inside, the air is filled with the scent of spicy food and strains of a Vietnamese “Jingle Bells.” Best buys are custom-made suits from several tailor shops, gold and jade from dozens of jewelry booths, and bolts of embroidered and hand-painted silk fabrics that start at $25 a bolt--enough for a dress--from fabric shops.

Across the street is Asian Village, where you’ll find Phap Quang, a Buddhist religious artifact shop/Chinese herb doctors’ office. Best bets here are funny little Buddha banks ($10), bright-colored tissue wrapping paper ($2), extra-long jade necklace with silk tassel ($35).

Little India

The 18000 block of Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia has been dubbed “Little India” because of the proliferation of Indian restaurants, spice stores, jewelry stores and sari boutiques. India Silk & Fashion has many lavish treasures.

Saris start at $25 and go as high as $800, depending on the amount of handwork and gold. Another costume, called a kurta , is a collarless three-button shirt in a selection of lavish colors and prints to pair with a drawstring pajama pant with narrow legs. Kurtas , $55 to $85, are made for men and women.

Shoes here look like something from Disney’s “Aladdin” and run $15 to $85. Best jewelry bets are made of lead painted like enamel. Earrings cost as little as $10 and get longer and more expensive at $30. Bangle bracelets start at $2 for a bunch of six.

Bindis, those little paste-on jewels worn by Indian women, come in packages of various colors, sizes and jewels, starting at $2.

Ukrainian Rhapsody

Upstairs at the Ukrainian Art Center is a gift gallery with jewelry, books, cards and craft kits from the Ukraine. One of the best buys here is the amber jewelry. It’s said that amber brings good luck and good health, so giving it for Christmas is especially nice. Amber rope necklaces are $25 to $150; sterling silver and amber bracelets are $75 to $120; amber rings start at $20.

White cotton peasant blouses for men, women and children with hand-embroidered cuffs and collars start at $50 and go up to $200 for antique versions.

Out of Africa

One of the oldest African shops in Los Angeles has been in Hollywood for 11 years. Owner Chief Olu Sesan Delu likes to be called Benin of Africa, which also happens to be the name of his shop. The store is jammed with fabrics, curios, arts and crafts, clothing, hats, shoes, jewelry and more.

Beads from the Ivory Coast are $75 to $100; a royal purple robe and matching hat from Nigeria are $375; mud cloth fabric is a reasonable $50 for 1 1/2 yards. Red leather shoes from Berber with colorful hand-stitched toes are a steal at $35. And if you like to make your own necklaces, Benin sells beads.

Third World Treasures

In Orange, a nonprofit crafts shop called Third World Handicrafts carries handmade items from 21 countries. The best Christmas items are Nativity sets from around the world--each made of local materials, such as ebony from Tanzania, carved rocks from Peru, bamboo from the Philippines and massapan bread from Ecuador. The sets go for $25 to $140.

Funny jute puppets from Bangladesh start at $2.50, and a set of adorable, stuffed twin dolls costs $18.

An entire room here is devoted to handicrafts by the Hmong from Laos, many of whom have settled in Orange County. Pillows and wall hangings are covered with hand-embroidered stories of how the Hmong came to America.

The Russia House

Mark Foks’ 2,000-square-foot store, Russian Connections, in the Fairfax District is chock-full of military uniforms, hats and watches and other gift ideas. The navy-blue wool sailor tops are cute for guys or girls ($55). An officer’s cap of black sheepskin would make a great gift for skiers ($50). The shop carries 60 watch designs priced from $25 to $65.

Besides traditional gifts, such as the nesting doll sets called matrioshka, lacquered boxes and jewelry, there are opera glasses in leather cases in two sizes ($32 and $37) and an ornate tin cigarette case ($7.50) that can be filled with Belomorkanal cigarettes ($3.50). A leather military map case decorated with military pins ($45) makes a great man’s bag.

Shopping Itinerary * PHAP QUANG

Where: 9191 Bolsa Ave., 115, Westminster

Call: (714) 891-1465

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily * INDIA SILK & FASHION

Where: 18606 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia

Call: (310) 924-3383

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday * THIRD WORLD HANDICRAFTS

Where: 369 N. Anaheim Blvd., Orange

Call: (714) 634-1685

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday * RUSSIAN CONNECTIONS

Where: 701 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles

Call: (213) 852-0144

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays * UKRAINIAN ART CENTER

Where: 4315 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

Call: (213) 668-0172

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday * BENIN OF AFRICA

Where: 4315 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

Call: (213) 465-6433

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.