Waxing in Saigon? Waxing in Hochi Minh? The following post is a genuine review shared by one of our long-term clients, an expatriate who has lived in Saigon for over 3 years.
His insights into the “Wild West” nature of the local waxing industry were so accurate and valuable that we asked for his permission to publish them on our official blog. At Linh Lan Waxing, we fully agree with his philosophy: “Go where the owner works.” We believe this story will help travelers find safe and professional services in Ho Chi Minh City.
Hi everyone.
I’ve been getting waxed regularly for about 3 years now. I’ve experienced waxing services in Thailand, Japan, and extensively in Vietnam. I wanted to write this post to share my honest thoughts on the current level of waxing services in Vietnam, specifically Saigon.
The Nightmare that Started It All I’m writing this because of a truly traumatic experience I had in the past. I don’t remember the name of the shop, but it was one of those places near Bui Vien that offers both massage and waxing.
That was my first waxing experience in Vietnam, and I was shocked. First off, the price was suspiciously cheap—about $20 for a Brazilian. That should have been a huge red flag. When I walked in, the place smelled moldy and dirty. They just pulled a flimsy curtain, melted some hard wax, and started.
The staff didn’t even wear rubber gloves. She applied the wax directly to my sensitive skin without checking the temperature. It was scalding hot, and I literally screamed. I’m pretty sure I got a minor burn that day.
What made me furious was the total lack of basic hygiene. She was so careless. I gritted my teeth and endured the session, but in the end, there was still leftover hair everywhere. My first experience was absolute hell.
Since then, I’ve visited Vietnam many times and started observing why the industry operates like such a “Wild West.” Here is my breakdown:
The waxing population here is still small. Because it’s not yet a mainstream industry, many people just buy cheap wax beans from China and practice on friends. Then, they open a shop without proper training or systems. Hygiene concepts are often non-existent. It’s a mess.
Young locals are starting to wax more, but it’s not yet respected as a technical skill. Because the history is short, many shops are under-equipped and unprofessional. They don’t know what high-quality products are or how to use them. They often don’t care about post-waxing skin troubles either.
If you want a proper standard, it’s usually wiser to go to places run by foreigners or those strictly targeting tourists. Just like the massage industry in Vietnam has improved massively over the last 10 years, waxing is going through that phase. Foreign owners or managers usually understand customer service and basic standards. If you complain, they actually understand why you are upset.
I’ve had some shocking experiences with this. I see shops that have been open for less than a year but have 500~800 reviews on Google. Think about it. Waxing isn’t like a massage factory where you can serve 50 people at once. It requires a personal connection with the therapist. Nowadays, Google Maps has become a billboard for ads. These shops claim to be “Professional,” but the staff are rookies, and the owner knows nothing about waxing. They just invest money in ads and fake reviews. It makes me so angry.
This is the common denominator for all the good places I found—whether it’s a restaurant, massage, or wax shop. Avoid the fake viral spots. Look for genuine feedback. The best places are where the owner is actually present and knows how to wax. In many places, absentee owners hire staff who only learned by practicing on their family. The owner can’t train them because the owner doesn’t know how to wax! Service quality fluctuates wildly. If something goes wrong, the staff just says “Sorry,” and the owner is nowhere to be found. No refund, no responsibility. But when the owner operates the shop, they take full responsibility. They listen to feedback and improve.
I’m not saying the entire industry is bad. There are definitely hidden gems where they are eager to learn and do their best for customers.
Based on my personal experience, here are the spots I can genuinely recommend depending on your location:
ONE LAST WARNING for Guys: You might see ads or get offers for “Out-call / Mobile Waxing” (coming to your hotel). I do NOT recommend this. They often try to make weird deals (unwanted “extra services”) or try to scam you for more money once they are in your room. It can get dangerous. Just go to a proper shop for your safety.
Hope this helps you guys save your skin (literally).
Thank you for your heartfelt review.
