Demand for hair dyeing, perms, eyelash extensions and gel manicures has surged in recent days. Many customers say they secured appointments two to three weeks in advance, with some paying extra fees for slots closer to Tet.
Mai Phuong, 26, from Thanh Xuan Ward, said she called several salons around the Trung Hoa-Nhan Chinh area but was told they were fully booked until the 29th day of Tet (February 16). She eventually obtained a 9 pm appointment on the 28th day at a salon on Nguyen Khang Street after transferring a VND200,000 (USD 7.6) deposit, forfeitable if cancelled. “The owner said it’s busier than ever this year and schedules have to be tightly controlled,” she said.
By late afternoon on streets such as Chua Lang, Chua Boc and Thai Thinh, salons were already packed, with motorbikes lining pavements and customers waiting inside, some eating snacks or scrolling on their phones.
Amid stricter booking policies, some salons now accept cash only during peak hours or ask customers to split transfers across multiple accounts to avoid payment congestion. A Thanh Xuan salon owner said the surge in online transactions slows verification, making cash preferable to speed up service.
The rush has pushed staff to their limits. Minh Chau, 22, who works at a nail shop on Quan Nhan Street, said she works from 7 am to midnight. “Customers are constant. Some days I don’t eat until mid-afternoon, and we finish at 1am if clients request extensions or intricate designs,” she said.
Huong Tra, owner of a Hanoi nail salon chain, said all branches are fully booked through the 29th day. Temporary staff have been hired and working hours extended, as Tet customers increasingly opt for elaborate designs that push bills from the usual VND 300,000-500,000 to VND 800,000 or even more than VND 1 million.
On Trieu Khuc Street, many salons are taking bookings only and prioritising perms, dyeing and treatments over basic cuts or washes. “Each chemical service takes three to five hours. If we accept too many, quality drops, so we limit daily appointments,” a Thai Thinh salon owner said.
Men’s barbershops are also extending hours until 9 pm or 10 pm, with crowds surging after 6 pm and some serving more than 40 customers within a few hours. Haircuts cost around VND 100,000 for adults and VND 70,000 for children.
At a three-storey salon on Chua Boc Street in Dong Da Ward, all 20 chairs are filled from morning until late at night, with staff working from 8 am until 1 am or even 2 am to serve the final clients before Tet.