Since moving from Los Angeles four-plus-years ago, I’ve discovered that Vietnam may not only meet, but could actually exceed, Asia’s famed and most globally renowned beauty hubs. Yes, Seoul might be considered the mecca for revolutionary and state-of-the-art skincare, and Tokyo may dazzle with its wildly creative 3D nail art, but Ho Chi Minh City? Well, it’s fast becoming a global hotspot for beauty aficionados who travel here specifically to “get things done”. I mean, nearly every nail salon in the states is Vietnamese owned, right?
In this vibrant city, it’s not just about the treatments; it’s the whole experience – the skilled practitioners, the warm hospitality, the attention to meticulous detail, and truly exceptional service. Some of you know may know that I have spent a large portion of my career in the beauty space, both as a publicist, and as the Fashion and Beauty Editor of Splash Magazine Worldwide, so I’ve tested nearly EVERYTHING there is to try over the past 20-something years. So, let me take you on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s beauty scene, and share my favorite places to go for all things beauty. ** Disclaimer. All but one of my picks are based in Thao Dien, primarily as it’s my neighborhood and I like to support local businesses, and also because I’m hella lazy and don’t like crossing the bridge into the city unless I really have to. LOL. But, being said, all listed are completely AWESOME!
ALLLL THE THINGS:
Jasmine Hair & Spa is a new find, and now, an absolute FAVE. It’s a 1 stop shop to satisfy the full cornucopia of my beauty needs in 1 single location. I am not kidding… their menu of services is literally 7 pages long! They offer every service imaginable, from Facials to Massages, Body Treatments, Waxing, Laser Hair Removal, Hair Color, Cut, Styling and Wash, Manicures, Pedicures, Nail Art, etc. etc. etc. I could literally go there in the morning, leave two days later, and still not have time to experience all the awesomeness they have to offer.
The spa is owned by my friend Lam, and her staff is simply FANTASTIC at what they do. Thus far, I have had a Deep Tissue Massage, which was just incredible, a Shampoo VIP – glorious, and got my hair Bleached with Olaplex in the solution, Toned, Collagened, Botoxed, yeah that’s evidentially a thing, and beautifully cut by their lead stylist Hieu Nguyen. Next on my visit list is a Multox vip p.G 90 min facial, whatever that is, and a Rice Body Polish. Can’t WAIT!! If you want one single place to get all the things done, seriously look no further than Jasmine!
Jasmine Hair & Spa: 14E1 Đường Số 38, Thảo Điền, D2.
COLOR AND CUT:
My pixie hair cut has become a key part of my identity, and I have had so much FUN playing with it since choosing to chop all my hair off 6 years ago. Since living in HCMC, I have rocked the hottest HOT pink, electric blue, bright purple, a combo of all 3 which I have vulgarly coined “Unicorn Jizz”, and for some time now, I have opted for my current bleach blonde lewk… not because I don’t love the blue, but because it’s the lowest maintenance option for me right now, as I am now pretty much full-blown gray under my color. And not that sexy silver you see the girls slaying on Instagram. It’s more salt than pepper, wiry Great-Aunt Bessy ugly ass gray. And that’s NOT for me.
I have been seeing Bashi, the incredibly talented owner of J-First Saigon in Thao Dien, since I moved here, and he has personally seen me through all my crazy color whims and shape variations of my beloved Pixie cut. He’s Japanese, and his staff is Vietnamese, so I’ve had to break out the Translator app a few times when wanting something new, but prepped with photos to show him, he always does a SENSATIONAL job. If you want to dare a non-conventional color, he supplies a literal rainbow of colors to choose from, and he is truly an artist with a pair of scissors. I really can’t recommend him highly enough!
J-First Saigon: 7A Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, D2
WAX ON WAX OFF
I was recommended to An by an Expat friend in 2020, during the 1st Covid lockdown in Saigon, after I put out the APB in our local FEXPATS FB group that I was desperate for a wax. Like the rest of the world, all restaurants, bars, beauty salons and massage parlors were closed indefinitely by the government when Covid crossed our border, and needless to say, getting my girlie bits maintained was a sad impossibility…
UNTIL, this Vietnamese Angel of Beauty came into my life, WHO MADE HOUSE CALLS!!! To this day, I either opt to visit her spa for a wax, or I message her on FB, set a time, and she comes to my home, kit in hand, with a beaming smile on her face. Her work is utterly meticulous, as pain-free as it gets, and she is also one of the loveliest people I have met in Vietnam. Also offering eyelash extensions, and fabulous mani/pedis at her shop, I beyond recommend her services. She is FANTASTIC!!
An On Call: 14 Đường Đỗ Quang, Thảo Điền, D2
BOTOX BABY!
People from home keep commenting on the photos I posts that I’ve turned into a “Benjamin Buttons” since living in Vietnam. That I look younger now than I did in my mid 30’s. Well, I have always been completely transparent about the fact that I am a devotee of Botox injections, and began a preventative regimen when I was 30 in order to decelerate the barely there lines on my face from becoming deep furrows. There is good and natural looking Botox, and there is really BAD Botox, and there is only one practitioner whom I will allow to touch my face. Her name is Elly Tran.
Elly is a freaking MAGICIAN… an artist, who uses needles as her brush, injectables as paint and your face as the canvas. Unlike most, she does not charge by the unit or CC. She instead marks up your face with a pen, and gives you as much, or as little, as you need to achieve a fully flawless, yet completely natural look. She reshaped my thin lips with filler, achieving a sexy fuller shape, and not the typical duck bill. She’s filled in the “resting bitch face” crevices on both sides of my mouth so I don’t look like I am constantly pissed off. And the results from her work is truly astounding. Her main practice is in Hanoi, but she comes down to Saigon the 3rd weekend of each month to service her fans in the south at her namesake spa – Elly’s Beauty. If you have ever considered giving your face a non-surgical tune up, there is no one better in this country than Elly. Plus, her main technician does the BEST MICROBLADING EVER! Thus, my fabulous brows!
Elly Beauty: 104/11 Đ. Mai Thị Lựu, Đa Kao, D1
DERMAPLANING, LASHES, NAILS & TOES
A mani/pedi at Harmony was the very first beauty service I got on day 2 of my arrival to Vietnam. It was my sister Samantha’s go to, and ever since, mine.
Chau Vo, the salon’s owner. is a dear friend of mine and treats everyone who walks in her door like family. Her staff does a fantastic job with nails and toes, and if they are not too busy, you will be assigned 4 techs to work on you at the same time, one dedicated to each appendage, which gets you in and out in a flash. And they can deal with my painful ingrown toenails, I inherited Dad’s toes ugh, which many nail techs can’t properly manage. When I need my face straight razor shaved, to remove the vellus hair, aka peach fuzz, Chau is my guuurl to get it done. If you have not tried Dermaplaning, it’s a really great treatment as it both gets rid of the fine facial hair, and gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it baby butt smooth for better makeup application. And her Lash Extensions and Lash Lifts are absolutely sublime!
Harmony Nails & Beauty: 14, Q . Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, D2
HAIR & MUA
I was turned on to Trang Phan by a girlfriend in 2020, and the services she offers is quite unique. It’s basically Uber for beauty, and she has a team of the best editorial, runway and special effects Hair & Make-up artists in the city on her roster, whom you can book to come to your place and get you all kinds of glam. Although I am pretty good at doing my own make-up, I have so many red carpet events I attend in Saigon, many of which are themed during “Ball Season”, and I always want to make sure that I am photo ready for every event I attend. Trang is so very sweet, always willing to help, and I have even been able to book a last-minute glam squad, mere hours before an event! And, she sends a translator as well in case the artist does not speak English which is super convenient. Trust me, follow her on FB, DM her on Messenger, and try out her services!
FACIALS:
I have two places of choice I love for my face:
1. Glo365: This place is alllll about the high tech. They carry virtually every latest and greatest gadget imaginable to treat your face, including a Skin Analysis System, which will digitally capture and produce images highlighting spots, wrinkles, texture, pores, UV spots, brown spots, red areas and porphyrins. After the consultation, you will be advised as to which treatment will be most beneficial for your individual skin’s condition, and then head in for your treatment. ** Full disclosure, I have only tried 1 facial thus far at Glo365, but I’m saving up my VND to purchase a package of Morpheus 8 treatments, a combo of microneedling and radiofrequency technology for fractional resurfacing that stimulates collagen production. Told you they are high tech!
2. Thảo Điền Spa: This is my place for my every other month Deep Cleansing Facial. Super relaxing, extremely pampering and very budget friendly. Make sure you specify that you want extractions if you do, otherwise they will just use a pore sucking machine, which is good, but it doesn’t address my deep seeded black and white heads like getting in there and popping them does. I also recommend their IPL & Laser Facials, but make sure you can stay out of the sun for 2 weeks, post treatment.; I’d honestly wait for rainy season to start for those two procedures, as the sun is bright and HOT as HELL right now.
Glow365 Thảo Điền: 63 Xuân Thủy, @Courtyard, Thảo Điền, D2.
Thảo Điền Spa: Hẻm 47/1/13 Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, D2
RUB DOWN
I have 3 different places in town I frequent for different massage treatments.
1. Leelawadee Thai Therapy Thao Dien for THE BEST Thai Massage. I have back issues, as I retain all of my stress in my neck/shoulder region and lower back, and their team of Thai girls, as tiny as they may be, have the strongest hands, and are experts in the stretching, kneading, back cracking et al.
2. Mandala Wellness: My guy at Mandala is Shaun, an American, for the series of serious Medical Massages I need from time to time. The muscles in my shoulder blades get so seized up from my endless hours working on a laptop that they compress my nerves, causing electric like shocks to stream down my arms. I seriously look like Frankenstein when it happens. The massage hurts, not gonna lie, but the relief I feel post treatment far supersedes the pain.
3. Mộc Hương Spa: Try the Mộc Hương Signature, a deep tissue treatment blend of Thai, Shiatsu and Swedish massage techniques, combined with oil. It’s beyond INCREDIBLE!
Leelawadee Thai Therapy Thao Dien: THT Apartment, 215A6 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền, D2
Mandala Wellness: TP 215A8, Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền, D2.
Mộc Hương Spa Thảo Điền: 61 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, D2.
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