Men's haircuts and barbershops in Vietnam: a practical guide

In Vietnam you can get a men's haircut at a traditional neighbourhood barber, a hair salon or a modern barbershop. Barbershops specialise in men's grooming: fades, undercuts, textured styles, beard trims and hot-towel straight-razor shaves. A cut usually takes 30–60 minutes, and most men go back every 3–5 weeks to keep it sharp.

At a glance

• Time: usually 30–60 minutes; longer with a wash, beard trim, shave or perm.
• Results usually last: fades and tight sides usually lose their shape after 2–3 weeks; longer styles around 4–6 weeks.
• Suits: everyone, from a tidy office cut to something more fashion-forward.
• Think twice if: you have inflamed spots, cuts or a skin condition on your scalp or face (tell the barber so they avoid close clipping or the razor there); your skin reacts badly to razors.

Popular men's styles

• Fade: graduates from very short at the neck and sides to longer on top; low, mid or high fade depending on how high the short part goes.
• Undercut: short sides with longer hair on top and a clear dividing line.
• Side part: classic and tidy, good for work.
• Two-block: Korean-style cut with longer hair on top falling over shorter sides.
• Men's perm: a light perm on top for volume and texture, popular in Vietnam.
• Buzz cut: clipped evenly all over; simple and cool in the heat.

What happens at the barbershop

1. Consultation: the barber asks what you want and checks your head shape, crown and hair type.
2. Wash: often with a short head massage.
3. Cut: clippers for the sides and back, scissors on top.
4. Line-up: neckline and edges tidied with a razor or trimmer.
5. Beard trim or hot-towel shave, if you've chosen one.
6. Blow-dry and style with wax, clay or pomade; most barbers will show you how to style it yourself.

How to explain what you want

• Bring photos from several angles: front, side and back.
• Use clipper guard numbers, for example "number 1 on the sides, longer on top".
• Say whether you want a squared or natural neckline, and whether you want skin-close sides.
• If you want to keep length on top, ask for "just a trim on top".

Useful Vietnamese if you need it: ngắn (short), dài (long), tỉa thôi (just a trim), trên dài, hai bên ngắn (long on top, short on the sides), không cạo (no shave).

Before your appointment

• Let your hair grow out enough if you want a big change, especially from a very short cut to an undercut or two-block.
• Book ahead for evenings and weekends, when barbershops are busiest.
• Mention it if your skin is sensitive to razors.

Keeping your cut sharp

• Ask which product suits your hair: firm or flexible hold, shiny or matte.
• Wash product out at the end of the day.
• For fades, book a tidy-up every 2–3 weeks to keep the blend clean.
• In hot, humid weather, light water-based products hold better and wash out easily.

Visitor tip: traditional street-side barbers are part of everyday life in Vietnam, and some offer extras like a face shave. Agree on exactly what you want before they start, and say no to anything you'd rather skip.

Questions to ask the barbershop

• Do you use a fresh razor blade for each client? How are clippers and combs cleaned?
• Does the price include a wash, blow-dry and styling? Are beard trims and shaves extra?
• Which barber is best with fades or men's perms?

FAQ

How often should men get a haircut?

Fades and tight sides every 2–3 weeks; longer styles around every 4–6 weeks.

What's the difference between a barbershop and a traditional barber in Vietnam?

Traditional barbers are usually quick and keep styles simple. Modern barbershops focus on contemporary cuts like fades, beard grooming and hot-towel shaves, and tend to spend longer with each client.

How much is a men's haircut in Da Nang?

Prices depend on the shop, the barber and extras like a wash or shave. See current prices at salons on Chepom Bookings: Da Nang · Hoi An · Ho Chi Minh City

What's the difference between a fade and an undercut?

A fade blends gradually from short to long with no hard line. An undercut keeps the sides uniformly short, with a clear line where the longer top begins.

Do I need to book a barber in advance?

It helps, especially in the evenings, at weekends and in the busy weeks before Tết (Lunar New Year). Booking lets you choose your barber and skip the wait.

Book it

Find a barbershop nearby, read reviews and book a free slot on Chepom Bookings: Da Nang · Hanoi · Ho Chi Minh City