A perm is the service where a written warranty matters most, because the result only fully settles two or three days after you leave the salon. This guide covers getting a perm in Hanoi: the published prices, the difference between a full perm and the cheaper partial options, how long each lasts, what the 90 day warranty actually covers, and the aftercare that decides whether the curl survives a Hanoi summer. Prices start at 480K for a cut-and-perm combo, and the cut comes free when you book the perm ahead.
If you are deciding between curling and straightening, our guide to Japanese straightening prices and warranty covers the opposite direction.
Below: the full price table, the partial perms most people have never heard of, how long the result lasts, what the warranty covers and excludes, aftercare for a humid climate, and the questions foreign guests ask most.
What a Perm Costs in Hanoi
Perms are priced as a combo, meaning the cut is bundled with the chemical service, and the total depends on hair length rather than on the style of curl. S is above the shoulder, M is shoulder length and L is past the shoulder. Booking ahead removes 30% and checking in at the salon removes another 10%.
| Service | List price | After booking + check-in | Rough USD | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic combo, cut + perm, S | 800K | 480K | about $18 | 90 days |
| Basic combo, cut + perm, M | 1,000K | 600K | about $23 | 90 days |
| Basic combo, cut + perm, L | 1,300K | 780K | about $30 | 90 days |
| VIP combo, cut + perm, S | 1,500K | 900K | about $35 | 90 days |
| VIP combo, cut + perm, M | 1,800K | 1,080K | about $42 | 90 days |
| VIP combo, cut + perm, L | 2,200K | 1,320K | about $51 | 90 days |
| Volume perm, volume wash or fringe perm | 400K standard, 500K VIP | 400K / 500K | about $15 to $19 | 90 days |
| Men’s perm, standard | 650K | 450K | about $17 | 90 days |
| Men’s perm, VIP | 1,000K | 700K | about $27 | 90 days |
Single items such as volume and fringe perms sit outside the combo discount. USD figures use a reference rate of roughly 26,000 VND to the dollar and are estimates.
The rule worth knowing: if you book a perm and check in at the salon, the designer cut inside the combo is free. That is why the combo price is what it is, and why booking the cut separately afterwards is simply paying twice.
The difference between the basic and VIP lines is the product, not the technique. VIP uses a gentler formulation that is kinder to hair that has already been coloured or lightened. If your hair is virgin and healthy, the basic line is genuinely fine. If it has been bleached, ask about VIP.
The Partial Perms Most People Have Not Heard Of
Not every perm is a full head, and the partial options are the best-value services on the whole list for anyone who does not want obvious curls.
A volume perm works only at the roots. It lifts flat hair at the crown without putting any curl through the length, and on fine hair that has gone limp in the humidity it makes a visible difference for 400K standard or 500K VIP. Most people who book it do so once and then keep rebooking it.
A fringe perm shapes the front section alone. It is the cheapest way to change the frame of a face, it takes about an hour, and because it only touches a small area the risk if you dislike it is small: it grows out far faster than a full perm.
A volume wash sits in the same bracket and is the gentlest of the three. If you are curious about what a perm does but not ready for a full head, these are where to start. They also carry the same 90 day warranty as everything else in the perm family.
How Long a Perm Lasts
Expect three to six months from a full perm, with hair texture doing most of the deciding. Thick, coarse hair holds a curl well. Fine or very straight hair releases it faster. Previously bleached hair is unpredictable in both directions, which is why the stylist checks porosity before starting.
A perm does not wash out, it grows out, which means the line between permed and new growth becomes visible over time rather than the curl fading evenly. That is normal. Most people book their next appointment when the root section has grown enough to look uneven, usually somewhere in the four to six month range.
Partial perms behave differently. A fringe perm grows out quickly because the front section is short, often within two to three months. A volume perm at the root becomes invisible as it grows down, so it fades more gracefully than a full perm does.
What the 90 Day Warranty Covers
Perm and straightening both carry a 90 day warranty, published and identical at all four branches. Inside that window a correction costs nothing.
What that covers in practice is the curl not holding as agreed, or the result being uneven between sections. Those are the two things that can genuinely go wrong with a perm, and both are ours to fix. It is a longer window than the 30 days on colour precisely because a perm reveals itself slowly.
What it does not cover is deciding you preferred straight hair, or damage caused by bleaching or a home treatment after the appointment. Perming and bleaching in the same period is the combination that causes most problems, and if you want both we will usually recommend spacing them out and doing the perm second.
One thing to plan for: do not book a perm within a few days of an important event. The curl settles over the first two or three days, and the first wash changes how it sits. Give it a week before anything you care about.
Aftercare in a Humid Climate
The first 48 hours decide a lot. Do not wash your hair, do not tie it up tightly and do not clip it, because the curl is still setting and pressure marks can become permanent. Sleeping on it loosely is fine; sleeping with it in a tight band is not.
After that, the main rules are gentler than people expect. Wash less often than you think you need to, because frequent washing with a strong shampoo relaxes a curl faster than anything else. Scrunch rather than rub when drying, and let it air dry where you can. A leave-in oil on the ends helps; heavy conditioner through the whole length weighs a curl down.
Hanoi adds two local factors. Humidity encourages frizz around a permed curl, and a leave-in product matters more here than it would in a dry climate. And if you ride a motorbike daily, the helmet flattens the crown section; letting hair dry fully before putting one on is the only thing that genuinely helps.
If your hair is already dry or damaged before the perm, treat it first. A standard keratin treatment at 900K to 1,350K, or the TRISYS line at 1,215K to 1,575K, puts the hair in a condition where the perm will actually hold. Perming damaged hair is the most common route to a disappointing result, and we will usually say so rather than take the booking.
Where the Four Nhat Tam Branches Are
Nhat Tam runs four salons in northern Vietnam, and the price list is identical in all of them.
- Hanoi: 89 Nguyen Hy Quang, O Cho Dua, Dong Da. Phone 0348 288 966. Open 9:00 to 20:00.
- Thai Nguyen: 579 Luong Ngoc Quyen. Phone 0982 252 691. Open 8:00 to 19:00.
- Hai Phong: 113 Luong Khanh Thien. Phone 0984 397 804. Open 8:00 to 19:00.
- Ha Long: 25/4 Street, Hong Gai, roughly 50 metres from the clock tower. Phone 0984 397 804. Open 8:00 to 19:00.
Only two line items differ between the capital and the provinces: a basic wash is 70K in Hanoi against 60K elsewhere, and a scalp exfoliation is 50K against 100K. If you are travelling on, we have English guides for Hai Phong, Ha Long Bay and Thai Nguyen.
Nhat Tam price list, after the standard discount
How the discount works: book ahead and 30% comes off, check in at the salon and another 10% comes off, so the usual saving is up to 40%. Haircuts, men’s services and feather extensions run on their own rules.
- Women’s designer cut:
250K VND→ 150K VND, about $6 - Men’s cut:
200K VND→ 100K VND, about $4 - Basic combo, cut plus colour, perm or straightening (S/M/L):
800K to 1,300K→ 480K to 780K VND, about $18 to $30 - VIP combo (S/M/L):
1,500K to 2,200K→ 900K to 1,320K VND, about $35 to $51 - Balayage or ombre (S/M/L):
3,800K to 5,200K→ 2,280K to 3,120K VND, about $88 to $120 - Standard keratin (S/M/L):
1,500K to 2,250K→ 900K to 1,350K VND, about $35 to $52 - Steam ION and vegan combo:
1,500K→ 900K VND, about $35, one price for every hair length
Reference exchange rate used on this page: 1 USD is roughly 26,000 VND. Every USD figure here is an estimate and moves with the market. VND is what you actually pay at the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a perm cost in Hanoi?
A cut-and-perm combo is 800K to 1,300K on the list and 480K to 780K after booking ahead and checking in, depending on hair length, which is roughly 18 to 30 US dollars. The VIP line with a gentler product is 900K to 1,320K after the discount. Men’s perm is 450K standard or 700K VIP.
Is the haircut included with a perm?
Yes. If you book a perm and check in at the salon, the designer cut is included at no extra charge. Booking the cut separately afterwards means paying for something that came with the combo.
How long does a perm last?
Three to six months for a full perm, depending mostly on hair texture. Thick coarse hair holds a curl well, fine or very straight hair releases it faster. A perm grows out rather than washing out, so people usually rebook when the root section starts to look uneven.
What is a volume perm or a fringe perm?
A volume perm works only at the roots to lift flat hair at the crown without curling the length. A fringe perm shapes only the front section. Both are 400K standard or 500K VIP, both carry the 90 day warranty, and both are lower risk than a full perm because they grow out faster.
What does the 90 day warranty cover?
The curl not holding as agreed, or an uneven result between sections. Corrections inside 90 days cost nothing. It does not cover changing your mind about wanting curls, or damage from bleaching or home treatments done after the appointment.
Can I perm hair that has been bleached?
Sometimes, but it needs checking first. Bleached hair takes a perm unpredictably, which is why porosity is assessed before starting. If your hair is dry or damaged, a keratin treatment first puts it in a condition where the perm will hold properly.
How soon before an event should I get a perm?
At least a week. The curl settles over the first two or three days and the first wash changes how it sits, so booking a perm right before a wedding or a presentation is the one timing mistake worth avoiding.
Pham Nhat Tam, Founder, Nhat Tam Hair Salon
Nine years in the trade, starting in Thai Nguyen on 31 July 2017. Has trained more than 150 stylists, and the group has served over 520,000 guests across four branches: Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Hai Phong and Ha Long.
Booking a Perm
Send a photo of your hair now and a photo of the curl you want to Nhat Tam on Messenger, and you will get a price, a realistic duration and an honest view on whether your hair will hold it. The Hanoi branch is at 89 Nguyen Hy Quang, O Cho Dua, Dong Da, phone 0348 288 966, open 9:00 to 20:00.
Every service and price is on the public price page, and the rest of our English writing is on the English guide hub.
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Three ways to reach Nhat Tam Hair Salon, all of them fine in English