Việt Kiều Wedding Hair and Makeup in Saigon
You live in California, Melbourne, Toronto or Paris. Your family is in Saigon. The wedding is happening here, probably in the weeks before Tết, and you will land maybe five days before the tea ceremony.
That is the usual Việt Kiều wedding. It is beautiful, it is busy, and most of the planning happens on a phone, across a time difference, with your mom forwarding you Zalo messages.
This guide is for that bride. It covers how to plan hair and makeup from abroad, what a two-part Vietnamese wedding day needs from a makeup artist, and what it costs at KINKAY in Ho Chi Minh City.
Why a Việt Kiều wedding is different
A Saigon wedding is usually two events, sometimes on the same day:
- The tea ceremony (lễ gia tiên) in the morning, at the family home. Áo dài, ancestors' altar, many photos at close range, often in hot natural light.
- The reception (tiệc cưới) in the evening, at a hotel or restaurant. A Western gown or a second áo dài, stage lighting, flash photography, a long night.
Add a third layer: you are not local anymore. You may not know which look your aunties expect at the tea ceremony. You may want the reception look you saw on Pinterest, not the heavy style some local studios still default to. And you need someone who answers in English, on WhatsApp, at hours that work for you.
Plan it from abroad in four steps
1. Book the date first, details later. Peak wedding season in Saigon runs from October to January, and the weeks before Tết are the busiest. Tết 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6. If your wedding is in December or January, lock the makeup artist as soon as your family confirms the date. A deposit holds the date. The amount and the change or cancellation terms are confirmed in writing before you transfer anything.
2. Do the consultation by video. Send photos of your áo dài, your gown, your jewelry and your usual makeup. On a short video call, Kay looks at your skin in daylight and asks how you want to feel on the day. You do not need to fly in early for this.
3. Decide on a trial. A trial is optional. Some brides do it the day after they land, which also helps with jet lag skin. Others skip it and trust the video consultation. If you book one, it is a separate session.
4. Lock the timeline with your family. Tea ceremony times are often set by the family, sometimes by an auspicious hour. Send the exact time and address of both events. Kay works backward from the first photo and tells you when she needs to arrive.
The tea ceremony look
The morning look is softer and has to survive close-up photos, sweat and a lot of hugging.
- Skin first. A thin, long-wear base that looks like skin in daylight. No white cast in flash.
- Warm, fresh tones that sit well with red, pink or gold áo dài.
- Hair that works with the khăn đóng (headpiece) if you wear one, or a low, neat style if you do not.
- Mothers and close family usually get ready in the same morning. Plan who goes first so the bride is not rushed.
If you want to understand the ceremony itself, read our guide to Vietnamese tea ceremony makeup in Ho Chi Minh City.
The reception look
The evening look is built again, not just touched up.
- More definition for stage light and flash.
- A different hairstyle if you change from áo dài to a gown.
- Long-wear lips and setting, because the reception is long and you will be eating, drinking and crying.
If you want one person to stay with you the whole day, do the change between the two looks, and keep you camera-ready between events, that is the take care service below.
Prices at KINKAY
All prices are in Vietnamese dong. Hair is always included with makeup. Travel inside Ho Chi Minh City is included.
| Service | Price (VND) |
|---|---|
| Bride, morning ceremony only (tea ceremony or church) | 3,000,000 |
| Bride, reception only | 5,000,000 |
| Take care for the whole day | 2,000,000 |
| Bride, full wedding day (ceremony + reception + take care) | 10,000,000 |
| Trial session (optional) | 2,000,000 |
| Mother of the bride or groom, each (with a bridal booking, same morning) | 2,500,000 |
| Bridesmaid, sister or relative, each (same morning) | 1,800,000 |
| Tray bearer (bưng quả), each | 1,000,000 |
Full price list: kinkay.vn/en/pricing.
A typical Việt Kiều booking: the full wedding day for the bride, plus both mothers and two bridesmaids in the morning. Add them up from the table and you know the total before you message us. No surprise fees added later.
Wedding outside Ho Chi Minh City? Many families hold the tea ceremony in their hometown. Travel and accommodation are quoted as one fixed amount before you confirm, never added after.
Questions Việt Kiều brides ask
Do you speak English? Yes. Kay and the KINKAY team work in English and Vietnamese. Your mom can message in Vietnamese and you can message in English in the same thread.
Can my family in Vietnam handle the booking for me? Yes. Many brides let a parent or sibling confirm details locally. We send the booking confirmation in English to you, and can send a Vietnamese copy to your family.
I am landing three days before the wedding. Is that enough? Yes, if the consultation is done by video first. If you want a trial, schedule it for the day after you land.
I have sensitive skin or I am used to products from home. Tell us in the consultation. You can also bring your own skincare. Kay plans the base around your skin, not a template.
Can you do my groom and the groomsmen? Grooming is available. Ask when you book so we plan the time.
How to book
Send your wedding date, the city, the times of the tea ceremony and reception, and how many people need hair and makeup. A photo of your áo dài helps.
Message KINKAY on WhatsApp or use the booking form on kinkay.vn/en/pricing. We reply in English, usually within the day, Vietnam time.
You are flying home to get married. The makeup should be the easy part.
Want a look like this for your event? Tell Kay the date and the occasion. She replies within the day.
Message Kay on WhatsApp