Year-End Party Makeup in Ho Chi Minh City
Year-end party season in Ho Chi Minh City starts in early December and runs until the week before Tet. In 2027, Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February, so most companies hold their tat nien dinner or year-end gala between mid-December and the end of January. Ballrooms book out early. Good makeup artists book out at the same time.
If you are the HR lead, office manager or event planner handling the party, this guide explains how a makeup and hair team works for a company event, what it costs in Ho Chi Minh City, and how to book one in English.
Who actually needs makeup at a year-end party
Not every guest. In most company events we work on, makeup is booked for a short list of people:
- The MC and the hosts. They are on stage for three to four hours, under hot lights, and in every photo.
- Speakers and award presenters. The CEO speech and the award moments are the photos that end up on LinkedIn.
- Performers. Dance groups and singing teams from each department need a consistent stage look.
- The leadership team. Directors and their partners often book a full glam look for the night.
- Staff who ask for it. Some companies offer makeup as a perk for the first 10 to 15 people who sign up.
Plan the list first. The number of people and the call time decide everything else: how many artists, how early they arrive, and the price.
Two ways to book: per person or as a team
Per person (Full Glam). Makeup and hair for one guest, 90 to 120 minutes, a complete party look built to last through dinner, speeches and the dance floor. Best for leadership, partners, the MC and anyone on stage.
Team booking. A lighter, camera-ready look done at speed for a group, priced by time block instead of per head. Best for performers, award presenters, staff photo walls and anyone who will mostly be photographed, not stand under a spotlight for three hours.
Most companies mix both: full glam for five or six key people, a team block for everyone else.
Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
These are our published prices. Hair is always included with makeup and is not sold on its own.
| Service | Price (VND) |
|---|---|
| Full Glam makeup and hair, per person (90 to 120 minutes) | from 1,800,000 |
| Each extra person in the same session | from 1,800,000 |
| Makeup and hair for men | 1,200,000 |
| Team, half day (up to 4 hours, up to 8 people) | 4,500,000 |
| Team, full day (up to 8 hours, up to 18 people) | 7,500,000 |
| Over 18 people | +500,000 per person, or one extra artist, agreed in advance |
Travel anywhere inside Ho Chi Minh City is included. Events outside the city get one all-in quote for travel and accommodation before you confirm, with nothing added afterwards.
A deposit of 30% by bank transfer holds the date, and the balance is paid on the day. Kay works as an independent artist, not a registered company, so we do not issue VAT invoices or receipts. What you get instead is a written booking confirmation with the date, the people, the services and the total, reissued and marked as paid once payment is complete. Check this with your finance team before you book.
Full price list: kinkay.vn/en/pricing/.
How the day runs
Where we work. At your office before everyone leaves for the venue, at a hotel room the company books as a getting-ready room, or in a back room at the venue. Ask the venue for a room with a table, mirrors and a power outlet near a window or bright light. A hotel suite above the ballroom is ideal.
Timing. Work backwards from the moment the first person must be on stage. For a 6:30 pm dinner with a 7:00 pm opening, the MC and performers are finished by 6:00 pm. That usually means artists start between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Order. Leadership and the MC go first so they have time to change. Performers next, in groups. Staff last, closest to the start of the party, so their look is freshest.
Touch-ups. For a long gala with speeches and dancing, keep one artist on site for the first part of the evening. Hot ballrooms and Saigon humidity are hard on makeup. A touch-up before the award segment makes a visible difference in the photos.
Booking checklist for HR and event planners
Send these six things in one message and you will get a firm quote the same day:
- Event date, venue and the time the program starts
- Number of people for Full Glam, for team makeup, and for men
- Where the team will get ready (office, hotel room, venue)
- Dress code or theme (black tie, ao dai, colour theme, costume night)
- Whether the guests are international, so we plan for English on the day
- Contact person on the day and a backup number
Book early for December and January
Year-end parties cluster on Friday and Saturday nights in the second half of December and the first three weekends of January. Those dates fill first. We suggest booking four to six weeks ahead. If your party is a weeknight or a Sunday, you will have more choice of artists and call times.
Why companies in Saigon work with KINKAY
Kay has worked backstage for Miss Cosmo International, Miss Grand Vietnam, Hoa Hau Viet Nam and Vietnam International Fashion Week. Those are long nights under strong lights, with many faces to finish on a hard deadline. A company gala works the same way. We have also done brand launch events, grand openings and on-camera interview makeup for companies in Ho Chi Minh City, with guests from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Australia.
Everything is quoted and confirmed in English. You get a written booking confirmation with times, people, price and deposit before you pay anything.
See our corporate services: kinkay.vn/en/corporate/ - Event makeup: kinkay.vn/en/events/ - Team photo days: kinkay.vn/en/headshots/
FAQ
How many people can one makeup artist do before a party? For a light team look, about three people an hour. For full glam with hair, one person every 60 to 90 minutes. For a large group we add artists so everyone finishes on time.
Can you do makeup for men as well? Yes. Makeup and hair for men covers skin prep, shine control, brows and hair. It photographs well and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Do you work outside Ho Chi Minh City? Yes, for company trips and year-end retreats in Vung Tau, Ho Tram, Phan Thiet and further. We send one all-in quote for travel and accommodation before you confirm.
Can you provide a VAT invoice? No. Kay works as an independent artist, so there is no VAT invoice and no receipt. You get a booking confirmation in English, reissued and marked as paid after payment.
How do we book? Send the checklist above through the form on kinkay.vn/en/corporate/ or on WhatsApp. We reply with a quote and a booking confirmation in English.
Want a look like this for your event? Tell Kay the date and the occasion. She replies within the day.
Message Kay on WhatsApp