Moving from Canada to Hanoi, one of the most striking differences you encounter isn’t just the climate or the motorbike traffic — it’s the cost of maintaining your appearance and health. In Canada, most aesthetic services are treated as luxuries with steep price tags, while even routine medical appointments can be financially draining without insurance. In Hanoi, these same services are not only more affordable but are often bundled with thoughtful touches that turn a basic haircut or facial into an experience. Below, we’ll explore how much it really costs to keep up with hair, skin, nails, and health in Hanoi compared to back home in Canada.
Haircuts and Styling
A women’s haircut and blow-dry in Canada can easily run between $60 and $120 at a mid-tier salon, with luxury salons charging $150 or more. I’ e paid up to $400. In Hanoi, the equivalent service ranges from 150,000 VND to 600,000 VND ($8–30 CAD), depending on the salon’s prestige and location. Hanoi salons include a shampoo, scalp massage, and blow-dry as part of the base service.
Styling for special occasions shows an even greater gap. An updo for a wedding or formal event costs $80–150 CAD in Canada, but in Hanoi you’ll often find the same elaborate work for 400,000–800,000 VND ($20–40 CAD).
Hair Colouring
Hair colouring is where Canadian price tags soar. A root touch-up in Toronto averages $100–150 CAD, with full colour starting at $150 and climbing to $250 or more. Again, I’ve paid up to $400. (Yes, I have walked into a salon for a cut and colour and walked out after paying $1000 including tip.) Highlights and balayage can easily hit $300–500 CAD in a major Canadian city.
In Hanoi, root touch-ups are generally 500,000–1,000,000 VND ($25–50 CAD). A full colour might be 800,000–1,500,000 VND ($40–75 CAD), while balayage or highlights sit in the 1.5–2.5 million VND range ($75–125 CAD). Even at Hanoi’s most high-end salons, where imported products like L’Oréal, Redken, or Olaplex are used, the price rarely breaks the $150 CAD barrier.
The difference is particularly stark because Hanoi salons almost always include the standard full service: washing, blow-drying, and styling. It’s not unusual to spend half a day at a Hanoi salon being fussed over by multiple attendants, all included in the fee.
Keratin and Smoothing Treatments
Keratin smoothing, Brazilian blowouts, or Japanese straightening treatments are among the priciest services in Canada. A keratin treatment in Toronto can cost $300–500 CAD depending on hair length and thickness.
In Hanoi, the same treatments — often using imported Brazilian or Japanese formulas — cost 1.5–3.5 million VND ($75–175 CAD). Even the most prestigious salons rarely charge over $200 CAD, which makes these treatments significantly more accessible for locals and expats alike.
Nails
A standard manicure in Canada averages $25–30 CAD, with a pedicure costing $40–60. Gel polish adds another $15–20, and intricate nail art or extensions can push the bill past $100.
In Hanoi, manicures typically cost 50,000–150,000 VND ($3–8 CAD), while pedicures are 100,000–250,000 VND ($5–12 CAD). Gel manicures range from 200,000–350,000 VND ($10–18 CAD), and even elaborate nail art rarely tops 500,000 VND ($25 CAD). High-end nail lounges frequented by expats charge more, but even then the price is usually half of Canadian rates.
Barber Services
Barber culture in Hanoi blends the utilitarian with the indulgent. A typical men’s cut includes a shampoo, a scalp or shoulder massage, and sometimes even an ear cleaning ritual — all for 80,000–150,000 VND ($4–7 CAD). In Canada, barbers rarely offer these extras, and the price for a simple cut ranges from $25 in smaller towns to $60+ in large cities.
For expats, the experience of walking out with a fresh cut and a full mini spa treatment for under $10 CAD is one of the most pleasant shocks of daily life in Hanoi.
Hair Removal
Hair removal prices are some of the most dramatic contrasts between the two countries. In Canada, a full-leg wax costs $60–80 CAD, and a Brazilian wax ranges from $60–100. Threading for eyebrows might be $20–30 CAD.
In Hanoi, waxing services are available at nearly every spa. A full-leg wax costs 200,000–400,000 VND ($10–20 CAD), while a Brazilian is typically 300,000–600,000 VND ($15–30 CAD). Eyebrow threading often costs under 100,000 VND ($5 CAD).
Laser hair removal is also significantly cheaper. In Canada, each session for a medium area like underarms or bikini line costs $200–400 CAD, with packages totaling thousands. In Hanoi, the same service is priced at 1.5–3 million VND per session ($75–150 CAD), and full packages run far lower.
Electrolysis, though less common in Hanoi, is available at dermatology and aesthetic clinics. In Canada, a 30-minute session generally costs $60–100 CAD. In Hanoi, the same service ranges from 350,000–500,000 VND ($18–25 CAD) per session, depending on the clinic and area treated. While the choice of providers is narrower than for waxing or laser, the savings are undeniable.
Skin Care and Facials
Facials in Canada generally cost $80–150 CAD at a spa, with medical facials at dermatology clinics priced even higher. In Hanoi, basic facials start at 200,000 VND ($10 CAD) and go up to 800,000 VND ($40 CAD) at luxury spas. Advanced treatments like microdermabrasion or oxygen facials are often priced at 1–2 million VND ($50–100 CAD), still far cheaper than Canadian equivalents.
Korean and Japanese skin care trends heavily influence Vietnam’s beauty industry, meaning you can access treatments like BB Glow, LED therapy, or acne care facials at a fraction of Canadian costs.
Injections and Aesthetic Medicine
In Canada, Botox averages $12–15 CAD per unit, with a typical treatment area costing $300–500. Fillers run $600–800 per syringe, while PRP (platelet-rich plasma) facial treatments cost $1,000–1,500 CAD.
In Hanoi, Botox is generally priced at 150,000–200,000 VND per unit ($7–10 CAD), meaning an area like frown lines costs 5–8 million VND ($250–350 CAD). Fillers are often 6–10 million VND ($300–500 CAD) per syringe. PRP treatments typically fall in the 5–8 million VND range ($250–350 CAD).
While savings are clear, regulatory environments differ. Canada enforces strict medical oversight, while Hanoi has a mix of highly trained dermatologists and less regulated cosmetic spas. Expats often choose reputable international clinics for safety.
Dental
Dentistry may be the single biggest area of savings. A cleaning in Canada costs $150–250 CAD, while in Hanoi you’ll pay 300,000–600,000 VND ($15–30 CAD). Fillings in Canada cost $200–400 CAD, but in Hanoi they are 500,000–1,000,000 VND ($25–50 CAD).
More advanced work shows even bigger differences. A crown in Canada costs $1,200–1,500 CAD, while in Hanoi it’s 4–8 million VND ($200–400 CAD). Dental implants that cost $4,000–6,000 CAD in Canada are often under $2,000 CAD in Hanoi.
This price gap has led to a boom in dental tourism, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh clinics catering to Australians, Canadians, and Americans seeking affordable care.
Eye Care
In Canada, eye exams average $100–150 CAD if not covered by insurance. Glasses can run $300–800 CAD, and contact lenses cost $50–70 CAD per box. LASIK surgery is priced at $3,000–5,000 CAD for both eyes.
In Hanoi, eye exams are 200,000–500,000 VND ($10–25 CAD). Glasses, even with designer frames, often cost 1–3 million VND ($50–150 CAD). Contact lenses are about half the Canadian price. LASIK surgery ranges from 20–30 million VND ($1,000–1,500 CAD), less than half Canadian rates.
Chiropractor and Physiotherapy
Chiropractic care is a routine service in Canada, with visits costing $60–100 CAD. In Hanoi, chiropractors are less common but available in international clinics, often charging 700,000–1.5 million VND ($35–70 CAD) per session. Local physiotherapists are even cheaper, with sessions starting at 400,000 VND ($20 CAD).
Routine Medical Care
Canada’s health system is technically universal, but wait times are long and uninsured services are expensive. A GP visit without insurance costs $100–200 CAD. Specialist consultations can take months to secure unless you go private, where prices skyrocket.
In Hanoi, a walk-in consultation at a local clinic costs 200,000–500,000 VND ($10–25 CAD). International hospitals charge more — 1–2 million VND ($50–100 CAD) — but you’re seen quickly. Lab work, ultrasounds, and X-rays are a fraction of Canadian out-of-pocket costs.
The (ahem) Bottom Line
The cost of keeping up appearances and maintaining health in Hanoi is dramatically lower than in Canada. From haircuts that cost less than a sandwich in Toronto, to Botox that runs half the Canadian price, to dental work at a third of the cost, the savings are substantial.
Of course, lower cost doesn’t always mean equal standards. Canada’s regulatory environment is stricter, while Hanoi’s market is more varied. The best approach for expats is to mix local affordable options for routine services like nails or facials with reputable international clinics for medical and injectable treatments. If you’re approaching retirement age (like me!) the differences are stark.
For Canadians used to budgeting hundreds each month for personal care, Hanoi offers a refreshing, and often luxurious alternative. It’s no wonder that the city is not just a hub for expats but also a growing destination for medical and aesthetic tourism.
