Đông Tây Barber Shop Thao Dien - Barber shop in Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

I’ve been going here every 2-3 weeks for over 3 years and always pay 25% extra as a good gesture to my barber (150k instead of 120k). The previous guy who was cutting my hair left about one year ago to another store and the guy who uses the left chair has been cutting my hair since then and always gets 25% extra as well. I have the guys Zalo number and to avoid being an annoying “walk-in” customer I usually message ahead on Zalo to make sure he will be available. I messaged him on Saturday asking if he was available and didn’t get any response, so I thought ok he’s busy, he’ll get back to me. No reply. So I messaged again on Sunday and get an obviously annoyed response from him telling me he’s busy, can’t fit me in today and to leave an appointment for another day. So I said I’ll come 3pm Tuesday. I message him at 2:50pm on Tuesday to say I’ll be 10 mins late, no response. I arrive to the store and the guy who uses the right chair tells me it’s left chair guys day off 🙄 Now I’m pretty annoyed that, as someone who always tips you 25% extra, you don’t even have the common courtesy or dignity to respond to my message between Sunday and Tuesday to tell me that it’ll be your day off! Still I need a haircut and don’t have time to find someone else, so I go in today (Wednesday) and he’s there, but won’t even say hello or anything to me! So I get the guy in the right chair to cut my hair. He asks how I want it done and I try to explain and the guy I usually use is right there but won’t even help to explain to the other guy! At the end I give the guy in the right chair 200k and say that it’s the last time I’ll ever go there and that the guy in the left chair is very rude to his customers. What an absolute joke that you’d treat a well paying, regular customer like that! Zero respect, zero courtesy. On top of that the guy is always sick and coughing and today was no different. That’s the last time I’ll ever go there. I’d rather pay double somewhere else than to be treated like this!

The barber are very professional, cheerful, and skilled at what the customer requests. I have been here many times. 👌🏼

What would make a regular, high-paying customer never return to Dong Tay Barbershop Thảo Điền again? I’ve been a loyal client, visiting every week for a haircut and beard trim, and I’ve always appreciated the quality of service and the good relationship I’ve built with my barber. However, my experience last Friday made me question whether my loyalty really matters. #1 I arrived around 1-2 PM, noticing that the shop was busy, which I completely understand. However, instead of offering an estimated wait time or suggesting I return later, I was told I would not be accepted as a customer. This was disappointing and frustrating given my regular patronage. #2 When I offered to wait, there was no effort to accommodate me, despite my willingness to do so. A simple offer to wait or a call when there was an opening could have been a reasonable solution, but there was none. #3 As a loyal, high-paying customer, I expect to be prioritized over walk-ins. Businesses should recognize the value of regular, reliable clients who contribute consistently to their revenue. As you know, the two types of customers are "high paying" and "regular". When someone is a combination of BOTH those types, they are the are highest level of customer. Despite my loyalty I was sent away in favor of walk-in clients. This shows a clear lack of customer retention strategy, which is detrimental to the business. That's why, despite my past loyalty, I won’t be returning to Dong Tay Barbershop again.

A hairdresser in the expat area that I recommend. Welcoming, professional and friendly. And not expensive, I recommend !

Good barbers, well priced. I go here often.