2015 Guide to KTV in (Vietnam)(HCMC) aka Saigon
First I just want to say, it's been years since I'd been on here. When this site changed domain (for those of you who joined then you'll understand how long ago that was), I somehow never made it to new one. Until today when I met another bro he told me it still exist. So here I am. Back for good. Still spending way too much money punting after all these years. I want to share a mini-guide I put together for KTV scene in HCMC (Saigon). Feel free to correct or update if I missed out on any detail:
1. Korean-owned / managed KTV.
Pros:
- Transparent price structure / system.
- Package usually inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes and tips for mgmt / madam / waiter).
- Rule of Engagement with girls clear (short-time / long-time / no go-home. Although there's always exception to the rule. But if girls in go-home category mean they WILL go back to hotel).
- Strict system for girls (no mobile phone, no butterfly).
- If you get along well with girls, you can sometimes arrange for them (at cost) to come out to see you saving you money on drink package and tips in the process.
- If you get along well with madam (and regular customer), you can arrange for them to send girls to you directly every once-in-a-while bypassing going to KTV.
Cons:
- Usually 1st tiers girls do not work here.
Price Structure:
- $150-300 USD drink package (depends on class of alcohol).
- 2 million VND short time and 3 million VND long time.
- Tip to girls who don't go home but sit with you: 400-500 k VND.
- Specific Korean-owned KTV even have the one-person price package popular in Japanese KTV. So you can visit solo without having to pay for the typical $170 USD package.
Sample Name:
Stocking, Bally.
2. VN-managed KTV focusing on Korean / Japanese customers.
Pros:
- Transparent price structure / system.
- Package usually partially inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes. Tips for mgmt / madam / waiter usually not included but you can ask them to add that cost to overall bill).
- Rule of Engagement with girls clear (short-time / long-time / no go-home. Although there's always exception to the rule. But if girls in go-home category mean they WILL go back to hotel).
- Semi-strict system for girls (usually no butterfly).
Cons:
- Usually 1st tiers girls do not work here.
Price Structure:
- $150-300 USD drink package (depends on class of alcohol).
- 2 million VND short time and 3 million VND long time.
- Girls usually expect you to buy them drink or cocktail (that's where they make money). I forgot how much for each glass. You should ask. But I think less than 100 k per.
- Tip to Madam, 400-500 k VND.
- Tip to waiter, 100 k VND (although more than one will come into room end of night hoping for 100 k each!. Just stick to your gun).
Sample Name:
Louis and Sirena.
3. Japanese-owned KTV.
Pros:
- Transparent price structure / system.
- Package for one person possible (because Japanese as likely to go by themselves).
- Package usually inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes and tips for mgmt / madam / waiter).
- Rule of engagement with girls clear.
- Strict system for girls (no mobile phone, no butterfly).
- Girls speak Japanese.
- Girls who work here usually student at university.
Cons:
- Usually 1st tiers girls do not work here.
- Girls at these joints usually don't go home.
- Girls usually don't speak English.
- Girls here do look for long-term sponsor as opposed to short-time money of fucking.
Price structure:
- $30-50 USD drink package per person (unlimited drink off their select menu).
- Tip to girls who don't go home but sit with you: no need assuming you buy them couple glasses of alcohol / cocktail.
Sample Name:
Japantown area in the pocket of NGO Van Nam right off LE Than Ton.
4. VN-owned / managed KTV focusing on local high-rollers.
Pros:
- 1st tier VN girls work here. You likely will get of the best looking ones / selections (of course there are also 2nd tiers).
- Package usually partially inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes. Tips for mgmt / madam / waiter usually not included but you can ask them to add that cost to overall bill).
Cons:
- Best looking girls here have HIGH expectation in term of how much you pay them to fuck. Hell even 2nd tier girls will try to get more from you if they think it's possible.
- Most of the best girls look for sugar daddy / long-term sponsor.
- Rich locals / high-rollers and expats spoiled the market.
- Rule of Engagement with girls not-clear (if girls say they'll meet you at after work. Most likely will never show up. And mgmt could care less if you bitched to them. See below).
- Most of the madam / managers speak only Vietnamese or very little English. Don't care too much about your satisfaction unless you're regular customers that tip them regularly.
- Crazy price and poor ROP: In place like 16 where you arguably get best selection of girls look-wise, it's 1 million VND tip and they don't go out.
- Against Odds. You're fighting against rich locals / expats who will go back over-and-over in order to win specific girls they're targeting. Along the way dropping some serious dough with nothing to show for. I'd seen some of the conversation messages between them and these customers. And it's laughable.
- Buffalo. Unless you look like Lee Minh Ho (they prefer him to Brad Pitt), only size of your bank account can make you look handsome. Otherwise, they think of you same way as water buffalo back home. Same level of intelligence and good for plowing their rice field (in this case their bank account).
Price structure:
- $150-300 USD drink package (depends on class of alcohol).
- 3-4 million VND short time.
- 500 k to 1 million VND (Tip to girls that sit with you but don't go out.
- Tip to Madam, 500 k VND.
- Tip to waiter, 100 k VND (although more than one will come into room end of night hoping for 100 k each!. Just stick to your gun).
Sample Name:
166, Dmax, 13.
5. VN-owned / managed KTV focusing on local middle class.
Pros:
- Transparent price structure / system.
- Package usually partially inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes. Tips for mgmt / madam / waiter usually not included but you can ask them to add that cost to overall bill).
- Rule of Engagement with girls clear (short-time / long-time / no go-home. Although there's always exception to the rule. But if girls in go-home category mean they WILL go back to hotel).
- Semi-strict system for girls (usually no butterfly).
- If you get along well with girls, you can sometimes arrange for them (at cost) to come out to see you saving you money on drink package and tips in the process.
Cons:
- Usually 1st tiers girls do not work here.
Price Structure:
- $150-250 USD drink package (depends on class of alcohol. Includes mixers).
- Food price usually separate and cost ALOT relative to VN.
- 2 million VND short time and 3 million VND long time.
- Tip to girls who don't go home but sit with you: 400-500 k VND.
- Tip to Madam, 400-500 k VND.
- Tip to waiter, 100 k VND (although more than one will come into room end of night hoping for 100 k each!. Just stick to your gun).
Sample Name:
68.
6. HK-owned / managed KTV focusing on HK / SG customers.
Pros:
- You do have some mix of 1st tier VN girls work here. Still not as much in term of percentage as opposed to VN joints.
- Package usually partially inclusive (alcohol, mixer, side dishes. Tips for mgmt / madam / waiter usually not included but you can ask them to add that cost to overall bill).
Cons:
- Best looking girls here have high expectation in term of how much you pay them to fuck. Hell even 2nd tier girls will try to get more from you if they think it's possible.
- Most of the best girls look for sugar daddy / long-term sponsor.
- Rich HK / SG visitors and expat spoiled the market.
- Rule of Engagement with girls not-clear (if girls say they'll meet you at after work. Most likely will never show up. And mgmt could care less if you bitched to them. See below).
- Most of the madam / managers speak only Chinese well. English skill varies. Don't care too much about your satisfaction unless you're regular customers that tip them regularly.
Price Structure:
- $200-300 USD drink package (depends on class of alcohol).
- 4 million VND short time.
- 500 k Tip to girls that sit with you but don't go out.
- Tip to Madam, 500 k VND.
- Tip to waiter, 100 k VND.
Sample name:
Catwalk