Did You Overpay for a Laundry in Hanoi?

Laundry in Hanoi is astonishingly cheap, even by Southeast Asian standards. The most common option for travelers is the neighborhood giặt ủi (wash and iron) shop, found every few hundred meters in residential areas and tourist zones alike. Standard pricing is VND 20,000–40,000 per kilogram for wash-dry-fold service, with most backpacker loads weighing 2–4 kg (VND 40,000–160,000 total, or roughly $1.60–6.50 USD).

In the Old Quarter — Hanoi's main tourist hub — laundry shops charge slightly more at VND 30,000–50,000 per kilo, reflecting the premium location. Many guesthouses and hotels in this area also offer laundry service at VND 40,000–60,000 per kilo, which is still remarkably affordable. Look for handwritten signs reading "Giặt Ủi" or "Giặt Là" on narrow alley entrances.

Turnaround time is typically 4–8 hours for standard service, with many shops offering morning drop-off and evening pickup. Express service (2–3 hours) is available at most shops for a 30–50% surcharge. Some Old Quarter shops offer next-morning pickup at the standard rate, which is the best value if you're not in a rush.

Dry cleaning is available at shops throughout Hanoi at VND 30,000–80,000 per garment, depending on the item. A business shirt costs about VND 30,000–40,000, trousers VND 40,000–60,000. This is roughly 10% of what dry cleaning costs in European capitals.

Hotel laundry services, even at budget properties, charge a significant premium — VND 60,000–100,000 per item at mid-range hotels, and VND 150,000+ per item at upscale properties. Given that a street-level giặt ủi charges VND 30,000–50,000 for an entire kilogram, the hotel markup is never worth it.

Self-service laundromats are virtually nonexistent in Hanoi. The labor cost is so low that full-service wash-and-fold is the universal standard. Most shops hand-wash delicate items and machine-wash everything else, using basic detergent. If you have specific product preferences, bring your own detergent packets.