In the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, the demand for car care services, including car washes and detailing, surges across Vietnam. This influx of customers often results in a backlog, with some car owners having to wait for hours, even with prior appointments.

A Pricey Affair

According to Tri Thức – Znews, car wash prices in cities have increased by 20-30% compared to regular days, with some establishments doubling their rates. In Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, a basic car wash now costs between 120,000 and 150,000 VND, excluding undercarriage cleaning and interior detailing. Additional services, such as undercarriage cleaning, incur extra charges, typically around 40,000 VND.

Some car wash businesses have implemented a pricing strategy based on vehicle segments, with price differences of 20,000 to 30,000 VND. For example, in Binh Duong Province, the cost of washing a small sedan is 160,000 VND, while an SUV in the C-D segment would be 180,000 VND. MPV mid-range to high-end models and pickup trucks fall into the highest price bracket, with a washing fee of around 200,000 VND.

Mr. Nguyen Huy M. from Hanoi shared that the car wash facility near his home increased their rates ahead of the Lunar New Year, charging 100,000 VND compared to the usual 70,000 VND. According to Mr. M., this is still a competitive price within the area. In contrast, car wash services in the center of Hanoi can cost up to 200,000 VND, as experienced by one of Mr. M.’s friends.

Long Waits for a Fresh Ride

Mr. Huy M. also mentioned that car wash businesses in Hanoi are overwhelmed with customers, resulting in lengthy wait times even with prior bookings. He had to wait for over three hours for his turn to have his car washed. Similar scenarios are playing out at car wash establishments in Ho Chi Minh City.

Along Mai Chi Tho Street in Thu Duc City, nearly ten cars were queued up at a car care center on a recent morning, awaiting their turn for a pre-Tet wash. This scenario is replicated at several other car wash facilities in the area.

Mr. Le Hung shared that he had to wait for almost two hours for his car to be washed. He attributed the long wait to the annual tradition of car owners wanting to spruce up their vehicles for the new year.

“It’s understandable that car wash businesses are busier and more expensive during the Tet season,” said Mr. Hung. However, he noted that some establishments, despite taking advance bookings from regular customers, also accept walk-in clients, leading to extended wait times for everyone.

Automated car washes have also seen an increase in demand as the holiday approaches. While the queues at these facilities may not be as long as those at traditional car washes, customers still have to wait around 10-15 minutes for their turn.

Automated car washes are a newer option but remain limited in number. Image: Jetx.

This new car wash model, present in a few cities, offers a quick and cost-effective solution with wash and dry times of approximately three minutes per vehicle, at a cost of around 70,000 VND per wash. However, it may not be suitable for those seeking a more detailed cleaning, as the shortened wash time may result in less thorough drying, and the undercarriage and wheels may not receive the same level of attention as in traditional services.

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