Founded by Dutch duo Tom Goedhart and Guido de Leeuw, the premium men’s barber House of Barbaard opened for business in January 2017.
Friends since school, as business partners they complement each other in such a way, it’s clear from the very first meeting. Tom is collected, thoughtful and reclines in his leather wingback chair with a calming authority. Guido is much more animated, his speech punctuated by regular clicks of the finger and the occasional wink, as he enthusiastically clamours to unpack his mind, such that we might share in his vision.
Both groomed to the point of perfection, with shoes whose shine is at risk of blinding their resident dog, they are missionaries of style. They are on a quest to educate Vietnamese men on what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
“There are a lot of so-called barbers in Vietnam,” says Tom, “but the level of barbering isn’t great, in terms of service and looks.” While local barbers might offer a haircut for VND50,000, Tom found even those charging upwards of VND200,000 weren’t providing great service or a standout haircut.
One reason for this, he suggests, is the absence of any internationally-certified barbering schools or training centres in Vietnam. “They just spend a year watching and washing hair,” he explains, “and then learn from each other, or practicing on their friends.”
House of Barbaard does things very differently.
“We want it to be a place where men can come, hang out, relax and enjoy everything a gentleman would do”
Before opening, an expert Dutch barber was brought in to deliver around six months of real training, to bring the level of the staff up to a European standard.
The quality service and classy atmosphere has Guido’s background in hospitality management to be thankful for. “People walking out happy, after having a great experience,” says Guido, “is what keeps me going.”
With around 20 classic haircuts representing the majority of what they offer, combined with the rustic chic interior, wooden barbering chairs and old school music played on a proper vinyl player, there’s a very traditional yet trendy feel to House of Barbaard.
“We want it to be a place where men can come, hang out, relax and enjoy everything a gentleman would do,” explains Guido.
The quality and attention to detail is something Tom and Guido are both intensely proud of, and it makes them stand head and shoulders above any local barber; guests are encouraged to take their time, and barbers won’t rush any part of the process.
“The authenticity of the 1920s barbering trend is everywhere you look”
“To be honest, I think House of Barbaard is one of the most unique places in the world,” says Tom. “We have guests who fly here for a haircut from Saigon, and people always tell us they’ve never seen a place like it before.”
The authenticity of the 1920s barbering trend is everywhere you look. There’s a deep-buttoned Chesterfield sofa suite, where guests can enjoy a coffee during a consultation with their barber, or relax with a cigar and a whisky after their haircut.
Despite charging nearly 10 times the price of a street barber, they were confident from the beginning that their concept would be well-received by locals and foreigners alike.
“Vietnamese care a lot about their looks,” says Tom. “But they don’t know much about international styles, so we want to guide them on that.”
The guidance even extends to refusing requests, such is House of Barbaard’s commitment to sticking to its unique principles.
“If you want to dye your hair and have hair tattoos, that’s fine,” Tom says. “But that’s not what we stand for; we are here to give you the best classic haircuts.”
Their confidence to open such a unique barbershop and stick to their principles shows why they belong among Vietnam’s Most Inspired. Their ability to merge vintage values and classic styles with modern quality and efficiency is nothing short of spectacular.
“We’re more than a barbershop, we’re a lifestyle company,” adds Guido. “We want to develop the local market and grooming trends to be more unique, and show men they don’t have to follow everyone else.”
So while manners may indeed maketh man, a touch of class from a quality barber
certainly helps too.
“We’re more than a barbershop, we’re a lifestyle company”
Cocktails
People of Son Tinh
Vietnam Lifestyle
STORIES
Editor’s note: Sponsored by Son Tinh, the “Vietnam’s Most Inspired” series of articles is a
salute to people who embody the spirit of ruou. These are the people who relentlessly pursue their passions, who dare to do what they want, no matter how “different” or “strange” they are regarded to be, or how many obstacles stand in their way. These are the people who are most inspired, and thus, most inspiring.
More Flavours
Click to see all flavour >