I tried all the white dresses in Ho Chi Minh for my ROM so you dont have to
Spent 3 full days roaming around Ho Chi Minh City to find my ✨️perfect✨️ ROM dress. Tbh, I considered tailoring one but I was too unprepared/not sure what I want and feeling optimistic that I find something nice from the store-ready ones. Lo and behold I found one at the very last hour before I need to leave for the airport.
Brand: SoVintage
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Price: $100 ish for gown-like dresses
Quality: Decent. It isnt sheer but lace/exterior feels rough
I think their signature is the full lace bodice. It's very classy and elegant but personally I find it too much lace. I love the v-neck cut and a-line dress. I was seriously considering getting it. But their cutting is super small. I'm a usual size S/M, I tried L size and it was snuggg.
Brand: Huong Boutique
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Price: $150 to 200ish
Quality: Great. Those silky type of dresses are soft. But those materials with sheen are slightly more hardy, no stretch so it was slightly hard to move in it.
I put all my hopes and dreams on this store and even went back twice because I have been following their IG account for awhile and really liked their designs. What I see on their account vs real-life is quite close but the cutting isnt one size fits all. Some felt quite tight around the waist or ribs even for size M. Didnt bother to get L size to try.
In the photos here, I bought the first dress for under S$200 even though it wasnt my top choice (I found the dress too long and formal for a simple ROM and the neckline doesnt look flattering on me but I like the back detail), cos I rummaged through almost all shops and had almost given up.
Brand: Kisserine
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $150 to 200 ish
Quality & sizing: Love love love. Totally surpassed my expectations but I feel it's more suitable for actual wedding. I love the cape and dress choices - there were so manyyy. The fitting is also very flattering. Felt like a princess. Just 1 odd thing I note is that all dresses have no zips, so I need to wear them from the top.
Brand: Rechic
Rating: ⭐⭐/5
Price: under $100
Quality & sizing: Quality was okay, depending on the pieces. I bought a casual dress from this shop few years back and they also have a store in SG. I thought they might have some decent pieces if I want to dress less formal but the cuttings were off. The waistline of the dresses were so small. My belly was all out after a heavy meal. :( It's a hard no.
Brand: S.C Studio
Rating: ⭐/5
Price: $100 ish
Quality & sizing: For the material and the design, I dont think it's worth the value dollar. The dresses I chose were more casual but they both costs ard $100 each, I was shocked. Moreover the material isnt the most stretchy. I tried size S and M. S was snug but M was too loose.
Brand: Tinfour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (biased here because I found what I was looking for here. Didnt try many pieces here because they arent known for gowns. They are more on the casual clothing side.)
Price: $30+
I was trying to find a Supergurl Lyra Linen Dress lookalike - a halter neckline maxi dress or something with a unique cutting (can be 2-piece).
Quality: Superb. My dress is double lined and fits perfectly. I didnt even need to wear spanks to tighten my belly etc. The top halter part is a ribbon so I can adjust the tightness of the halter top, unlike the dress from S.C. studio. The length is also just right, doesnt touch the ground. This dress is a new item so I really lucked out finding it in-store. I wished I had seen this dress first before I purchased my Huong Boutique gown.
Let me know if you have any questions like what to prep for ROM ! 😊
Having spent several days exploring various boutiques in Ho Chi Minh City, I learned that finding the perfect white dress for a Registration of Marriage (ROM) can be both exciting and challenging. Besides the noted brands like SoVintage, Huong Boutique, Kisserine, S.C Studio, and Tinfour, it’s important to keep a few things in mind to make your shopping experience smoother and more rewarding. Firstly, sizing can vary greatly between brands. In Vietnam, some boutiques tend to have smaller sizing compared to Western standards; therefore, always try several sizes and don’t hesitate to ask shop assistants for help. For example, the author found that even an L size could feel snug in some boutiques like SoVintage due to their smaller cuts. Carrying a flexible attitude toward size helps avoid disappointment. Material quality is another critical factor. Dresses with pure lace may look stunning but the exterior texture could feel rough on the skin, as some experienced with SoVintage. Silky and satin-like materials offer elegance and softness but may limit movement due to lack of stretch, a common issue at Huong Boutique. It’s a balancing act between aesthetics and comfort, especially if you plan to wear the dress for the entire day. When it comes to style, consider the formality of your ROM ceremony. While brands like Kisserine offer exquisite, princess-like gowns suited for wedding functions, they might be too elaborate for a casual ROM event. On the other hand, Tinfour excels in casual, comfortable dresses with adjustable halter necklines and perfect lengths that prevent tripping, which earned it high praise. One practical tip is to look out for dresses with adjustable features like ribbons or zippers to ease wearing and fitting, as some brands may offer dresses without zips, making them harder to put on or take off. Lastly, since prices ranged from around $30 to $200, planning your budget beforehand helps narrow down your choices. Visiting multiple shops and viewing Instagram profiles can provide inspiration but always verify the actual fit and feel in-person. Based on this experience, I would recommend first visiting a store like Tinfour if you want casual yet well-fitted dresses and then considering Kisserine for more formal options suitable for a wedding. Avoid brands where the sizing or quality made the dresses uncomfortable. Overall, patience and persistence pay off. Visiting Ho Chi Minh and exploring boutiques personally allowed me to find a fantastic dress just before my flight, saving me the hassle of tailoring and uncertainty. For anyone preparing for a ROM, allocate at least two to three days with an open mind, bring a trusted friend for honest feedback, and be ready to try different styles until you find the one that makes you feel special and confident on your big day.