Tết Áo Dài Photoshoot in Saigon, Lunar New Year 2027

Every January, Saigon dresses up. Streets fill with apricot blossoms and red lanterns, cafés build Tết sets in their courtyards, and families put on matching áo dài for the photo that goes on the wall for the year. If you will be in Ho Chi Minh City for Lunar New Year 2027, as a visitor, as someone coming home, or as someone who lives here, this guide covers when to shoot, what to wear and how to book it in one go.

KINKAY is a makeup and hair atelier in Ho Chi Minh City run by Kay, a makeup artist who has worked backstage at national and international pageants. Kay speaks English with clients, and the áo dài session is one booking: makeup, hair and the photographer who shoots it.

Key dates for Tết 2027

• Lunar New Year's Day (Mùng 1): Saturday 6 February 2027
• Best weeks to shoot: mid-January to the last days before Tết
• When to book: December, or as soon as your travel dates are fixed

The last two weekends before Tết are the busiest mornings of the year for áo dài photos. Photographers, makeup artists and the good locations all fill up at the same time. If you already know you will be in Saigon, hold the date first and decide the look later.

Shooting during the first days of the new year is possible, but many shops and services close and families are visiting relatives. Ask about it early if those are the only days you have.

Why shoot before Tết, not after

Three reasons.

First, the decorations go up in mid-January and the city looks its best in the two weeks before the holiday. Second, January sits in Saigon's dry season: lower humidity, softer light, and makeup that holds through an outdoor morning. Third, you get the photos back in time to send to family or print before the celebrations.

What the session includes

The street áo dài photoshoot is one package, priced the same as on our áo dài page:

Prices are in VND. USD is for reference only. Travel inside central Ho Chi Minh City is included. Locations outside the central districts are quoted before you confirm, never after. A deposit holds the date.

Hair is always part of the service. Nothing is billed by the hour.

A Tết morning, step by step

4:30 to 6:00. Makeup and hair at your hotel or home. The good locations are empty and softly lit for about an hour after sunrise. A six o'clock start means makeup begins around half past four.

6:00 to 8:00. On location. Classic choices are the Central Post Office, the old colonial streets of District 1, and quiet corners with Tết flowers. Nguyễn Huệ flower street is beautiful in the days before Tết, but it gets crowded quickly. If you want it, go very early.

After 8:00. You are done. Breakfast, family visits, or the rest of your trip.

What to wear for Tết photos

Colour. Red and gold are the classic Tết colours: luck and prosperity. Soft pastels and white also photograph well against flowers. For a family, pick one colour family and let each person vary the shade.

Fit. The áo dài is fitted, so it should be tried on before the morning. If KINKAY sources yours, you see the options and fit it before the shoot day.

Hair. The collar sits high and the silhouette is long. A low bun or soft updo works with the áo dài in almost every frame. Send Kay a photo of your áo dài when you book and the hair is planned around it.

Makeup. Fresh skin, defined brows and a warm lip read well in daylight. The base is set for heat and movement from the start, because you will be outdoors.

Families, couples and friends

Tết is a family holiday, and a family shoot is often the best photo a family owns. Three generations in matching áo dài, a couple's first Tết together, or a group of friends coming home for the holiday.

Every additional person is 2,500,000 VND in the same session, with makeup and hair styled so everyone sits together in one frame. Give the headcount when you book so Kay can plan the timing and bring help if the group is large. For children, ask Kay directly.

Coming home for Tết?

Many of our Tết clients are Vietnamese families living abroad who fly home once a year. If that is you, you probably have two problems: very few free mornings, and relatives you have not seen in a year. Book the shoot for the morning after you land, before the family visits start, and your photos are done before the holiday rush.

If there is also a wedding or engagement in the family this season, see our guide to tea ceremony hair and makeup.

Quick checklist

• Lock your date in December
• Decide: your own áo dài, or one sourced by KINKAY
• Send a photo of the áo dài and your headcount
• Plan an early night before a 4:30 start
• Bring comfortable shoes between locations

Book your Tết session

Tell us your date, how many people and whether you need an áo dài. Kay replies the same day in English.

Check your date for an áo dài photoshoot →

You can also message KINKAY on WhatsApp from any of our English pages, or see the full price list.