In Hanoi, people spend big for Tet photo shoots at cafés

At a café on Hang Gai Street, customers are required to pay VND500,000 ($20) per hour and book in advance if they wish to use the space for photo shoots.

Even so, prime time slots are fully booked, with customers lining up for their turn to capture the perfect 'ao dai' photos.

Thai Nga, a Hanoi resident, said she spent around VND20 million ($800) hiring a professional team for a Tet photo shoot with her friends, explaining that the Lunar New Year is a time for her and her close friends to reunite.

“We’ve been close for many years, so we wanted a well-prepared photo set to preserve our memories,” Nga said.

“Having a stylist, makeup artist, and photographer helps us pose better and be more confident.”

Nearby, Ban Cong Cafe on Dinh Liet Street has also become a hotspot for young people this season, with long queues forming throughout the day.

The café charges the same VND500,000 fee for indoor shoots, prompting many customers, including Le Anh Duong, to take photos outside the premises to save money.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper observed that cafés designed in the style of traditional Hanoi houses or northern Vietnamese villages are especially popular.

A tea shop on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, featuring tiled roofs and folk paintings reminiscent of a northern village, has been packed with customers since early January.

A representative said peak hours are often overloaded ahead of Tet, and while the shop does not yet charge a photography fee, it plans to introduce fees for DSLR and professional photo packages in the near future.

After discovering the venue on social media, Nhu Y visited with her best friend to relax and take New Year photos.

“The space is beautiful and traditional, so even simple preparation can result in great photos,” Y said.

“I spent about VND1.5 million [$60] on hair and makeup for the shoot.”