Young Hanoians pose in ao dai amid winter winds
Even before the Lunar New Year or Tet, wearing ao dai has become a popular trend, turning central streets into lively photo spots. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Hanoi Moi newspaper headquarters and St Joseph’s Cathedral, visitors often queue for a chance to take pictures, especially at weekends.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Tran Thi Nguyet, an office worker, said she and her friends took half a day off to complete their photo shoot, as weekends were too crowded for “good photos or a quiet atmosphere”.
Young people pose in ao dai on Hanoi’s central streets, adding to the lively pre-Lunar New Year atmosphere (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam)
The group spent three days planning, from coordinating ao dai colours to hiring a professional make-up artist at a cost of about VND 2 million per person.
Mai Anh, born in 2007, said she spent nearly a week tracking weather forecasts and adjusting her study schedule before heading out for photos. She chose to do her own make-up and bring a friend rather than hire a professional team, keeping the look natural.
Tran Thi Nguyet (holding a fan) poses with friends during an ao dai photo shoot. (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam)
Thao Nhi, a university student in Xuan Thuy, said she and her friends made time after a demanding exam period to take end-of-year photos, keeping costs low by doing their own make-up and sharing a camera.
The trend has also drawn foreign visitors. Alice, a tourist from Taiwan travelling with her boyfriend, said they took time off work to visit Vietnam and try on ao dai after seeing locals posing for photos around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Cyclo services for photo shoots draw strong demand in central Hanoi (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam)
Professional photo packages typically cost between VND 1.5 million (USD 57) and VND 3.5 million, while do-it-yourself groups opt to share equipment and style themselves.
Ao dai rentals in central Hanoi range from about VND 89,000 to VND 350,000 per outfit, flower accessories cost around VND 120,000, and cyclo rides used as photo props start at about VND 50,000.
Ao dai rentals in central Hanoi range from about VND 89,000 to VND 350,000 per outfit (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam)
Beyond traditional elegance, young people are increasingly reinterpreting the ao dai in more modern, playful and individual ways, from 1950s Saigon-inspired styles to relaxed, unposed group shots.
For many, the photos are more than social media content, serving instead as a way to slow down, reconnect with friends and preserve memories of Hanoi’s distinctive seasonal charm.
