Thanh & Thao: An Engagement & Pre-Wedding Photoshoot in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City, still Saigon to most of us, is one of the most rewarding cities in Vietnam for a couple shoot. In a single afternoon you can go from gleaming skyline bridges to a hundred-year-old colonial museum to a quiet green park by the river. For their engagement and pre-wedding photoshoot, Thanh and Thao wanted all of it, so we planned two looks and set off across the city together.

Modern Saigon: the skyline & the river

We began up on the cable-stayed bridge over the Saigon River, where the District 1 skyline, Bitexco Tower, Landmark 81 and all, opens up behind you. In their formal look, a soft white gown and a tailored suit, Thanh and Thao ran, laughed and stole a kiss as the afternoon light went gold. It is one of our favourite spots in the city for a Saigon pre-wedding shoot.

A kiss on the bridge as the Ho Chi Minh City skyline glows behind them.
A kiss on the bridge as the Ho Chi Minh City skyline glows behind them.
The bride on the cable-stayed bridge over the Saigon River, the city rising in the distance.
The bride on the cable-stayed bridge over the Saigon River, the city rising in the distance.
Running hand in hand across the bridge, veil flying.
Running hand in hand across the bridge, veil flying.
Running across the bridge, the city behind.
Running across the bridge, the city behind.
A twirl and a bouquet on the bridge.
A twirl and a bouquet on the bridge.
A lift and a laugh high above the river.
A lift and a laugh high above the river.
The bride and the Saigon skyline.
The bride and the Saigon skyline.
Soft light and a bouquet on the bridge.
Soft light and a bouquet on the bridge.
Black and white, with Landmark 81 rising behind them.
Black and white, with Landmark 81 rising behind them.
A quiet portrait as the sun drops.
A quiet portrait as the sun drops.
Veil, bouquet and a gentle smile.
Veil, bouquet and a gentle smile.
A timeless black-and-white portrait.
A timeless black-and-white portrait.
Foreheads together as the light turns golden.
Foreheads together as the light turns golden.
The quiet, in-between moments are always our favourite.
The quiet, in-between moments are always our favourite.
A tender forehead kiss.
A tender forehead kiss.
The groom on the bridge, in black and white.
The groom on the bridge, in black and white.

Heritage Saigon: the Fine Arts Museum & old streets

From there we slipped into the old District 1 streets and on to the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, a colonial-yellow building that is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful pre-wedding locations in Saigon. Ornate spiral staircases, stained-glass windows, patterned tile floors and grand arched doorways, every corner is a photo.

A stolen kiss on a classic District 1 street corner.
A stolen kiss on a classic District 1 street corner.
A kiss down a lamplit Saigon lane.
A kiss down a lamplit Saigon lane.
Wandering the old shuttered streets of central Saigon.
Wandering the old shuttered streets of central Saigon.
By the old colonnades of District 1.
By the old colonnades of District 1.
A playful moment at a yellow colonial window.
A playful moment at a yellow colonial window.
At the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, all columns and colonial yellow.
At the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, all columns and colonial yellow.
On the museum steps, a moment to themselves.
On the museum steps, a moment to themselves.
Framed in a doorway at the Fine Arts Museum.
Framed in a doorway at the Fine Arts Museum.
Among the paintings and patterned floors of the museum.
Among the paintings and patterned floors of the museum.
The museum's grand yellow courtyard.
The museum's grand yellow courtyard.
A quiet moment before the next frame.
A quiet moment before the next frame.
On the museum balustrade, sharp in a dark suit.
On the museum balustrade, sharp in a dark suit.
A kiss in the museum's minimalist yellow doorway.
A kiss in the museum's minimalist yellow doorway.
The bride in a tall shuttered doorway.
The bride in a tall shuttered doorway.
The Fine Arts Museum's famous spiral staircase, seen from above.
The Fine Arts Museum's famous spiral staircase, seen from above.
A silhouette on the museum stairs against the old windows.
A silhouette on the museum stairs against the old windows.
The spiral staircase, in black and white.
The spiral staircase, in black and white.
Framed by stained glass and soft afternoon light.
Framed by stained glass and soft afternoon light.
Lace and the museum's antique tiles.
Lace and the museum's antique tiles.
The grand red staircase, a true Saigon classic.
The grand red staircase, a true Saigon classic.

A second look: relaxed and unposed

For their engagement look we changed the mood completely, easy mustard tops and denim, and headed for the green riverside parks and open spaces on the edge of the city. This is where the two of them really relaxed: a kiss on a park bench, a climb up a spiral viewing tower, and golden hour in the tall grass. No posing, just them.

A second look and a more playful mood, out by the fountains.
A second look and a more playful mood, out by the fountains.
A change of pace, at a modern city landmark.
A change of pace, at a modern city landmark.
Sitting out the sunset above the road.
Sitting out the sunset above the road.
A kiss on a park bench, easy and unposed.
A kiss on a park bench, easy and unposed.
Reaching for each other.
Reaching for each other.
Meeting halfway by the river.
Meeting halfway by the river.
A wide green park on the edge of the city.
A wide green park on the edge of the city.
Up the spiral tower for a view over the city.
Up the spiral tower for a view over the city.
Backlit and easy by the fountains.
Backlit and easy by the fountains.
Wandering a bright modern arcade.
Wandering a bright modern arcade.
The sky doing its thing at golden hour.
The sky doing its thing at golden hour.
Silhouettes under the big park trees.
Silhouettes under the big park trees.
Back to back on a park bench.
Back to back on a park bench.
Lazing on the grass, no rush at all.
Lazing on the grass, no rush at all.
Just the two of them under a big pale sky.
Just the two of them under a big pale sky.
Golden hour in the tall grass, just the two of them.
Golden hour in the tall grass, just the two of them.

Planning a couple photoshoot in Saigon

Whether you live in Ho Chi Minh City, are flying in for your pre-wedding, or simply passing through Vietnam and want beautiful couple photos to remember it, Saigon has a backdrop for every mood, modern, heritage and green. We speak English, plan the concept and route with you beforehand, and keep the day relaxed and fun.

Planning your own Saigon couple or pre-wedding shoot? Learn more about a couple, engagement or pre-wedding photoshoot in Ho Chi Minh City, or tell us your dates and the mood you are dreaming of and we will put together a quote just for you. Get a couple session quote.

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