Every year, from the end of February to the end of March in the lunar calendar, when the northern region is filled with blooming rice flowers, creating a picturesque landscape, women go crazy for the trend of taking photos with rice flowers.
Seizing this trend, photo studios in Hanoi have started offering a series of tours that take customers to the suburbs to admire and take photos with rice flowers. These all-inclusive photo tours include costume rental, makeup, stylist services, and come at different price levels.
Many studios introduce and invite customers to eye-catching tours to take photos with rice flowers. (Screenshot)
Mr. Tran Gia, the owner of a studio in Hanoi, said: “We have launched all-inclusive photo tours which take customers from Hanoi to the surrounding areas. Although it has only been open for 3 days, we have attracted a considerable number of customers. To take a set of photos with rice flowers with the full package of transportation, including round-trip travel of 160km, along with Photoshop, makeup, and costumes, customers have to pay about 4.5 million VND. For customers with less demand, they can choose a cheaper tour package.”
However, Mr. Gia predicts that the number of customers will not be as overwhelming as the tours to take photos with lotus flowers in Hanoi each lotus season. The reason is that tours to take photos with rice flowers are usually more complex and require higher costs, suitable only for customers who have the means. In addition, due to the general economic difficulties this year, many people are also limiting their expenses or choosing simpler and cheaper packages.
It is known that Mr. Gia’s studio currently offers 3 all-inclusive packages ranging from 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 VND per person. Customers will be provided with makeup artists, makeup, costumes, and transportation from Hanoi to the photo location which is about 80 km away from Hanoi. “For each photo package, if we subtract the cost of renting transportation, photographers, makeup artists, and costumes, we only make a small profit,” shared Mr. Tran Gia.
Many customers are willing to spend several million VND to book photo packages with rice flowers. (Photo: NVCC)
Mr. Hoang Minh (Hanoi), a photographer, also said: “Starting from the rice flower season, many customers have booked slots for photo sessions with rice flowers, mostly women. Usually, I advise customers to wear traditional ao dai and take photos in downtown Hanoi to save travel costs. The price of each photo package I provide to customers starts from 800,000 to 1,500,000 VND per person, suitable for many customers with limited financial resources.”
On social media, forums inviting customers to sign up for tours to take photos with rice flowers are becoming more and more active. To serve different customer needs, a variety of packages with different services and quality have been introduced. If customers go alone or with a small group, they will have to bear a relatively heavy fee. However, if they choose to join a group tour and accept to take photos with a photographer along with many other people, they can save a lot of money.
“This photo package is no different from a day trip tour, not just a simple photo session, it creates very interesting experiences and is favored by many people because there is only one blooming season in a year. I just booked a package for this weekend, with a cost of 2,000,000 VND per person and it includes many services. If you know how to arrange it, this is also a stress relieving method worth trying,” said Ms. Thu Tuyen in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.
