Quick summary: Ho Chi Minh City has many places to take ID photos, but not every place fits every need. There are 6 main place types: (1) premium ID photo + profile studios (shoot + makeup + retouching, around 60-minute delivery), (2) neighborhood express copy/photo shops, (3) international visa photo studios, (4) budget print shops + ID photos, (5) DIY apps/phone, and (6) mall studios. This article classifies by type, not by ranking specific brands, so you can choose the right place for the right document and budget.
Important Note — Transparency
This article is prepared by the Gạo Nâu Profile team. To keep it objective, we:
- Do not rank real studios/competitors by name (because we do not have fair comparison data, and we want to avoid unsupported advertising claims)
- Classify by place type — so you can find a suitable place within each type
- List both pros and cons for every type
- Recommend comparing at least 3 places in the same category before deciding, especially when taking photos for difficult visas
- Refer to our article 50k vs 1.5M ID photos — how much should you invest to judge what level is worth it for your own need
Gạo Nâu Profile appears only as an honest example within the premium studio group — not as the only correct choice.
Type 1 — Premium ID Photo + Profile Studio
Characteristics
- Price: from 590,000 VND / session
- Time: photos ready in about 60 minutes (both digital files and prints)
- Included services: makeup artist, wardrobe consultation, identity-preserving retouching
- Team: photographer + makeup artist + dedicated retoucher
- Photo standards: correct sizes for CCCD, passport, visa; standard white/gray administrative backgrounds
Best for
- People who need ID photos that are both compliant and naturally good-looking (not flat like instant shop photos)
- People who want one session to cover multiple document types over 12-24 months (CCCD + passport + visa + CV)
- People applying for difficult visas (US, Schengen) — correct standards reduce rejection risk
- People who want files stored long term and easy reprints anytime
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Compliant photos + natural look | More expensive than express shops |
| Makeup + identity-preserving retouching | Appointment recommended, especially on weekends |
| Meets CCCD, passport, and ICAO visa standards | Not ideal if you only need 1 simple attached photo |
| Long-term file storage, easy reprints | — |
Where to Find
- Branded ID photo + profile studios with clear websites and Google Business Profiles
- Studios with an “express ID photo” package that states delivery time and price clearly
- Studios with multiple branches in the city for easier travel
Gạo Nâu Profile belongs to this type — with 2 branches in Ho Chi Minh City: District 3 (Le Van Sy) and District 10 (3/2 Street), 60-minute delivery, makeup and retouching included, and prices from 590,000 VND. You can absolutely compare other premium studios in Saigon before choosing.
Type 2 — Neighborhood Express Copy/Photo Shop
Characteristics
- Price: 50,000 - 150,000 VND for a few prints + file
- Time: instant printing in 5-10 minutes
- Service: quick shoot under lights, no makeup, little or no retouching
- Location: spread across wards, near markets and residential areas
Best for
- People who need simple attached document photos urgently the same day
- People preparing common documents with low aesthetic requirements (health insurance card, school records, personal background forms)
- People with a very limited budget
- People who only need a few prints and do not need multi-purpose use
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheap, ready the same day | Harsh lighting, shadows, dull skin |
| No appointment needed | No makeup, basic retouching |
| Near home, convenient | Difficult visas can be rejected |
| Enough for simple attached photos | Files are often not stored long term |
Where to Find
- Copy shops / photo print shops near residential areas and markets
- Stores with a sign saying “express ID photos”
- Shops near document offices (ward People’s Committees, district police offices)
Note: If the photo is for an important document or visa, consider a specialized studio — the cost of reshooting and resubmitting after rejection is often much higher than the money saved at first.
Type 3 — International Visa Photo Studio
Characteristics
- Price: 300,000 - 800,000 VND depending on how many standards are needed
- Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
- Expertise: understands country-specific ICAO standards, with ready size templates
- Consultation: glasses rules, expression rules, and face-size ratios by country
Best for
- People applying for US, Schengen, Japan, Korea, Canada, Australia visas — each country has its own standard
- Students and immigrants who need compliant photos from the first submission
- People who have had visa photos rejected and want to reshoot correctly
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Correct ICAO standards by country | Not every shop can do it |
| Ready size templates | More expensive than ordinary administrative ID photos |
| Country-specific guidance | Need to ask clearly about experience with your destination country |
| Reduces rejection risk | — |
Where to Find
- Studios whose websites clearly list the visa standards they can handle (US 5x5 cm, Schengen 3.5x4.5 cm…)
- Studios near visa application centers and consulates
- Premium Type 1 studios often can also handle international visa standards
Want to know each country’s standard before shooting? Read visa ID photos by country and check the 34-country standard ID photo size table so you can ask the right questions when booking.
Type 4 — Budget Print Shop + ID Photo Service
Characteristics
- Price: 100,000 - 300,000 VND
- Time: 15-30 minutes
- Nature: printing / photocopy shops that also provide ID photo service
- Convenience: combine document printing, lamination, scanning, and copying
Best for
- People who want to print documents and take ID photos in one stop
- People who need mid-level photos, slightly better than express shops
- People preparing common documents that also require printing
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient, combines several tasks | Photographer is often a multi-role staff member, less specialized |
| Moderate price | Basic concept and lighting |
| Printing, lamination, scanning available | Little makeup and consultation |
| Fast | Not ideal for attractive multi-purpose photos |
Where to Find
- Printing and photocopy shops with an “ID photo” sign
- Shops near schools, offices, and administrative areas
Type 5 — DIY with an App / Phone
Characteristics
- Price: almost free (only printing cost if needed)
- Time: a few minutes at home
- Tools: ID photo apps that auto-remove backgrounds and crop sizes
- Limitation: hard to control standard lighting and background
Best for
- People who only need an online CV photo (TopCV, LinkedIn), not printed
- People who need a reference photo or internal account login photo
- People who want to test before booking an official studio shoot
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free, convenient at home | Uneven lighting, easy shadows |
| Fast | Background is hard to make pure white |
| Suitable for online CV photos | High rejection risk for CCCD, passport, visa |
| — | Automatic filters can distort identity |
Where to Find
- Mobile ID photo apps (passport photo, ID photo)
Note: DIY is not recommended for CCCD, passports, or visas — rejection risk is high. For a detailed comparison, read DIY CV photos with a phone vs studio.
Type 6 — Studio in a Shopping Mall
Characteristics
- Price: 200,000 - 500,000 VND
- Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
- Location: counter/booth inside a mall, convenient when combined with shopping
- Space: usually small, basic concepts
Best for
- People already in a shopping mall who need a quick shoot
- People who want to combine shopping + ID photos in one trip
- People who need mid-level photos without high requirements
Pros / Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient, combines with shopping | Small space, limited concepts |
| Central location, easy to find | Price may be high relative to quality |
| Clean and air-conditioned | Less specialized in ID photos |
| — | Hours depend on mall opening time |
Where to Find
- Photo counters / studios inside major malls in Ho Chi Minh City
- Service areas inside shopping centers
Overall Comparison Table — 6 Types of ID Photo Places in HCMC
| # | Type | Reference price | Time | Makeup / Retouching | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ID photo + profile studio | From 590,000 VND | ~60 minutes (express) | Yes / Yes | Good-looking + compliant photos, difficult visas |
| 2 | Express photo shop | 50,000 – 150,000 VND | 5 – 10 minutes | No / Little | Simple attached photos, urgent |
| 3 | International visa photo studio | 300,000 – 800,000 VND | 30’ – 1h | Depends / Yes | US visa, Schengen, study abroad |
| 4 | Budget print shop | 100,000 – 300,000 VND | 15 – 30 minutes | Little / Little | Convenient with document printing |
| 5 | DIY app | Almost free | A few minutes | No / Filter | Online CV photos, not printed |
| 6 | Mall studio | 200,000 – 500,000 VND | 30’ – 1h | Depends / Basic | Already in the mall, quick shoot |
Choose by Need
- CCCD / national ID → express shop or budget print shop is enough for attached photos; if you want a better photo to keep long term, choose a specialized studio. Read more: what ID photos are and common types.
- Vietnam passport → specialized studio or budget print shop; prioritize places with a standard 4x6 template.
- International visa (US, Schengen, Japan, Korea…) → premium ID photo studio (Type 1) or visa specialist (Type 3). Do not use a DIY app for the two difficult types: US and Schengen.
- Job application / student documents → specialized studio if you need an attractive CV photo; budget shop if you only need an attached document photo. Online CV photos can be DIY.
- Need it within minutes → nearest express photo shop.
- Need express delivery but still good-looking → specialized ID photo studio with ~60-minute delivery (such as Gạo Nâu Profile, 2 branches in District 3 + District 10).
Choose by Budget
- Almost 0 VND → DIY app (only for online CV photos, not printed)
- Under 150,000 VND → express photo shop
- 100,000 – 300,000 VND → budget print shop
- 200,000 – 500,000 VND → mall studio
- 300,000 – 800,000 VND → international visa photo studio
- From 590,000 VND → premium ID photo + profile studio (good-looking + compliant + 60-minute delivery)
Unsure how much to spend? The article 50k vs 1.5M ID photos explains when cheap is enough and when premium investment makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Where can I take same-day ID photos in Ho Chi Minh City? Answer: Two groups offer same-day photos: (1) neighborhood express copy/photo shops — printed in 5-10 minutes but without makeup or retouching; (2) specialized ID photo + profile studios — digital files and prints delivered in about 60 minutes, with makeup and identity-preserving retouching. Gạo Nâu Profile belongs to group 2, with 2 branches in District 3 (Le Van Sy) and District 10 (3/2 Street).
Question: How much do ID photos cost in Ho Chi Minh City? Answer: It depends on the place type: express photo shops cost 50,000-150,000 VND; budget studios cost 150,000-300,000 VND; specialized ID photo + profile studios start from 590,000 VND (including makeup, retouching, digital files + prints, and 60-minute delivery). For difficult visas, choose a specialized studio to avoid reshooting.
Question: How is an ID photo studio different from an express photo shop? Answer: The difference is lighting, makeup, and retouching. Express shops shoot quickly under harsh lights, with no makeup and instant printing — cheap but prone to shadows and dull skin. Specialized studios use controlled studio lighting, makeup, and a retoucher who preserves facial structure, so the photo is both compliant and naturally good-looking.
Question: Where should I take international visa photos in Ho Chi Minh City? Answer: Choose a specialized ID photo + profile studio (Type 1) or an international visa photo studio (Type 3), because each country has its own ICAO standards. Ask whether the studio has country-specific size templates and advises on glasses and expression rules. Express shops and DIY apps are easily rejected for difficult visas.
Question: Do I need to book an appointment for ID photos in Ho Chi Minh City? Answer: Express photo shops usually do not require booking. Specialized ID photo studios should be booked in advance, especially on weekends, so the makeup artist and shooting room are available on time. At Gạo Nâu Profile, you can book via website, Zalo, or hotline (+84) 775 243 530; the District 3 and District 10 branches are open daily from 08:00 to 20:00.
Question: Is this article biased toward Gạo Nâu? Answer: Partly, because it is written by the Gạo Nâu Profile team. To stay objective, we classify by place type instead of ranking competitors, list both pros and cons for each type, and recommend comparing at least 3 places in the same category before deciding. Gạo Nâu is only an honest example within the premium studio group.
Conclusion — Choose the Right Type First, Then the Place
A common mistake is asking “which ID photo studio in Ho Chi Minh City is best” and booking immediately, only to realize the place does not fit your document type or budget. In reality, each place type serves a different need — express shops fit urgent attached photos, while specialized studios fit attractive multi-purpose photos and difficult visas.
First identify what you need (urgent / attractive / visa-compliant / budget-saving), then choose the matching place type and compare 3 places in that type. Preparing well before the shoot also helps your photo pass on the first try — see the ID photo preparation guide.
Reference Pricing at Gạo Nâu Profile
| Package | All-in price | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| Express ID photos | from 590,000 VND | Same day at studio |
| Graduation ID photos | 1,300,000 VND | 1 — 3 days |
| CV / job application photos | from 970,000 VND | Same day — 3 days |
Price includes makeup, wardrobe, posing guidance, and retouching. See the full pricing table.
Contact — Gạo Nâu Profile (HCMC ID Photo Branches)
Need express ID photos in Ho Chi Minh City that meet CCCD / passport / visa standards while still looking natural? Gạo Nâu Profile has 2 branches specializing in ID photos + profile photos, with 60-minute delivery, makeup and identity-preserving retouching, and prices from 590,000 VND.
- Hotline / Zalo: (+84) 775 243 530
- District 3 branch: 351/45 Le Van Sy, Nhieu Loc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- District 10 branch: No. 436A/71, 3/2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 20:00 every day
- Website: gaonauprofile.com
Honest consultation: if you only need a simple attached document photo, we will say it directly so you can choose the suitable type — it may be Gạo Nâu, or it may be a neighborhood shop.