Film Labs in Ho Chi Minh City

Shooting film in Ho Chi Minh City is easy. Finding somewhere good to develop it is the harder part. The city has a small but serious set of labs. Each one has its own character, and the difference between them matters once a roll is in the tank.

This guide comes from Saigon On Film, a local film photography community active since 2017. The list reflects rolls actually developed and scanned around the city, not a directory pulled from a map. Some labs handle C-41 colour and black and white in-house. Others specialise in scanning, push and pull processing, or harder-to-find E-6 slide film. A few double as camera shops, with stock of fresh film and used bodies.

This guide maps the film labs in Ho Chi Minh City, from full-service darkrooms to scan-only counters. Each entry covers the location, the services offered, turnaround, and what the lab is known for.

The Pins
01

47plus minilab

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

47plus minilab is a photographic film lab on Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The business provides professional photo printing and film processing services. It operates from a location tucked within a small alley. The lab utilizes modern developing and printing machinery for its work. Technicians handle both film development and digital photo printing orders.

The facility uses professional-grade photo papers from established brands. These include papers from Fujifilm and Kodak with various surface finishes. Customers can choose from glossy, matte, or silk textures for their prints. The lab processes different types of photographic film for local photographers and hobbyists. It prepares high-resolution files for clients from their negatives.

47plus minilab serves a community of analog photography enthusiasts in the city. The lab provides development and scanning for film purchased there. Its services cater to those practicing both digital and film photography. The location in a quiet part of the Tân Định ward places it within a residential area. The business is known within Saigon’s film photography scene.

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214/19/8 bis Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

02

Crop Lab

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Crop Lab is an analogue film laboratory on Huỳnh Văn Bánh in Phú Nhuận District, Ho Chi Minh City. The business provides professional services for film photographers. Core services include film processing, scanning, and photo printing. The lab handles multiple film formats, including 35mm and 120 film. It processes color C-41, black and white, and slide film.

For its C-41 process, the lab uses a Noritsu V50 machine. Other film types are processed using custom-built automatic mini-processors. The facility uses professional-grade chemicals and deionized water for developing. This ensures stability and high quality for processed negatives. Scanned images are delivered to clients digitally. The lab sells camera film and photography accessories.

Crop Lab uses high-end equipment for its scanning services. The lab employs Fuji Frontier SP-3000 and Noritsu HS-1800 scanners. These models are widely used in professional labs globally. For large-format film, the lab utilizes an Epson V850 Pro scanner. The business serves a community of local analogue photography enthusiasts. It is one of several specialized film labs operating in the city.

08:00–20:00 daily +84909344934
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525/74 Huỳnh Văn Bánh, Phường 14, Phú Nhuận, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

03

Fox Spirit Film

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Fox Spirit Film is an analogue photography store and film lab on Hồ Hảo Hớn Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The shop provides a range of products and services for film photographers. It sells a curated selection of film stocks, vintage cameras, and related accessories. The business supports the local analogue photography community.

The lab offers film processing and developing services for various formats. It also provides darkroom workshops focused on traditional printing and enlarging techniques. A public darkroom is available for rent by experienced photographers. This space comes equipped with enlargers, lenses, and chemical trays for black-and-white printing. Founder Jenny Phan established the business to create a hub for film enthusiasts.

Beyond its retail and lab services, Fox Spirit Film organizes events for photographers. It operates a related brand called Saigon Film Photowalk, which hosts photography tours. The shop caters to both new and experienced film users. It presents itself as a comprehensive resource for the city’s analogue scene. The store’s interior functions as both a shop and a community meeting point.

The business maintains an active online presence alongside its physical store. It sells products through its website and other e-commerce platforms. The store aims to preserve and promote the craft of film photography in Vietnam. It offers camera rentals for those wanting to try different models. The services focus on the tangible and methodical process of shooting on film.

08:30–20:30 daily 0357794589
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38A Hồ Hảo Hớn, Phường Cô Giang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

04

Saigon Film Photowalk Darkroom

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon Film Photowalk Darkroom is a film photography workshop and darkroom on Hồ Hảo Hớn in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The space provides facilities and instruction for traditional analogue photography processes. It operates as the headquarters for Saigon Film Photowalk, an organization that also leads photography tours.

The darkroom focuses primarily on black-and-white film processing and printing. Workshops guide participants through the complete development process. Instructors demonstrate how to use darkroom equipment, including film enlargers. Participants learn to project negatives onto photographic paper under red light. The process involves using a series of chemical baths to reveal the final image.

Sessions allow photographers to create their own prints, typically in 8×10 inch format. Participants can bring their own developed negatives to the workshops. The darkroom also provides a collection of negatives for printing practice. These often feature scenes of local life in Ho Chi Minh City. The experience is designed for both beginners and experienced photographers.

This facility is part of a larger movement in the city seeing a revival of interest in analogue photography. It serves as a community hub for film enthusiasts. The space offers a hands-on alternative to digital photography. It preserves traditional techniques for a new generation of photographers. The business hosts its workshops in both English and Vietnamese.

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73/8 Hồ Hảo Hớn, Phường Cô Giang, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

05

Thuong Xanh Film & Camera Store

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Thuong Xanh Film & Camera Store is an analog photography shop on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. The store specializes in products and services for film photographers. Dinh Son founded the store in 2021 to serve Vietnam’s film photography community. The shop occupies a space down a small alley, providing a focused retail environment for analog enthusiasts.

The store sells a curated selection of secondhand film cameras. Available formats include 35mm point-and-shoot, SLR, and rangefinder models. The inventory features cameras from brands like Canon, Nikon, Olympus, and Minolta. In addition to film cameras, the shop also carries a range of compact digital cameras. Various photography accessories and camera batteries are available for purchase. The store’s product selection caters to both new and experienced film users.

Thuong Xanh stocks a variety of photographic film. The selection includes 35mm, 120 medium format, and 4×5 sheet film. Customers can find color negative, black and white, and cinema film stocks. Brands on offer include Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, and CineStill. The store sells popular emulsions like Kodak Gold 200 and Kodak Vision3 cinema stocks. It also provides its own branded film rolls.

The shop operates an in-house film processing lab. The minilab handles C-41 color negative, ECN-2 cinema film, and black and white processes. It can develop and scan 35mm and 120 format films. The lab also offers development for 4×5 sheet film. Standard and high-resolution scanning options are available for developed negatives. The store provides these services to local and visiting photographers.

10:30–20:00 daily 0798955289
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193/8 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Phường Võ Thị Sáu, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

06

LLAB

Film Photography · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

LLAB is a film processing laboratory on Hồ Hảo Hớn street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The business provides developing and scanning services for analog photography. It opened on June 16, 2014. The founders were a group of photography enthusiasts, lab technicians, and printing specialists.

The lab processes a wide range of film types. These include color negative (C-41), black and white, and slide film (E-6). It also handles cinema film and cross-processing services. LLAB accepts many film formats from customers. Standard formats like 35mm and 120 medium format are processed. The lab also handles less common formats, including 110, APS, and large-format sheets like 4×5 and 8×10.

After developing, the lab scans the negatives. Technicians deliver the resulting digital files to customers via Google Drive. The physical negatives are held at the lab for a set period for collection. LLAB offers different turnaround times depending on the process. Color negative and black and white films typically take up to 72 hours. Slide film processing has a longer turnaround time. The lab also offers a mail-in service for photographers outside the city.

LLAB serves the local analog photography community. It ranks among the city’s most recognized film labs. The facility also sells a selection of new film rolls and photography accessories. Customers can track their orders through a dedicated mobile application. The lab provides services for both amateur and professional photographers.

08:00–21:00 daily (028) 3836 0365
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8B Hồ Hảo Hớn, Phường Cô Giang, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam