An efficient preparation of Vilsmeier–Haack formylated and acetylated derivatives with pyridine and substituted pyridines has been developed by employing micelles as catalyst. Their kinetic study reveals a phenomenal rate enhancement in anionic SDS, cationic CTAB, and nonionic TX-100 micellar media. The Vilsmeier–Haack reaction follows second order kinetics. Piszkiewicz’s co-operativity model was used to interpret the results in micellar media. The observed activation parameters ΔH and ΔS values were calculated from Eyring’s plots. The main features of this study were easy process, mild reaction conditions and readily available reagents.