An Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) performance event named “Ao Dai Cua Chung Ta” (Our Ao Dai) was held in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature) in Hanoi, on April 9. |
The event, co-organised by the Thang Long Institute for Cultural Research (TICR) and Tinh hoa Dat Viet Magazine. |
The area in front of Khue Van Cac (the pavilion of the constellation of literature) in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam became the “stage” for 15 designers to introduce more than 600 Ao Dai designs. |
Among designers, there are famous designers such as: Minh Hanh, Ngoc Han, Lan Huong, Chu La, and Trinh Bich Thuy. |
The event also features the participations of more than 400 models, actors, guests, especially Lady of ambassadors of Italy, India, and Laos. |
Not only do they honour the national cultural beauty, the designs also display cultural exchanges with other countries when exploiting motifs from the traditional cultural beauty of many countries from around the world, such as the imperial motifs and patterns of India and Thailand; subtle lines of Japanese culture and architecture; modernity of American culture; or the romantic features of Italian and French culture. |
The designs show the adaptability of Vietnamese Ao Dai in coordination with cultural elements of both Asia and Europe. |
The event “Ao Dai Cua Chung Ta” contributes to the continued promotion of community awareness and responsibility in preserving and protecting traditional Ao Dai, and honouring and promoting Vietnamese traditional costumes; at the same time, promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and other countries around the world. |
Traditional Ao Dai is an important cultural heritage associated with the beauty of Vietnamese women. In recent years, many cultural researchers have made efforts to help the Ao Dai gain recognition as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, aiming to propose that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) register the dress as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage. |
Women can wear Ao Dai anywhere, for office wear, school uniforms, outerwear, or formal wear at home. The wearing of this dress is not frivolous or sophisticated, things are simple to wear: wear with silk pants or soft cloth, at the foot of comedy, clogs, or whatever shoes are. |