Vietnamese Ao Dai Fashion Week Held in Fukuoka, Japan

A Vietnamese ‘ao dai’ (traditional long dress) fashion week began in Fukuoka prefecture on January 18 as part of the Homeland Spring Festival 2024 of the Vietnamese community in the Kyushu region of Japan, according to VNA.

The event, which runs until January 21, showcases 10 ‘ao dai’ collections from four Vietnamese designers – Ngoc Han, Cao Minh Tien, Che Quyet Tien, and Tran Thien Khanh. The designs are presented by professional and amateur Vietnamese models from both Vietnam and Kyushu.

Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai, Omagari Akie – Vice Governor of Fukuoka, Inoue Hirotaka – Vice Chairman of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance in Fukuoka, and other delegates attended the event. Source: Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka

In her opening remarks, Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai stated that the first ‘ao dai’ week in the prefecture is an opportunity for Vietnamese people as well as Japanese and international friends to admire more than 160 sets of ‘ao dai’ created by famous designers. This event aims to introduce the traditional costume of Vietnam and promote tourism in Fukuoka and Kyushu.

Each ‘ao dai’ is considered a work of art and the designers aim to highlight the cultural confluence between Vietnam and Japan by combining the colors of blue-and-white porcelain and the obi (fabric belt of the kimono) of Japan with the ‘ao dai’. This helps popularize Vietnamese cultural values to the world.

On display are 160 sets of ‘ao dai’ produced by four Vietnamese designers – Ngoc Han, Cao Minh Tien, Che Quyet Tien, and Tran Thien Khanh. Source: Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka

Vice Governor of Fukuoka, Omagari Akie, wearing the traditional costume of Vietnam, expressed her surprise at the diversity of ‘ao dai’ designs, materials, and colors. She highly appreciated the purpose and meaning of this event, emphasizing that it provides valuable opportunities for the people of Fukuoka and tourists from various places to learn about the beauty and cultural values of the Vietnamese ‘ao dai’ as well as traditional Vietnamese culture in general.

The designers harmoniously and delicately combine the color of Japanese blue ceramic with Obi, demonstrating the similarities and interference between Vietnamese and Japanese cultures and the close relationship between the two countries. Source: Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka

The event saw the participation of more than 40 famous Vietnamese artists, actors, models, and special models from the Vietnamese community in the Kyushu area. Source: Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka

Inoue Hirotaka, Vice Chairman of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance in Fukuoka, expressed his delight that the year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of an agreement on boosting friendly exchanges between the prefecture’s administration and the Hanoi People’s Committee.

He noted that a delegation from the Fukuoka administration will start a visit to Hanoi on January 22 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the two sides’ friendship to enhance cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, thereby contributing to the Vietnam – Japan relations.

1,500 people wearing ‘ao dai’ form the shape of S-shaped Vietnam in Fukuoka, Japan. Source: Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka

On January 20, the fifth Xuan Que huong (Homeland Spring) program also started at Tenjinchuo Park, Fukuoka.

Highlights of the festival include 1,500 people wearing ‘ao dai’ forming the map of S-shaped Vietnam, and Fukuoka 2024 Ao Dai Week with 180 items created by six renowned Vietnamese designers.