The programme opened with singing, dance and ao dai (Vietnam’s traditional long dress) fashion performances representing Vietnam’s regions and ethnic groups, followed by a showcase of the collection “Essence of Heritage Regions” by designer Tuan Nguyen, set to the song “Dang lua Ha Dong” (Ha Dong Silk Dress).

The festival runs for three days, from April 24 to 26, across multiple venues in central Da Nang, with connections to the ancient town of Hoi An. A wide range of activities has been organised, including an ao dai parade, thematic seminars, exhibition and experience spaces, promotional activities, a photo contest, and programmes involving the community and tourism businesses.

Through the festival, Da Nang seeks a new approach to the ao dai, shifting from symbolic value to practical use, and from performance spaces to everyday life, contributing to building the city’s image as a creative, friendly and culturally distinctive destination. The festival is also an open creative space, encouraging the participation of designers, artisans, businesses and the community in developing, promoting and using the ao dai.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Thi Hoi An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, expressed the hope of continuing to honour, preserve and develop the cultural value of the Vietnamese ao dai in contemporary life, while gradually building the Da Nang Ao Dai Festival into an annual cultural event with its own identity.

“This is the first time Da Nang has organised an ao dai festival. We hope to spread the image of the Vietnamese ao dai to friends at home and abroad. We also hope the festival will connect artists, designers and the ao dai-loving community, creating a space for exchange, learning and creativity,” she said.

Journey to bring Vietnam’s Ao dai to global fashion stage

VOV.VN - Representatives of the Vietnamese community in the United Kingdom, international partners, journalists and audiences interested in Vietnamese culture gathered in central London on March 8 to hear about the Ao Dai Fashion Week project.