Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Dang Thi Bich Lien, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Ao Dai Cultural Association, highlighted the significance of the costume. She said that for generations, the Ao Dai has been present in everyday life, immortalized in literature, poetry, music, sculpture, and painting, woven into the pages of history, and seen along every road of the country.
The costume has not only appeared in domestic cultural and artistic events, but also transcended national borders to feature at international fashion weeks, prestigious beauty pageants, and major cultural events abroad. It has become a “cultural ambassador” and a “messenger of peace,” helping bring Vietnamese culture to the world.
In modern life, the Ao Dai retains its deep traditional values while continually being innovated and refreshed, adapting dynamically to the era of globalization. The establishment of the Vietnam Ao Dai Cultural Association aims to connect Ao dai-loving hearts, creative hands, and scholarly minds, working together to preserve, promote, and spread its beauty as a living heritage in the modern flow of life.
The association not only serves as a gathering place for artisans, designers, cultural and social activists, and researchers in history, fine arts, and culture, but also seeks to create an open space for the community, where every Vietnamese can take part in preserving and honoring the Ao Dai as an integral part of the nation’s identity.
It will also provide consultation, recommendations, and proposals for state management agencies on policies to support, honor, and safeguard the cultural value of the national costume, particularly in education, communication, cultural diplomacy, and creative economy development It will focus on building databases, collections, and archives of the Ao Dai to serve research and education, ensuring the cultural heritage is passed on to future generations.
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A performance featuring traditional Ao Dai outfits at the event |
According to the association’s Permanent Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, the establishment of association is also a major opportunity for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to become “fashion capitals” at both the regional and international levels.
As part of the launch ceremony, an art and fashion show was held to honor the Ao Dai. By showcasing designs from various designers, the event conveyed the message of honoring and spreading the value of the Ao Dai heritage in Vietnamese spiritual and cultural life, with the goal of recognizing it as National Intangible Cultural Heritage and preparing a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Translated by Tran Hoai