In Vietnam, though there are no official documents indicating that the ao dai (traditional long dress) is the national outfit, in the minds of many, especially international friends, it is considered a symbol of Vietnamese culture.

It is no coincidence that the lyrics of the song “A moment in the hometown” have become familiar among generations of Vietnamese. Over the last hundred years, the ao dai has moved from real life to the cinema, music, and painting, and even become part of the Vietnamese soul at home and abroad.

It is also because of her love for the ao dai that designer Minh Hanh devoted all of her fashion career to honouring the traditional dress. Promoting, introducing, and acting as general director of ao dai festivals, Hanh also considers it is her responsibility, together with researchers and other designers, to make the ao dai an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han also identified her role in preserving and promoting national culture when choosing to research and design an ao dai for her career development. As a young designer, Ngoc Han puts her soul into her ao dai, using traditional natural materials and contributing to a woman’s beauty.

Vietnamese women do not need to spend much time putting on an ao dai to show off their charm and elegance. The ao dai has found a place in the daily lives of Vietnamese women, becoming part of the country’s spirit and identity./.VNA

Hanoi’s handicraft village promotes beauty of Vietnamese Ao Dai

Trach Xa Village in Ung Hoa suburban district of Hanoi is famous for the craft of tailor-made Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dresses), an epitome of Vietnamese culture.