The charm of Vietnamese traditional Ao Dai (long dress) was the main theme of a talk in HCM City on March 8 as part of the fifth Ao Dai festival in the city.

An Ao Dai show at the event

At the event, President of the HCM City Women's Union Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, said the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai festival has become a significant cultural and tourism event, promoting the city’s tourism as well as honouring the traditional dress.

The talk was held to help female consuls general, and spouses of consuls general in Ho Chi Minh City gain understanding about the history and development of Ao dai, thus contributing to cultural exchanges between Vietnam and other countries in the world.

Si Hoang, an Ao dai designer, said it was his honour to make Ao Dai for spouses of the nation’s leaders, adding that his design was once worn by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at an important event of her nation in 2012.

He said caution and subtlety are needed in making Ao Dai for diplomatic events, so that they can bring the best out of the wearers while demonstrating the beauty of the Vietnamese traditional costume.

Ton Nu Thi Ninh, Vice President of the Vietnam Peace Committee, said the dress shows the beauty of women as well as the traditional culture of Vietnamese people.  The veteran diplomat, who initiated the Vietnam Culture Week in Europe, usually wears Ao Dai to international events.

K. Srikar Reddy, Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City highlighted the similarity between Vietnamese Ao Dai and the Indian Saree, and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Ao Dai will be introduced to Indian people.

Participants enjoyed several collections of Ao Dai designed by Si Hoang during the event.-VNA