A cultural event has been held at the Temple of Literature to popularise the ao dai (traditional long robe) for men.

Initially, the ao dai was made for both men and women, but nowadays it’s considered as female clothing. The event was organised to bring this traditional fashion back into life and encourage more men to wear it.

According to Chu Duc Giang, a member of organising board, the event aims to help the young generation understand more about the ao dai for men through a series of events like fashion show and field trips.

The image of men and women wearing gorgeous ao dai has caught the admiring eyes of foreign tourists at the Temple of Literature.

Nguyen Minh Hanh from Hanoi told reporters: "The ao dai is very beautiful, traditional and promotes the beauty of Vietnamese women. I found that today more people are in favour of this traditional costume for festivals or important events."

Some designers have fallen into renovating ao dai rather than honouring and promoting the simplicity of the original version. The event helps Ao Dai for males make a comeback and in modern life.-VNA