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Vietnamese traditional costume dolls by artisan Bui Thinh Da.

Doll Fest 2025 celebrates the world of dolls as symbols of memory, creativity, and individuality. It serves as a platform connecting communities passionate about art, fashion, design, cosplay, and music, particularly among young audiences.

The festival will feature diverse activities, from doll exhibitions and cosplay events to talk shows and fashion shows. Its highlight will be a large-scale doll exhibition with 150 booths showcasing dolls of various types, materials, sizes, and colors.

Doll artisan Bui Thinh Da, known for his dolls dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire, shared that foreign friends often asked if Vietnam had its own traditional dolls. Unsure how to answer, he decided to create dolls reflecting Vietnamese culture, hoping the festival would allow him to present more unique works.

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Designer Phuong Ho, chief organizer of the festival. Photos: Organizing Committee

The event will debut a Vietnamese fairytale doll collection featuring Tam Cam, Saint Giong, Trong Thuy – My Chau, and The Hundred-Knot Bamboo. The dolls, primarily crafted from clay, are designed to help children remember traditional stories and cultural values. Organizers intend to register the collection for a Vietnam record.

Other highlights include the Miss Doll contest, showcasing beauty pageant-style dolls to celebrate artistry and craftsmanship, and the “Doll Show” concert returning for its fourth season - a fashion, music, and light spectacle with famous artists. Music director Vo Hoai Phuc will oversee the program, which will also present a musical sharing messages about dolls.

Designer Phuong Ho, the festival’s chief organizer, said the event - running from October 29 to November 3 - will create a vibrant space where doll culture, handicrafts, and fashion converge.

Khoi Nguyen