Continue to preserve and honor the heritage of Vietnamese Ao Dai

The event was attended by former Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh; representatives of leaders of ministries, branches, associations, embassies; along with many artists, artisans, designers, cultural researchers, education experts... and ao dai lovers from all over the country.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Dang Thi Bich Lien, President of the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association, former Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: In contemporary life, the Ao Dai not only carries traditional values but is also constantly being created, renewed, and dynamically integrated with the globalization era. Therefore, the establishment of the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association is an inevitable step, aiming to connect hearts that love the Ao Dai, creative hands, and research minds, to together preserve, promote and spread the beauty of the Ao Dai as a living heritage in the modern flow.

Meritorious Artist Chieu Xuan and models perform the "Sac Nui" Ao Dai collection by designer Han Phuong ( Thai Nguyen ).

"Ao dai is the crystallization of Vietnamese history, spirit, aesthetics and culture, present on every street of the country and abroad. It can be said that all Vietnamese people of all ages, occupations... have a familiar and close attachment to ao dai", Ms. Bich Lien emphasized.

Faced with the need for a long-term and synchronous strategy so that the ao dai does not just stop at being a symbol of memory or a festival image, but truly becomes a part of contemporary life, lively, creative and close, the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association will focus on implementing key tasks including:

Research, preserve and promote the historical, cultural and artistic values of Vietnamese Ao Dai through each stage of development; organize activities to promote, honor and spread the value of Vietnamese Ao Dai to the international community; Connect creative forces to form a "creative cultural ecosystem" associated with Ao Dai; advise, consult and make recommendations to State management agencies in building policies to support, honor and preserve the cultural values of Ao Dai, especially in education, communication, cultural diplomacy and creative economic development; build databases, collections and archives on Ao Dai, contributing to serving heritage research and education...

Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony.

Within the framework of the program, the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with many partners in various fields, such as the Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association, the Vietnam Craft Village Association, the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Cultural Association, etc.

Designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam, Vice President of the Association, happily expressed: "The establishment of the Association will open more opportunities for Vietnamese designers to go out into the world, enhance their position when participating in programs and fashion weeks, bring Vietnamese designers to major events; cooperate and invite international designers to Vietnam...

Sharing her perspective on promoting Ao Dai in association with the development of cultural industry, Dr. Dang Thi Bich Lien added: Ao Dai is not only a costume but has become an intangible cultural heritage, containing traditional beauty and at the same time has the ability to attract, enrich the locality, and develop tourism. For example, through Ao Dai designs printed, painted, embroidered... motifs of historical relics, scenic spots... that is a way to turn Ao Dai into a means of promoting heritage.

She also proposed the idea of coordinating national relic sites and agencies to have a day of wearing Ao Dai according to regulations, inviting sponsors and local designers to carry out the event, to introduce culture, promote tourism and create income for artisans...

The representative of the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association also said that they will promote activities such as attracting female entrepreneurs, supporting designers, manufacturing enterprises, artisans making silk, traditional textiles... applying technology and linking creative value chains.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, Permanent Vice President of the Association, said the Association was established with clear commitments and goals to enhance the value and bring Vietnamese ao dai further.

Interspersed throughout the program, the audience enjoyed art performances and Ao Dai fashion shows by famous designers from many provinces and cities across the country.

The event brings a message of honoring and spreading more strongly the value of the Ao Dai heritage in the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people, aiming to recognize Ao Dai as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and build a dossier to submit to UNESCO to recognize Ao Dai as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Previously, on the afternoon of August 8 in Hanoi, the first Congress of the Vietnam Ao Dai Culture Association, term 2025-2030, took place. The Congress elected the Association's Executive Committee consisting of 41 members. Dr. Dang Thi Bich Lien, former Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was elected as President of the Association; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam as Permanent Vice President, Ms. Khuc Thi Dau as Vice President and General Secretary.

In addition, the Association also has 4 Vice Presidents: Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Vy, Ms. Hoang Thi Ngoc Mai, Ms. Phung Thi Thu Thuy and Mr. Do Trinh Hoai Nam.