Over 100,000 people responded to activities at the Ao dai festival, the fifth of its kind, which concluded in Ho Chi Minh City on March 26.
A ao dai performance at the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)
According to the Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen, the festival reflects the city’s wish to preserve and promote the values of the traditional dress, and to honour people who have been engaged in the act of preservation.
The organising board said the festival gathered 23 top designers and introduced more than 1,200 designs to the public.
The festival featured 16 main activities, including an opening ceremony, which showcased 13 collections on the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street on March 3, and a mass performance of 3,000 people wearing Ao dai on March 4.
A forum on the charm of Ao dai was organised to help international friends understand the culture and history behind the dress. Spaces for local tourism promotion on Nguyen Hue Street, an Ao dai exhibition, and a conference on the history of the Ao dai were among other features of the event.
Themed "Ho Chi Minh City Charming Ao dai” and with a message of "I love VietnameseAo dai”, the festival was co-organised by the municipal Tourism Department and the Women’s Union.
Soure: NDO
The clothing of women reflects the culture of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups in the northern province of Hoa Binh.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
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