The beauty of women from Nghe An during 'Ao Dai Week'

An impressive start

As the song "Vietnamese Ao Dai" echoed through the pedestrian streets of Vinh City, Kha Thi Tho – a daughter of Xieng Huong village, Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district – confidently strode across the street in her traditional Ao Dai.

Kha Thi Tho, born in 2004 and a student at Nghe An University, is one of the youngest girls to participate in the program."Elegant Vietnamese Ao Dai" and folk dance performance on Vinh City pedestrian street.It took place on the evening of March 1st.

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While I was previously familiar with the piêu scarf and the cóm blouse – garments closely associated with the life and culture of the Thai people – at this program, I had the opportunity to wear the ao dai – a symbol of Vietnamese beauty.

For me, this is not just a costume, but also a connecting thread between the ethnic groups on this S-shaped land.

Kha Thi Tho – Xieng Huong village, Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district.

What's even more remarkable is that the program not only brings together young women but also includes women of many generations, with some members even being around 70 years old.

For example, Mrs. Tran Thi Sam, born in 1954, residing in Block 10, Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City. At the age of 71, she still confidently performs folk dance routines with a radiant smile.

"I never thought that at this age I would still be able to wear an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and dance with my sisters in such a meaningful program," she shared. Not only does it bring joy to her old age, but for her, it's also a meaningful activity to preserve and continue traditional cultural values ​​in modern life.

Showing close attention from start to finish of the program, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, President of the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union, shared: “With the participation of more than 1,000 women, the “Elegant Vietnamese Ao Dai” program and folk dance performance, held for the first time on the Vinh City pedestrian street, is considered an impressive start for Nghe An in responding to the “Ao Dai Week” in 2025.

The program featured ao dai collections themed "Proud of Vietnamese Ao Dai," "Spring Ao Dai," and fashion shows themed "The Fragrance and Beauty of Vietnamese Ao Dai" and "The Lotus Blossom of Nghe An." Through these, the program showcased the grace and elegance of the traditional ao dai.

At the same time, it brings a fresh perspective through creative design and performance, highlighting the interplay between classic and modern styles. Each ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) tells a story, possesses its own unique character, and touches the emotions of the viewers.

According to statistics, in addition to the interest of thousands of spectators on the pedestrian street, the program attracted more than 300,000 views on online platforms.

Spreading the love for the Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress).

In 2019, the Vietnam Women's Union initiated and coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize events with the theme "Ao Dai - Vietnamese Cultural Heritage". Since then, Ao Dai Week has become an indispensable activity in the first week of March every year.

This year, the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union continues to launch the "Ao Dai Week" 2025, from March 1st to March 8th. Joining in this vibrant atmosphere, in recent days, women's associations at all levels in the province have implemented many meaningful activities to spread love for the Ao Dai, contributing to promoting the cultural beauty of the traditional national costume.

Beyond simply encouraging women to wear the traditional Ao Dai dress at important events, "Ao Dai Week" also provides an opportunity for localities to organize various programs to honor the event, such as Ao Dai fashion shows, art exchanges, and folk dance performances. For example, in Quy Hop and Do Luong districts, the "Elegant Vietnamese Ao Dai" program and folk dance performances attracted nearly 400 female officials and members from across the district. In the coastal town of Hoang Mai, a campaign was launched encouraging all female officials, employees, workers, and members to wear traditional Ao Dai dresses at events and on working days from March 1st to March 8th, 2025.

In the mountainous district of Kỳ Sơn, 100% of local women's associations practiced and performed folk dances, with many units creating video clips to widely disseminate them on social media platforms. In Vinh City, there was also an exhibition of "traditional and modern" ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to introduce the history, development, and popular applications of the ao dai in Vietnamese society. These activities attracted the participation of thousands of women throughout the province.

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Activities in response to "Ao Dai Week" not only honor the beauty of traditional attire but also awaken pride and a sense of preserving cultural heritage in every woman.

As more and more ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) appear on the streets, in offices, schools, and everyday events, it will contribute to preserving national identity and the connection between the past and the present in today's era.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Hien – Standing Vice President of the Nghe An Women's Union.