Preserving beauty of Hue's traditional Ao Dai

ABO/NDO – Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) is a tourism product that the ancient central city of Hue has successfully promoted.

At the Ao Dai Festival within the framework of the 2018 Hue Festival (Photo: Cong Hau).

The talented craftsmen in Hue have to be careful in their needle-work to make delicate and beautiful Ao Dai dresses.

Since the 2018-2019 academic year, the movement of wearing Ao Dai among teachers and students in Thua Thien – Hue province was replicated after the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee encouraged local schools to respond to the movement. The movement has attracted the people’s attention, contributing to promoting the image of the ancient capital to domestic visitors and international friends.

 

Ao Dai is a type of traditional long dress that is popular nationwide, however, many people immediately think of Hue women’s dresses. Hue’s Ao Dai are unmistakable, from the colours, designs and wearing styles. The dresses’ laps are not too long and their collars have a moderate height. They do not cling to the women’s bodies but highlight their curved lines, making them feel more comfortable. Therefore, Ao Dai are always present in the daily lives of Hue people.

 

Hue is proud to be the first locality to organise an Ao Dai Festival. Since the 2002 Hue Festival, Ao Dai shows have been held regularly, honouring the value of the clothing imbued with the Vietnamese cultural identity.

 

So far, Ao Dai have become a typical symbol and special tourist product of the ancient capital. Almost every visitor to the city wishes to own dresses sewed by the tailors in Hue. Therefore, Ao Dai dresses sewed in a short time have become indispensable souvenirs for women. It takes about 3-4 hours for tailors to make Ao Dai dresses. Shops in the city are always busy with customers all year round.

 

Over the past few years, the Thua Thien – Hue provincial Centre for Industrial Encouragement and Trade Promotion has successfully implemented many projects supporting vocational training of traditional and modified Ao Dai dresses, aiming to preserve and promote the cultural value of Ao Dai tailoring in Hue.

 

According to a survey via the internet, simple things such as quiet streets, sweet voices of women, sunset in Tam Giang lagoon and particularly Ao Dai, have left deep impression on visitors. The image of Ao Dai dresses streaming on the streets is expected to make the ancient capital more attractive.