Taking place from March 1 to 9, the festival commemorates the 1985th anniversary of the Trung Sisters’ uprising, the 115th International Women’s Day, and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.
Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc, emphasised that the festival continues its mission of honouring the Ao Dai, preserving Vietnamese cultural heritage, and promoting the nation’s image as a dynamic and deeply traditional society.
The festival’s opening night featured a cultural-artistic programme with three segments. The first, “Ao Dai and the Song of Rivers,” showcased collections reflecting the history of Saigon-Gia Dinh. The second, “Ao Dai and the Fire-Flowered Roads,” paid tribute to Vietnam’s struggle for independence. The final segment, “Ao Dai – The Vibrant Colours of Vietnam,” celebrated the Ao Dai as a timeless symbol of national pride, featuring nearly 60 designers and 30 public figures.
Key festival events include a mass Ao Dai performance on March 8, with over 3,000 participants at Nguyen Hue Walking Street and 50,000 others across 21 districts. Other highlights include the “Charming Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai” contest, an Ao Dai painting competition, and an online photo contest.
The festival welcomes 53 renowned Ao Dai designers and high-profile ambassadors, including foreign diplomats, artists, and beauty queens, showcasing Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage.
