Ao dai needs official heritage recognition

Ao dai has long been a traditional costume and a typical cultural feature of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Ao dai (Vietnamesetraditional long dress) has long been a traditional costume and a typicalcultural feature of Vietnam. Through ups and downs with constant changes, aodai still honours the gracefulness and elegance of Vietnamese women.

However, the dress has yet to be named in the listof national heritage though the inscription is the premise for building a dossierto seek UNESCO recognition of Ao dai as part of the world intangible culturalheritage.

The idea is not new, but has become urgent given recentcases when a foreign designer copied the Vietnamese traditional dress, ormisconception of its origin.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga presents two Ao dai which she wore in diplomatic events to the Vietnam Women’s Museum. (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Phuong Nga, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UNfrom 2014 to 2018, said the gown has become part of the national soul anywhere,and it deserves to be honoured as an intangible cultural heritage of humanityas it represents traditional values of Vietnam as well as talents of localartisans.

To contribute to promoting Ao dai, the ambassadorpresented two Ao dai which she wore in diplomatic events to the Vietnam Women’sMuseum.

According to Associate Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son,Director of the Vietnam Institute for Culture and Arts Studies, once Ao dai isrecognised as national intangible cultural heritage, towards global status, itswill be better known and Vietnam’s copyright on the dress will be affirmed.

Although Vietnamese people, both at home and abroad,and the international community are aware of ao dai belonging to Vietnam, itremains oral recognition.

Therefore, it is high time to build a dossier forthe dress to be officially named as cultural heritage, nationally and globally,thus contributing to protecting the country’s cultural sovereignty./.

VNA