Contestants at an ao dai beauty competition (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – As a response to the third Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival, relatives of composer Trinh Cong Son are hosting a one-week festival which kicked off on March 28 at Nguyen Van Binh Book Street in downtown HCM City, honouring a collection of ao dai designs inspired by songs of the composer.
The “Ao Dai Week-Cultural Bridge” are exhibiting 10 women’s traditional robes designed by Trinh Hoang Dieu, the younger sister of the late composer. Each one was inspired by a song.
“The ao dai is not only a kind of costume, but also a work of art that requires elegance and aesthetics,” Dieu said. “My heart always stirs whenever I paint on ao dai.”
Dieu has chosen to paint her designs on brocade and silk. Her paintings mostly honour conjugal affection.
Also on show is an exclusive issue of a book of letters and images Son sent to Ngo Vu Dao Anh, the leading female character in most of his songs composed in the 1964-1989 period.
Visitors can also view paintings of the composer by a Canadian painter at the festival, and listen to Son’s well-known songs performed by singers Duc Tuan, Thanh Bui, and others at an evening of music on April 1.-VNA
