Quang Ninh (VNA) – An exhibition featuring Ao Dai (Vietnam's traditional long dress) through historical periods opened at the Quang Ninh Museum in Ha Long city on May 29.
The event marks major anniversaries in Vietnam this year, including the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890–2025), 50 years since the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975–2025), the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Quang Ninh province's mining zone (April 25, 1955–2025), and Visit Vietnam Year 2025 – Hue.
Director of the Quang Ninh Museum Do Quyet Tien said that the museum and the History Museum of Hue city coordinated to organise the exhibition as a practical activity to improve the quality and effectiveness of heritage conservation, education, and communication.
He said the Ao Dai exhibition provides an opportunity for the public to have better understanding of the history of the Vietnamese traditional dress. Visitors to the event can also experience Hue’s traditional crafts or the steps of making Ao Dai.
Hue, which is honoured as the “capital of Ao Dai", is a typical cultural centre, preserving the core values and quintessence of the traditional costume.
Director of the Hue city History Museum Nguyen Duc Loc said that in recent years, Hue has not only been a place for preserving and maintaining the traditional Ao Dai but also a pioneer in bringing it back to the contemporary life.
In Hue, in 1989, women's Ao Dai was introduced into the working environment and schools. In 2020, the men's Ao Dai was introduced into the workplace as a form of public art. In August 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognised the Hue knowledge of making and wearing Ao Dai as part of the national intangible heritage.
Within the framework of the exhibition, a show featuring Hue's traditional and modern Ao Dai was held, attracting numerous local people and tourists.
The exhibition will run until June 15./.
