Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong (third, from left) and other delegates attend an exhibition of ASEAN traditional costumes. Taking place at the National Museum of Vietnamese History in downtown Hanoi on October 21, the event was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with embassies of countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vietnam. Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said the event is meant to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN Community and Vietnam’s holding of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The exhibition showcases a part of ASEAN member states’ massive traditional costume collection. Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups together ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The exhibited costumes help visitors to gain an insight into how people in the ten countries dress and use clothes to signify sexes. On display are ao ngu than (five-flap robe), a traditional costume for Vietnamese men; Raj Pattern, a Thai men's costume consisting of a white Nehru-style jacket with five buttons; and Baju Kurung, a traditional Malaysian costume worn by women. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Visitors are treated to not only unique traditional costumes but also photos on the landscapes and peoples of the 10 ASEAN member nations. Despite complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10 ASEAN member states eagerly sent their traditional costumes and photos to the cultural event in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said in his opening speech. This demonstrated their special attention to cultural events hosted by Vietnam in 2020 and contributed to creating an enticing ASEAN cultural space, Dong noted, adding that ASEAN cultural cooperation has connected its members and strengthened intra-bloc solidarity to overcome difficulties. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A jewel encrusted belt on a Thai traditional costume for men on display at the exhibition. Thai traditional costumes vary by city and the ruler of each historical period. The country has played an active role in ASEAN from the beginning. It was one of the founding members of the bloc, together with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. The bloc’s founding document, the ASEAN Declaration or Bangkok Declaration, was signed on August 8 in 1967 at Saranrom Palace in Thai capital city of Bangkok. Thailand has held the rotating role of the Chair of ASEAN for four times, in 1995, 2008, 2009, and 2019. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A crown as part of the Bruneian traditional costume exhibited at the event. Typical costumes of men and women in each country are showcased together with images of local lifestyles and cultures and a clear explanation of colours and decoration patterns used in the costumes. Brunei is a small country with profuse possibilities. It has less than half a million people but ranks as one of the highest rates of macroeconomic stability in the world. After Vietnam, it will be the rotating Chair of ASEAN next year. Earlier, it performed the role twice in 2001 and 2013. Founded on August 8, 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Vietnamese traditional costumes for men and women on display at the exhibition. The exhibition is introducing culture, lifestyle and people of the ASEAN member states through the beauty of traditional costumes, helping strengthen mutual understanding among the peoples in the region and contribute to expanding economic, investment and tourism cooperation. It runs at National Museum of Vietnamese History, No 1 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi, till October 28. Vietnam is the current Chair of ASEAN. The country chooses “Cohesive and Responsive” as theme for its chairmanship year, which is supported by five priorities identified with a view to meeting the long-term goals of ASEAN. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
