The Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City will be turned into an 800m runway, with 126 local models wearing Vietnamese ao dai (long gown) to strut on Thursday night.

At the event held to celebrate the 126th birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890), the models will also offer 126 lotus flowers at the statue of the president located on the street.

The two-hour show, which will include musical performances honoring the late leader, will be divided into three chapters, according to the show’s director Nguyen Thanh Tung.

The first chapter named “The City of Yesterday” will feature a collection of ao dai from the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Museum.

The second chapter is “The City of Today” showcasing a variety of ao dai, reflecting the changes of the traditional costume over the years.

“The City of Tomorrow” is the last part of the show, introducing a new collection that describes a city which loves ao dai and peace.

Six local fashion designers Si Hoang, Quynh Paris, Thuy Nguyen, Hoai Sang, Tuan Tran and Pham Dang Anh Thu will bring a total of 10 collections to the event.

The show, starting at 7:00 pm, will be the first to be organized on the pedestrian street since it was opened in April last year.

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