A Vietnamese beauty will showcase an elaborate royal ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long gown) in the National Costume Competition of Miss World 2014 that opened last week in the UK. 

Nguyen Thi Loan, 24, is competing at this pageant – the world’s largest – as the only Vietnamese contestant and she will don the ao dai called “Long Vu Khuc” (The Dance of a Dragon) in the competition.

Loan was named runner-up at Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2013 and won a prize at Miss Vietnam 2010.   

According to local designer Vo Viet Chung, who created the ao dai, the gown tells a tale of Vietnamese people’s origin, feudal reigns, and the long-cherished grace throughout the country’s 4,000-year history and culture.

The costume boasts the dominant colors of red and yellow, which are prominently featured on the Vietnamese national flag, and typical of the country’s feudal reigns.

The cloak that accompanies the ao dai is a vivid reminder of solemn royal ceremonies and Queen Nam Phuong of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) – the country’s last queen – during her coronation, Chung added.

The costume’s two stylized sleeves feature several layers of cloth which are twisted together the way khan mo qua (a piece of traditional headwear used by northern Vietnamese women) is made.

Chung noted the yellow decorative patterns on the outfit’s front are designed as scales of dragons, which are representative of the kings and their absolute power in the past.

Another highlight is the headgear, which is inspired by non quai thau (a large, tray-shaped headwear item popular among women in the northern province of Bac Ninh).

The intricately crafted headwear features three strata, each with different decorative patterns.

Its rims also boast bronze-plated patterns inspired by an ethnic community’s traditional hat.

Accessories including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are all gold-coated to go well with the ao dai, according to its creator, who added the outfit is the most time-consuming and elaborate design he has ever created during his 20-year career.

Loan has great physique, good education, an adequate command of English, and facial features typical of Vietnamese women, according to Elite, a local model training company, which sends Vietnamese beauties to the pageant.

The 1.76m tall beauty, who weighs 58kg and boasts body measurements of 90-63-93, was one of the strong candidates for the Miss Vietnam 2010 crown.

In late September this year, Loan appeared on the website of the Miss World 2014 pageant as the Vietnamese representative, but Vietnam’s Performing Arts Department said that they had not received the beauty’s application for permission by then.

The 64th edition of Miss World 2014 kicked off on Thursday last week.

Its grand finale is slated to take place on December 14 in London – the pageant’s cradle.

More than 130 contenders from countries and territories the world over are displaying their gorgeous looks and talents at the event and competing for women’s most-coveted title.

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