Spouses of the ambassadors of the U.S., Armenia, Morocco, the Czech Republic, and Indonesia to Vietnam wowed local audiences this week as they donned 'ao dai' (a traditional Vietnamese long gown) and walked down the runway at an event in Hanoi.

The performance was part of the 'Huong Sac Ao Dai Viet' (The Beauty of Vietnamese Ao Dai) event held by the Vietnam Women’s Union on Thursday night at Ho Guom Opera House in Hoan Kiem District, within the framework of the 2024 Ao Dai Week’s launching ceremony.

Thursday's event introduced 'ao dai' collections divided into three themes of Pride of Vietnamese Ao Dai, Soul of Vietnamese Ao Dai, and Essence of Vietnamese Ao Dai.

The collections, made by more than 50 designers across Vietnam, were inspired by famous heritage sites, the majestic natural landscapes of Vietnam, the national flags of countries around the world, and special diplomatic highlights between Vietnam and other countries.

According to President of the Vietnam Women's Union Ha Thi Nga, the event aimed to honor the value of 'ao dai' as well as to arouse love, pride, and responsibility to preserve and promote the value of the 'ao dai' heritage in the community.

It was also an opportunity to promote the Vietnamese culture, country, and people.

The Ao Dai Week, an annual event initiated in 2019, includes a diverse array of nationwide activities dedicated to celebrating the Vietnamese 'ao dai.'

These activities consist of 'ao dai' photo contests, competitions emphasizing the cultural value of the long gown, grand parades, donations of 'ao dai' to women facing challenging circumstances, free online courses on 'ao dai' design and tailoring, 'ao dai' design campaigns, and various other engaging initiatives.

This year, the Ao Dai Week is scheduled to transpire from March 1 to 8.

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