Fashion show “Ao dai Connecting Tourism and Heritage” marks the opening of Hue Ao dai Week 2026

The event serves as an activity to mark the opening of Hue Ao Dai Week 2026, which is held under the theme of “Connecting Heritage, Community and Creativity.” The week aims to honor the rich cultural values associated with the history and evolution of Vietnam’s traditional costume.

Despite the rainy weather, the opening of Hue Ao Dai Week 2026 remained vibrant with professional models presenting ao-dai collections and members of the Women’s Union of Phu Xuan Ward and members of the Women’s Union of Phu Xuan Ward performing traditional folk dances.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Ho Cong, Vice Chairman of Phu Xuan Ward People’s Committee, informed that located at the heart of Hue City, this ward is home to many of Vietnam’s and the world’s most significant historical and cultural heritage sites. Therefore, hosting the “Ao Dai Connecting Tourism and Heritage” event as part of Hue Ao Dai Week 2026 at Quoc Tu Giam, one of Hue’s iconic cultural and historical landmarks, will enrich the significance and depth of the occasion.

According to Mr. Cong, through this event, the organizing committee hopes to further foster public appreciation for the Ao dai- Vietnam, while encouraging its wider adoption in workplaces, schools, cultural events, festivals, and daily life. From small actions, ao-dai not only will be worn on special occasions but also will become a living expression of the community’s cultural identity.

“We hope that the event will showcase the beauty of Hue, helping promote the city’s landscapes, culture and tourism in general and the unique identity of Phu Xuan Ward in particular. Furthermore, through this event, we would like to convey a message of encouraging the community to cherish and preserve the nation’s traditional cultural values, while honoring the beauty and values of ao-dai, an enduring symbol of Hue. More importantly, this is an opportunity for all of us to preserve and promote our cultural heritage, ensuring that ao-dai is not only a reflection of the past but also a source of inspiration for Hue’s future development,” said Mr. Cong.

An ao-dai parade on cyclos across streets in Hue. Photo: L. Phong 

Following the opening ceremony at Quoc Tu Giam historical site, an ao-dai parade was to take to the streets. On cyclos and bicycles, participants traveled along several streets on the northern bank of the Perfume River, passing a series of historic architectural works such as 23 Thang 8, Doan Thi Diem, Dang Thai Than, Le Huan, Ong Ich Khiem, and Le Duan streets.

Along the route, the procession made several stops for participants to pose for commemorative photos, capturing the event’s most memorable moments, while promoting the timeless beauty of the traditional ao dai, which is associated with the distinctive cultural heritage landmarks of Hue Ancient Capital.

Running through July 10, Hue Ao Dai Week 2026, organized by Hue Department of Culture and Sports, will feature a diverse lineup of engaging events. This year’s edition is particularly significant as it coincides with the 20th day of Lunar May - the death anniversary of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, the Nguyen Lord widely credited with laying the foundation for Vietnam’s national costume. Beyond an annual cultural celebration, the event serves as a tribute to our ancestors, while honoring the enduring traditional values that have helped shape Vietnam’s cultural identity.

Hue Ao Dai Week 2026 will offer residents and visitors an immersive cultural experience spanning multiple venues across the city, from the central area by the Perfume River to traditional villages, ancient settlements, and heritage sites.

Among the highlights is the “Ao Dai Festival Night Show - Huong Giang Weaving the Elegance of the Imperial Capital,” scheduled for the evening of the same day at the open-air riverside stage along the Perfume River in front of Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for the Gifted.

On July 4, coinciding with the death anniversary of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, a series of commemorative activities will be held, including flower and incense offerings at Truong Thai Mausoleum, a tribute ceremony honoring Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat and Emperor Minh Mang, as well as the large-scale pageant “Viet Phong Hoi Tu - Bach Hoa Bo Hanh” (Convergence of Vietnamese costumes - The Procession of Hundreds of Flowers) in the Imperial Citadel. The program will bring together hundreds of participants dressed in a wide range of traditional Vietnamese costumes, creating a vivid panorama of the evolution of the nation’s costumes across different historical periods.

Throughout the week, a variety of community-oriented activities will take place, including the “Ao Dai Through the Streets”, a cycling event for environmental awareness, the “Hue Ao Dai - The Fragrance and Colors of Thanh Tra” community bike ride, ao-dai parades, artistic performances, themed exhibitions, hands-on experiential spaces, and a range of activities for young people and students.

Other notable highlights include the exhibition “The Story of Hue Ao Dai”, the program “The Beauty of Hue Ao Dai”, the exhibition “Ao Dai in Schools”, the event “Ao Dai - Steps of Youth”, the show “Knowledge of tailoring and wearing Hue Ao Dai”, and the show “Ao Dai Dance” by the Perfume River…

The closing ceremony and artistic performance will take place on the evening of July 10 at the riverside stage along the Perfume River, in front of Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for the Gifted.

Ao Dai has long been a vital pillar of Hue’s cultural ecosystem

In late 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism officially recognized ‘The Knowledge of Tailoring and Wearing ao-dai of Hue Residents’ as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Over time, ao-dai has remained an enduring presence in Hue, as it is worn in schools, workplaces, religious ceremonies, community festivals, weddings, performing arts, and everyday life. It is this natural vitality that gives “The Knowledge of Tailoring and Wearing Hue Ao Dai ” its distinctive significance within the modern approach to heritage conservation.

In recent years, Hue has implemented the initiative ‘Hue - The Capital of Ao Dai Vietnam’, which has been widely appreciated by the public for introducing a novel and more systematic approach to preserving and promoting the values of the ao-dai. The initiative also reflects a strategic vision of positioning ao-dai as a vital pillar of Hue’s cultural ecosystem, while gradually transforming it into a driver of the cultural industries and a source of the nation’s soft power.

According to the leaders of Hue City Department of Culture and Sports, safeguarding ao-dai today cannot be confined to several festivals or large-scale performances. What is needed instead is the development of a comprehensive ao-dai cultural ecosystem encompassing research, education and training, the transmission of traditional craftsmanship, community education, artistic creation, international communication, and the growth of the cultural industries.

As a heritage city, Vietnam’s typical Festival City, and one of the country’s leading cultural hubs, Hue possesses all favorable conditions to develop a cultural development model rooted in living heritage. Within this model, ao-dai is able to become a powerful brand name not only of Hue but also of Vietnam as a whole.

If pursued successfully, the next step - from national intangible cultural heritage recognition to a UNESCO nomination - would no longer be out of reach. Beyond any international title, the most important mission is preserving the cultural identity of ao-dai for generations to come.
By Nhat Minh