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| Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam |
Professor, how do you view Quang Trung Primary School’s introduction of traditional Ao-dai into the school for nearly 1.500 students?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: I consider this a very special event, one that could be described as unprecedented in the history of the revival of Vietnam’s traditional Ao-dai. For the first time, a school has had both male and female students, together with their teachers, wear traditional Ao-dai during the flag-raising ceremony. The sight is not only beautiful, but also carries profound educational significance.
Previously, when I served as Rector of Hue University of Medicine from 1967 to 1972, newly graduated doctors wore Vietnamese national dress at their graduation ceremonies. However, the practice was maintained for only a limited period. Afterwards, most universities returned to using Western-style academic dress for graduation ceremonies.
For this reason, Quang Trung Primary School’s initiative to have nearly 1.500 students and teachers wear traditional Ao-dai is truly worthy of appreciation. Its success reflects the determination of the school’s Board of Management, particularly Principal Phan Thi Ngoc Quynh; the dedication of its teachers; the support of parents; and the contributions of benefactors both in Vietnam and abroad.
What moves me most is that many students have even saved money from their breakfast allowances and made handicrafts to help raise funds for their Ao-dai. In doing so, they have become directly involved in preserving the nation’s culture in a very natural and engaging way.
In your view, Professor, what significance does having students wear traditional Ao-dai hold for cultural and character education?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: Cultural education cannot stop at lessons or slogans. Culture needs to be present in everyday life, from the way we speak and behave to the way we dress. When children wear Ao-dai and their teachers explain its origins and significance, they gradually come to understand that they are inheriting a legacy passed down by their ancestors.
Through the garment, they can learn more about the nation’s history, Hue culture, previous generations and the values that generations of Vietnamese people have worked so hard to cultivate.
I was deeply moved to see the male students in blue Ao-dai and the female students in pink Ao-dai, standing solemnly beneath the national flag alongside their teachers. It was not merely a beautiful sight, but also an expression of cultural continuity from one generation to the next.
You have repeatedly stated that the Ao-dai should be recognized as Vietnam’s national dress. Why are you so passionate about this issue?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: Every nation has its own history, culture, character and traditional clothing. Traditional dress is one of the most recognizable expressions of national identity. When people see a kimono, they think of Japan; when they see a hanbok, they think of South Korea. Vietnam, too, should confidently present its own representative attire to the world.
Ao-dai Vietnam has a distinctive beauty: graceful and elegant for women, dignified and refined for men. But I advocate wearing Ao-dai not simply because it is beautiful. At a deeper level, it is about self-respect and an awareness of ourselves as Vietnamese.
When we wear the clothing of our ancestors on formal occasions, we affirm our respect for the nation’s history and culture. A country that has endured so many upheavals and sacrifices to safeguard its independence has an even greater need to preserve the symbols that foster a sense of community and unity.
In your opinion, what needs to be done for Ao-dai to truly return to everyday life rather than appearing only at festivals or special events?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: First, we should begin with schools. I hope the model adopted by Quang Trung Primary School will be studied, reviewed and appropriately replicated. Students do not necessarily need to wear Ao-dai every day. Schools could choose the first day of the week, public holidays, commemorative occasions or activities related to traditional cultural education.
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| Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam with teachers and students of Quang Trung Primary School in Hue City |
Each level of education and each locality can develop its own approach, ensuring that it is convenient and suited to the local climate, students’ physical activities and families’ financial circumstances. Ao-dai for students should be simple, durable, attractive, easy to wear and should not impose an additional financial burden.
Second, government agencies and organizations can encourage officials and public employees to wear Ao-dai on appropriate occasions. I was very pleased to see Hue’s cultural sector and many local agencies organizing Ao-dai days at the beginning of the week or during important events. Such activities make the Ao-dai a vibrant part of the urban landscape rather than something found only in museums or on stages.
Third, clubs, artisans, tailors and designers should continue researching and restoring traditional Ao-dai designs while also creating products suited to modern life. Preservation does not mean keeping something frozen in time. For the Ao-dai to survive, it must be loved and worn by the people.
Finally, the promotion of the Ao-dai in international relations should be strengthened. Ambassadors, diplomats, artists and other Vietnamese representatives could wear the national dress when attending international events as a way of presenting Vietnam to the world. I particularly support the idea of presenting national dress to ambassadors before they set out to take up their assignments overseas. It is a dignified, natural and effective way to promote Vietnamese culture.
What role does Hue play in the preservation and revival of the Ao-dai Vietnam, Professor?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: Hue occupies a very special position. It is a land deeply associated with the history of the formation and development of Ao-dai. From dress regulations under the Nguyen Lords and the Nguyen Dynasty to the everyday lives of people in the Ancient Capital, Ao-dai has become an integral part of Hue culture.
Hue is also home to a wealth of documents, artifacts, tailoring techniques, rituals and collective memories associated with Ao-dai. In particular, the art of wearing Ao-dai in Hue is expressed not only through the garment itself, but also through people’s gait, manners and bearing.
I am very pleased that, in recent years, Hue has undertaken numerous initiatives to revive the five-panel Ao-dai, establish clubs, organize festivals and performances, and bring the Ao-dai back into schools and workplaces. However, Hue needs to go further in research, education and the transmission of traditional craftsmanship. Artisans and traditional tailors need support; dedicated spaces should be created to showcase Ao-dai; archival materials should be digitized; and the story of Ao-dai should be told in ways that appeal to younger generations.
From Hue, a movement to revive Ao-dai can spread throughout the country. But Hue should not see itself merely as a place that preserves the past. It should become a center of creativity, where tradition is carried forward through new products and new forms of expression.
What message would you like to convey to younger generations through the story of Ao-dai?
Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam: I hope young people understand that integrating with the world does not mean abandoning their own identity. We can learn from the achievements and progress of other nations and wear modern clothing in our daily lives, but we must still know who we are and where we come from.
Wearing Ao-dai is not about returning to the past, but about carrying the finest values of the past into the future. When young people confidently wear Ao-dai, bring their creativity to Ao-dai, and introduce it to international friends, this heritage will continue to live on.
The most important thing I want to say is that Ao-dai should become a symbol of unity, compassion and pride. We wear the clothing of our ancestors to remind ourselves that we share the same roots, that we share a responsibility to build our homeland, and that we are moving together toward a peaceful and better future.
I have travelled a long journey, always hoping that one day the traditional Ao-dai would return to its rightful place in the life of the nation. The sight of nearly 1,500 students and teachers at Quang Trung Primary School wearing Ao-dai has given me confidence that this aspiration is gradually becoming a reality.
Thank you very much, Professor!