Hue representative wins First prize at 2024 World Grand Prix Model Competition in Korea

Nguyen Ngoc Phon (far right) proudly won First prize in the men's ao dai category

The Korean Institute of Traditional Culture & ORIHERI announced that four representatives from Hue, Vietnam, wearing traditional Hue ao dai designed by artisan and designer Doan Trang, won multiple major awards. Among them, Nguyen Ngoc Phon (26 years old, from Doan Trang Embroidery & Service Co., Ltd.) won First prize in the men's ao dai category. Additionally, other Vietnamese models at the competition also secured significant prizes: Vo Ngoc Khanh won Miss Photogenic; young faces Nguyen Anh Tuan won Second prize, and Do Van Suu won Third prize in the men's model category.

The competition featured 50 contestants wearing outfits that strongly represented Vietnamese and Korean cultures. The winners will be invited to represent their countries at the “World Grand Prix Model Competition Korea Final 2024,” scheduled to be held in Seoul, South Korea, on December 14th and 15th, and the “Asia Pacific Hairdressers & Cosmetologists Association (APHCA) Contest 2024,” one of the largest international events for fashion models and beauty, with participation expected from 30 countries.

Artisan and designer Doan Trang, Vice President of the provincial Garment Association and Vice President of the Thua Thien Hue Women's Entrepreneurs Association, shared: "This time, I designed the women's ao dai to be graceful, unique, and elegant, with bold cuts that blend tradition with modern dynamism and youthfulness. Notably, this is the first time my design of the men's ao dai ngu than (five-panels ao dai) has been selected for presentation at a major competition in Korea. These designs, adorned with motifs of white cranes perched on bamboo branches symbolizing noble and virtuous gentlemen, impressed the judges of the 2024 World Grand Prix Model Competition in Korea."

This marks the second international award for the Doan Trang Embroidery & Service in 2024. Earlier, the designer Doan Trang proudly won Third prize at the International Festival of Embroidery and Jewelry in Uzbekistan. This achievement affirms the competitive strength of the fashion industry, particularly Hue's traditional fashion, not only against major brands in Vietnam but also on the global stage.