In 2020, when male officials and civil servants of the Department of Culture and Sports wore ao dai during working days and the weekly flag-raising ceremony, it immediately sparked controversy online. Then, it was not just the cultural sector, at important events, the provincial leaders (now Hue City) and intellectuals also began wearing ao dai. The appearance of the traditional ao dai for both men and women at cultural and educational events made the ceremonies more solemn, elegant, and impressive.

The collection of essays and notes, “A Yellow Apricot tree in front of the house: Notes on Hue - The elegant land of moss” (Vietnam Women’s Publishing House), was introduced by its author, Minh Tu, journalist, to book lovers at Hanoi’s Book Street (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi).

“I have written about everything from the rustic to the elegant aspects of Hue with all my heart, so that readers, once they have loved Hue, will love Hue even more,” shared Ms. Hoang Thi Tho, a journalist, about her two upcoming books, “Remember to visit Hue tomorrow” and “Please go from childhood.”

In a gentle and meticulous manner, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Tuyen, a girl passionate about Western Calligraphy, devotes her full attention to each stroke. Under the skillful movements of her fingers, each word, with elegant curving ink strokes, appears on the page one after another.

The flowing ao dai inspired by the Huong River - the poetic and renowned river of Hue, and perhaps the most beautiful in Vietnam - have been elegantly showcased by models to the backdrop of music, sometimes serene, sometimes lively, taking the audience through a range of emotions.