Throughout the many decades he has lived and worked both in Vietnam and abroad, Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam has always held a special affection for Vietnam’s traditional Ao-dai. To him, Ao-dai is not merely a beautiful garment, but one that embodies the history, identity and self-respect of a nation. On the occasion of his return to Hue and his visit to Quang Trung Primary School - where he sponsored the tailoring of five-panel Ao-dai for nearly 1.500 students, Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam spoke with Hue Today Weekly about his aspiration to revive Vietnam’s national dress.

On the evening of July 7, Hue Museum of Fine Arts officially opened the performance and exhibition program titled “The Knowledge of Tailoring and Wearing Hue Ao Dai” at Diem Phung Thi Art Center (No.17 Le Loi St., Thuan Hoa Ward).

On the morning of November 23, the ceremony to receive the national intangible cultural heritage title “Knowledge of Huế Áo dài tailoring and wearing” was solemnly held at the Provincial Culture and Cinema Center.

“The fact that “Knowledge of Tailoring and Wearing Hue Ao Dai” having just been enlisted as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage not only is an honor and pride, but at the same time, affirms that Hue Ao Dai always carries the traditional cultural values of the nation and has a strong vitality throughout history,” emphasized Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports when sharing the story about the new recognition of it with Thua Thien Hue Weekly.

After more than four years of implementation, the project “Hue – The Capital of Ao Dai Vietnam” has more or less received the attention and positive response of the public through many activities and events. Besides, there have been policies that create favourable conditions for businesses operating in the tailoring industry, as well as encourage people to wear ao dai on important occasions and events, which has popularised the image of ao dai.