elly tran in an ao dai

 

Miss Ao Dai to vie for world model honors

Model Pham Thi Ngoc Ha will represent Vietnam at the 20th Miss Model of the World contest Model Pham Thi Ngoc Ha will represent Vietnam at the 20th Miss Model of the World contest for this year to be held from November 4 to 23 in China�s Shenzhen City.

Ha, who is 1.74 m tall and boasts a 88 � 61 � 91 (cm) figure, was the Miss Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) winner of the Miss Tourism Vietnam 2008 contest in which she finished among the top ten. The 24-year-old started her career as a model in 2005 and has taken part in several major fashion shows including Fashion Week, Dep Fashion Show and Vietnam Grandpix Collection. She is also the emcee for several TV game shows such as My Rec on VTV6 and Best Choice on Hanoi Television. Ha will compete with 69 contestants from other countries and territories for the crown in the final round of this year�s contest, held at The Window of the World Theater on November 22. Founded in 1988 in Turkey by the contest�s president Qevik Suha Alpayli, the Miss Model of the World is one of the first and most prestigious events for international models. For more information, please visit http://www.intmodel.com.

the world’s most graceful school uniforms

Impeccable style

High School students wearing ao dai, the Vietnamese national costume. — AP Photo

I have visited Vietnam on many occasions and one of the most beautiful sights is being greeted by Vietnamese women wearing traditional white tunics or ao dai, Vietnam’s national dress.

On the streets of Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City, high school girls ride bicycles with impeccable style, wearing the elegant ao dai uniforms in what must be one of the world’s most graceful school uniforms. Others also wear conical hats.

I wish we could learn a thing or two from Vietnam. Leg power saves energy and it is pollution free. Are our Malaysian ladies (and men) willing to take up the challenge?

For this to happen, the city road system must be friendly to cyclists.

Pola Singh

The ao dai collection made of natural materials.

Five records to be recognized at Hanoi Flower Street Festival

13:17′ 30/12/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – The five national records made during the Hanoi Flower Street Festival 2009 will be announced at the King Ly Thai To statue, Hanoi, at 7:00pm, December 31. The wood-made fan and the pottery-made street. The HCM City-based Vietnam Record Book Centre or Vietkings said the organizing board and craftsmen who participate in the Hanoi Flower Street Festival have registered five records including: the largest pair of flower-made dragons, the longest Bat Trang pottery-made street, the largest wood fan, the first collection of ao dai which are made of natural materials, and the largest flower gate in Vietnam. Vietkings’ consultant and editing council have carefully researched the five records and officially recognized them as new national records. The largest pair of flower-made dragons (15m long, 4.5m high) will be placed in the centre of the flower street, at the foot of the King Ly Thai To statue. The product is made from 10,000 branches of flowers from Da Lat city. The ao dai collection made of natural materials. The largest wood fan (9m wide, 4.5m long) is made by artisans Duong Van Mo and Phi Quang Bo from Chang Son fan village, Thach That district, Hanoi. The fan is made of fir, teak wood, rattan, silk, and decorated by Hang Trong folk paintings. The pottery-made street includes 200 models of ancient houses of Hanoi. The product is made by craftsman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan from Bat Trang Pottery Village, Hanoi. The street is 50m long, made with 2 tonnes of clay. The highest houses are 0.8m and the lowest ones are 0.3m. The flower gate is12.6m long, 5.6m high and 0.95m wide. The collection of ao dai made by natural materials includes 10 ao dai made by dried flowers, leaves, resin, and rubber latex. This is a product of artisan Nguyen Manh Hung. Hung made the collection in three months. V. T

Traditional Ao Dai gets contemporary look!

November 25, 2008 (Vietnam)

Ngo Nhat Huy is a budding designer from Vietnam who aims to make it big in the fashion arena. He, inspired with the ‘hippy style’ of the Western world that prevailed in 1970s, has developed a new, innovative long dress for the teenage from the traditional long dress (Ao Dai). The designer created eye catching dresses by using fabrics like lace, elastic, silk and taffeta, dyed in bold colors to form bright colors. He made some unusual patterns to give a different look to the attire. In addition, cutting lines at collars and body mixed with pants have created a playful and dynamic aspect for the dress. Even though the designer has tried out to create some thing unique, the usual grace of Ao Dai, still remains. This outfit definitely has the distinct to make a mark in the young fashionistas hearts.

Fibre2fashion News Desk – Vietnam

Miss Universe contestants try on ao dai

16:06′ 19/06/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – On their second day in Vietnam, competitors in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant tried on the traditional Vietnamese dress, ao dai. Over 50 girls who came to HCM City on the first two days were measured and tried on ao dai, which were designed by four Vietnamese designers, Vo Viet Chung, Thuan Viet, Sy Hoang and Lien Huong. Each designer is in charge of taking body measurements and preparing ao dai for 20 competitors. Thuan Viet said on June 18 he got measurements and tried ao dai on 11 candidates from France, Indonesia, India, El Salvador, etc. He said most of the girls were very beautiful in Vietnamese ao dai because they have standard body measurements. “Miss India was the best in ao dai,” he said. These ao dai will go to the stage with competitors on the night of June 24 in HCM City in the ao dai competition. On June 18, many more competitors arrived in HCM City, including Miss Japan, Miss China, Miss Germany, Miss Colombia, etc. The final competitors will arrive in HCM City today, June 19, including many Asian beauties, such as the competitors from South Korea and the Philippines. A welcome party will be held on June 20 in the evening, with the presence of Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori. Some competitors in HCM City on June 18: Miss El Salvado and Miss Sri Lanka Miss Curacao and Miss Costa Rica Miss Bolivia and Miss Denmark Miss Mexico and Miss South Africa Miss Norway and Mis Pueto Rico Miss Sri Lanka and Miss Switzerland Miss Turks & Caicos and Miss Dominica Miss Trinidad & Tobago and Miss Georgia Miss Greece and Miss Malaysia

Thai Tuan’s ao dai collection on display in Japan

17:25′ 17/09/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Thai Tuan Garment and Textile Co., Ltd. will stage an ao dai Collection show titled “Dong Son Legend” at the International House in Osaka, Japan yesterday, and in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on September 20. Models pose for picture in Thai Tuan’s ao dai collection. Japan will introduce traditional Vietnamese ao dai with Dong Son brass drum patterns, regarded as one of Vietnam’s Cultural Heritages, during their Cultural Week 2008. Thai Tuan Co. and Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend the event on the occasion of the commemoration of 35 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. The company will take part in the event as a sponsor of the Vietnam-Japan Art Performance Night named “Marvelous Vietnam”. The “Dong Son Legend” collection is designed with new luxurious materials. Thai Tuan’s designers have added Vietnamese cultural characteristics to each product, expressing a strange and unique style with Dong Son brass drum patterns. The collection, which is based on Vietnamese Women’s traditional costumes from the three regions of the country, shows the cleverness in selvedges and embroidered patterns creating a new style for modern life. Thai Tuan Co. will also participate in the Vietnam-Japan Festival with pavilions in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo between September 19 and 21, displaying and introducing Vietnamese women’s traditional ao dai. (Source: SGT)

Ao dai taxi ads will promote Viet Nam in London for six months

Images of Ha Long Bay, Vietnamese girls in traditional ao dai (long dress), and HCM City have appeared on London’s taxis as part of efforts to promote Viet Nam as an attractive tourist destination and site for business activities.

The promotional programme was launched at a ceremony at the Vietnamese Embassy in London on September 10.

Sponsored by British Petroleum (BP), Viet Nam Airlines and West East Travel, 10 taxis carrying advertisements will roam the streets of London 24 hours a day, seven days a week for six months.

I like Vietnamese traditional dress: Marc Jacobs CEO

I like Vietnamese traditional dress: Marc Jacobs CEO

17:05′ 24/03/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Spending a two day visit (March 20-21) in HCM City, Robert Duffy, Executive Officer of prestigious Marc Jacobs International design house, displayed his enthusiasm for Vietnam’s potential in developing its fashion industry. He also expressed his delight and admiration for the Vietnamese traditional dress (ao dai) by saying that “I like Vietnamese ao dai”. What are the purposes of your visit to Viet Nam this time? Do you have any idea about the Vietnamese fashion industry? I wish to learn more about the country and the people. Your country has actually changed and developed a lot from ten years ago. That was the first time I came to Viet Nam. I stayed in Ha Noi at that time. Honestly, I don’t know much about the fashion in Viet Nam; yet, I believe that Viet Nam will become a potential fashion market in the future. I like Vietnamese traditional dress (ao dai). I used to think that ao dai is a modern costume of your country, not a traditional one that has been worn for hundreds of years because of its attraction and modernity. In fact, ao dai beautifies the figures of Vietnamese women. It seems to me that a number of fashion designers in the world have been inspired by ao dai. They have created new designs based on their ideas arising from the ao dai’s style. In Viet Nam, we make ao dai from traditional fabrics with their typical characteristics like silkiness and buoyancy. Do you think such fabrics will become popular to designers from all over the world? Marc Jacobs, who is the head designer of Marc Jacobs International, has used materials from countries all over the world including Viet Nam for his designs. I have dropped by some cloth stores in the country and was attracted by all kinds of fabrics there. I hope that I will have the chance to use Vietnamese silk for my new designs. Although talented, many Vietnamese designers have not yet achieved success in their business. What must they do in order to sell their products on international markets? If the opportunity arises, these talented designers should bring their collections of authentic Vietnamese fashion to Paris to introduce them in a fashion show to attract the attention from international viewers, designers and fashion companies. Remember, it must be Paris, not Japan or anywhere else. This is not only right for me but also to all other designers in the United States. (Source: SGGP/TT)

Exploring the birthplace of Dong Son culture

Exploring the birthplace of Dong Son culture

14:08′ 28/03/2008 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Saigontourist is launching a new four-day, three-night tour to the origin of Dong Son culture in Thanh Hoa Province, which is the site of the country’s largest bronze drum and relic restoration project. Tam Coc – Bich Dong. (Photo:  dangcongsan.vn) Dong Son is an ancient culture that developed in Vietnam’s northern and central provinces during the late-prehistoric Bronze Age and early Iron Age. The culture is centered on the Hung King temple and the northern delta’s three main rivers – Red River, Ma River and Lam River. Tourists departing from HCMC will fly to the city of Vinh in Nghe An Province where they will be transported to Sen Village, the birthplace of Uncle Ho, to spend the night. The following day, tourists will head to museums in Thanh Hoa Province to view archaeological relics from Do Mountain, which is the cradle of ancient Vietnamese and Dong Son bronze drum culture. Next, tourists will travel to the Dong Son archeological site. Tourists will then visit Lam Kinh, a national historical relic of the province. Lam Kinh, also known as Tay Kinh, is the second largest imperial city built by King Le Loi the first king of the Le Dynasty. A trip to Tep Temple will give tourists the opportunity to bum incense to commemorate Le Lai, a hero who saved King Le Loi, the temples of the kings and queens and the Vinh Lang memorial that was created by Nguyen Trai to honor King Le Loi. On the final day of the trip, tourists will return to Vinh to view the cultural relics of Truong Le mountain range at the Sam Son tourism site. Tourists departing to Hanoi will travel by bus to see Tarn Coc (three caves), Bich Dong (Bich Cavern), the temples of King Dinh and Le kings and will spend one night in Ninh Binh Province. On the second day in Hanoi, tourists will head to Thanh Nha Ho in Vinh Loc, which houses the architectural relics of the imperial city of the Ho Dynasty (1336-1407). The city’s walls are built using five-metre tall and three-meter wide stones that weigh six tons per cubic meter. All four gates to the imperial city remain intact and the southern gate features a couple of stone dragons. The tour from HCMC is priced at VND4.5mil per person for groups of 15. The tour from Hanoi is priced at VND1.52mil per person for groups of 15. To promote Dong Son culture within Vietnam, local brands are introducing products featuring patterns typically carved on Dong Son bronze drums to consumers. Thai Tuan Textile & Garment Co. under the Three Season collection, Nino Maxx with their jeans and t-shirt collection and Sy Hoang with their ao dai fashion collection are participating in the project. Other participants include Future One with souvenir miniature Dong Son bronze drums, Minh Long Co. with a tea set, Kinh Do Corp. with moon cakes, KTG with electronic switches, SJC with jewelry collection, Vinh Tien with notebooks, ToyCity with toy set, Phuong Nam Corp. with picture books, Nguyen Hoang Corp. with computer screens and mice and Bong Sen Corp. and TTT Corp. will collaborate to refurbish the interior of Vietnam House Restaurant. The cultural night to introduce the new products took place at the White Palace Convention Center in HCMC late last week and attracted many national and international companies and representatives from the local consulate offices. Christophe Desriac, general manager of Microsoft Vietnam, who attended the cultural night, said that it is “a good idea to combine different companies around a common theme.” (Source: SGT)

Vietnamese designer showcases ao dai in Japan

Vietnamese designer showcases ao dai in Japan

One of the Ao dai designs in the Vu khuc hat collection by Thuan Viet The famous Vietnamese fashion designer Thuan Viet has flown to Osaka in Japan to promote his latest Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long tunic) collections from May 2-6.

Sponsored by Vietnam Airlines and Elite Vietnam Company, the display of the three collections – Hon ngoc vien dong (The Pearl of the Far East), Hon Viet (Vietnamese Spirit), and Vu khuc hat (The Song of Beads) – is a part of the Vietnamese tourism campaign in Japan. There will be a fashion show and various exhibitions. The long dresses, which are known internationally for featuring womanly curves, are made of silk, velvet, and lace and decorated with embroidery and crystal beads. Thuan Viet says, “I believe that my ao dai express some of our national culture. The dresses are not only rich in tradition but also in the modern values of charm and beauty.” Reported by Da Ly

Effort to restore sample of old silk

Effort to restore sample of old silk

Nhan Dan- Over 70 Trieu Van Mao has spent time restoring old silk samples of Van Phuc village, Ha Dong City. Van Mao learnt the craft of silk weaving when he was only 7-8 years of age from his parents. Growing up, he worked as an engineering worker and then joined the army. The long-lasting war hindered the development of silk weaving. Returning home from the army, seeing the villagers breaking the looms down for other purposes, Van Mao felt deep regret. He visited every villager to ask for the pieces of old silk as he thought that one day, such old silk samples could be restored. When having any sample of old silk, he spent time restoring it, together with the co-operation of other elderly people in the village. In 1994, Trinh Bach, from Van Phuc silk weaving village came home from the US along with a project to restore Nguyen Dynasty court dress. Old man Van Mao had spent six years restoring four Nguyen Dynasty court dresses which were on display at Hue Festival in 2000. According to old man Van Mao, in the past, silk was totally handmade and it was a painstaking job. Nowadays, old man Van Mao and his villagers combine both handmade and machine methods to make various silk samples, meeting domestic and export demands. However, many kinds of silk with old decoration are still handmade. Old man Van Mao’s workshop is considered a treasure of the silk weaving craft where keeps a 100 year old ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) made from silk with sophisticated decorations and even a 250 year old silk sample which were found by archaeologists in the tombs in Hung Yen northern province. Old man Van Mao not only collects old silk samples of his village, but also asks the Institute of Archaeology to collect for him other kinds of old silk of different ethnic minority groups nationwide. He has succeeded in weaving decorated flax fabric of the Mong ethnic people in Lao Cai. In particular he himself has designed a machine to shred flax tree bark for fibre weaving and the soft part inside the trees are used as material to grow mushrooms. He has enjoyed the project very much as it not only helps restore the flax weaving craft but also help people in the mountainous areas reduce hunger and poverty. Old man Van Mao said “not many people know how much a weaver has learned to have enough experience to make silk. A silkworm’s life is short but it is able to spin valuable silk products though the weaver’s hands. Therefore, I will try my best to restore and preserve the quintessence of old silk weaving.”

Going global

Going global

Ao dai and jeans – an innovation of Vo Viet Chung who is trying to penetrate the international fashion market A generation of young designers is confident that Vietnamese fashion will one day become popular abroad.

Young ao dai designer Thuan Viet says the country is yet to have “a fashion industry.” “It will take at least 10-15 years before we develop that.” Viet, who has seen his stylized ao dais – the graceful Vietnamese tunic – strutted on international catwalks, says the most important ingredient missing on the local fashion scene is the raw materials industry. To make ao dais, he imports most other raw materials, except silk that is produced locally, from India and Hong Kong. Viet says in developed fashion industries such as the US and France, designers and textile producers work closely to create new types of fabrics for different collections. Vietnamese designers, however, do not have that luxury as local producers are “either not yet capable of producing new fabric on their own,” or refuse designers’ orders which are usually too small to fetch profits. One of the few successful female designers, the French-educated Kieu Viet Lien, agrees. Considering that other countries spent decades building their fashion industries, new players like Vietnam have no choice but to learn from their experiences, she says. “The more we learn from them the better.” Foreign fashion designers’ key to success, she says, is their professional marketing and brand name development. Designers’ shops, for instance, are often located in “strategic” places to enhance public awareness and prestige. Vietnamese designers are as creative and talented as their foreign counterparts, which she says raises hopes that the country can develop its distinctive fashion brands – as long as it sticks to what it sees as attractive. “We should not pay too much attention to fashion trends,” Lien cautions. “Fashion trends do not last.” Local designers should “determine and maintain” their own styles to show the world something “outstanding and different.” Designer Vo Viet Chung, the first Vietnamese designer to be featured on French channel Fashion TV, admits Vietnamese designers’ styles are not appropriate for practical use. “Most designers, especially the young, like to create impressive collections that are suitable for the catwalk rather than street walk,” he says. A good idea will be to infuse traditional elements into modern clothes to create a unique blend that will make Vietnamese designs distinct, he says. Long gone is the time when the country was simply waiting for foreign brands to come and show what they had to offer, he says. “Now is the time local designers should jump onto the scene.” Chung and Viet both have plans to take their collections abroad this summer: the former to two international fashion shows in France and the US, and the later to Japanese. Chung also plans to introduce a new line called RubyVo with which he aims to target the wider Asian market. RubyVo clothes include distinctively East Asian designs ranging from the dragon to the lotus, and make use of regionally-produced fabrics. For his part, Viet aims for much more than just building on the traditional dress. “One day, when my ao dais are more known on the international market, I will start thinking about Western-style clothes.” Reported by Phuong Anh

Miss Universe pageant will distinguish Vietnam: Deputy PM

Miss Universe pageant will distinguish Vietnam: Deputy PM

Contestants of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 pageant vying to serve as the country’s representative for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant The successful hosting of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant will broadcast Vietnam’s image as well as its unique traditions and culture to the world, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has said.

Deputy PM Nhan told a meeting earlier this week the pageant is a national event and it serves as an opportunity to publicize the special qualities of Vietnam, particularly to promote the domestic tourism industry. He asked all relevant agencies to fulfill their tasks and assist the administration of central coastal Khanh Hoa province and the local organizing committee in hosting the event. As the economy is still facing steep challenges, the state did not allocate a budget for the event. The organizing committee should instead generate income from advertising, said Nhan, adding that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism still could request the state for an advance if necessary to organize the event. Representatives at the meeting, including government officials and members of the organizing board, discussed the contents of a nine-minute clip that will be broadcast live at the event on American channel NBC as well as many other television channels around the world. They encouraged local businesses to participate in making the clip in order to present the best images of Vietnam to the world. Organizers also confirmed at the meeting that work on infrastructure projects necessary to host the event in Khanh Hoa’s capital of Nha Trang are going as scheduled. The Crown Convention Center, a deluxe theater with 7,500 seats, is currently under construction with the support of US specialists and is expected to be finished by June 15. High-quality roads and lighting systems are also being built. Five-star accommodations for all contestants and members of the organizing board are already completed. The Ministry of Public Security pledged to maintain security nationwide during the beauty contest, while the Ministry of Information and Communications was given the responsibility of promoting the event to international audiences and tourists in conjunction with local media outlets. Nguyen Cong Khe, Thanh Nien’s Editor-in-Chief, said preparations for the traditional ao dai show in Ho Chi Minh City, the swimsuit competition in Nha Trang, the Gala Dinner and the charity gift auction are all finished. On behalf of Miss Universe Vietnam’s organizing board, Khe promised that the board would select the best contestant to represent Vietnam at the prestigious international pageant. Reported by Da Ly

Hue festival gets bigger and better

Hue festival gets bigger and better

Living history: More and more visitors are flocking to Hue for the festival, which is expected to lure 200,000 visitors this year. Full regalia: Nam Giao Ritual, one of the two biggest worshipping events in Festival Hue 2008, being performed last Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photos Nhat Anh Making an entrance: Actors perform the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Quang Trung last Friday. — VNA/VNSPhoto Anh Tuan

(08-06-2008)

by Cam Giang

Fifteen years since Hue city won global recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city’s internationally-renowned annual festival has been getting bigger and better. This year’s celebration, already in full swing, is no exception.

Over 60 arts troupes from Viet Nam and abroad have flocked to the event, held under the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development”. The action kicked off last Tuesday with a sparkling opening ceremony titled “Royal Palace Festival Night” at Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square inside the ancient Royal Citadel and will run over nine successive days and nights until the following Wednesday.

Along with the usual programme, including the Nam Giao Ritual, Ao Dai (traditional long dress) Festival and Royal Night, visitors will be treated to four new additions to the celebrations this year, says Ngo Hoa, deputy chairman of Thua Thien – Hue Province People’s Committee. “One of them is the Huong River Legends, which will bring history to life on the Huong (Perfume) River.”

Candle-lit river

On the nights of June 5 and 7, the river running through the centre of Hue City was transformed into a watery Milky Way with thousands of glittering candles arranged along its banks.

From nothing more than an old sketch and romantic imaginations, organisers gave 12km of the Huong River a colourful makeover. The newly built 100-seat Royal Boat, which holds the record as being the biggest wooden boat in Viet Nam, and 20 Dragon boats, carried 500 visitors along the river, installation pieces and lighting performances illuminating their path.

When the fleet arrived at Hon Chen Temple, a dramatisation of the King burning incense sticks at the Temple took place while in Nghinh Luong Dinh Pavilion, a three-level stage was set up for traditional singing, poem-reading, dancing and musical performances set against a background of projected images of Hue.

Ending on a high note, the cruise paused to watch a fireworks display at Nghinh Luong Dinh Pavilion.

Festive spirit

Another highlight during the nine-day event is a lavish re-enactment of the Xa Tac Devotion Ritual, appearing on the event list for the first time in 15 years.

Xa Tac Altar was built in 1806 during the Gia Long dynasty for the King to worship the two most fundamental ingredients to wet rice cultivation; rice and soil (Xa means soil and Tac means rice). The ritual was to become the one of the most important during the Nguyen dynasty, equal to those made to honour the dead Kings. It will be brought to life on June 10, with over 350 actors, decked out in authentic costumes and instruments.

The festival also includes another important scene from history – the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Quang Trung, a new addition to the festival. Hundreds of performers and martial artists took part in the event last Friday, accompanied by military bands from Tay Son – Binh Dinh Districts.

The performance re-visited the moment in 1788, when legendary hero Nguyen Hue told his people to level the pointed peak of Ban Mountain in Phu Xuan, Hue so he could build an altar to heaven and declare himself Emperor Quang Trung. The altar became a podium for the Emperor to rally support which later helped him to defeat an army of 290,000 Chinese invaders in Northern Viet Nam.

But not all the events at the festival have a regal flavour. Also eagerly anticipated is the Metropolitan Military Doctor Contest, held on Saturday for the first time in 139 years.

Originally, the contest included a series of events stretching over 50 consecutive days, including military strategy and tactic written tests as well as martial art skills. Since it was not possible to realise the whole process, this year’s contest only included events like reading the imperial edict and the performances from final-round competitors.

Already an established tourist hotspot, Hoa says this year’s larger-scale event is slated to attract 200,000 visitors, 34 per cent more than the festival in 2006. “But even without the extra activities, the city and the surrounding area have lots to offer tourists; pagodas, palaces, nearby royal tombs and traditional trade villages, not mention Truong Son Mountain and Tam Giang lagoon, and of course the charm of the Hue people themselves.” — VNS

Hue Festival 2008 opens

Hue Festival 2008 opens

Nhan Dan/VNA- The Hue Festival with the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development” was opened with a series of art performances at Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square last night. On the evening of June 3 the lights of the citadel shone as Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and a number of Party, State and National Assembly leaders joined dozens of thousands of local people and tourists at the opening ceremony. Dragon dance. Walk on stilts by Belgium artists. Fan dance by Korean artists. Performances by Japanese artists. Titled Dem Hoi Hoang Cung (Royal Palate Festival Night), the opening ceremony featured 60 Vietnamese art troupes and international ones. The main part of the show was titled Hoi Ngo Hoang Cung (Meeting at Royal Palace) and the concluding part Hue Ta (Our Hue). The organisers attemped to make the ceremony a blend of the culture of Hue, Vietnam and other countries. The biannual festival will also feature reenactments of the enthronement of King Quang Trung on Ban Mountain , the Nam Giao “peace and prosperity” ceremony, Xa Tac ritual offerings to the God of Earth and the God of Cereals to wish for favourable weather and bumper crops. There will also be a “Legend of Huong River” programme, a contest to select martial arts masters and an “ao dai” (long dress) festival. The Hue Festival is organised coincide with the Prime Minister’s decicion to build Hue to become a festival city of Vietnam.

Fashion passion

Fashion passion

Designer Si Hoang, pictured here in Leon, France, will host an ao dai competition for kids today at the Independence Palace Si Hoang, now firmly ensconced at the top of his field, was one of the first designers to give the traditional Vietnamese tunic a makeover by adorning it with paintings.

His art ranges from elegantly embroidered symbols to paintings inspired by nature – pictures of the sun and flowers for children, and abstract symbols, dragons and other needlework for adults. Hoang completed his first work in 1989 when a contestant at the Miss Ao dai Ho Chi Minh City, one of Vietnam’s first beauty pageants, commissioned him to beautify her white ao dai. He painted flowers all over it. His patron won second place in the contest and the painted ao dai was born. Tailors in the city soon began asking him to decorate their ao dai, and women wearing his works won top prizes at beauty contests. A child models an ao dai from the Mat troi be con kids’ collection Hoang’s designs have since been displayed at major shows around the country. Several of his collections have also been shown abroad, including one for Song Moi (New Vitality) at Thanh Nien’s Duyen Dang Viet Nam (Charming Vietnam) charity gala in Singapore last year. Out of fashion Hoang is concerned that people are showing less interest in the traditional outfit these days. “When I was a child, my mother, sister and other women often wore the ao dai,” he said. Ironically, this is happening even as the number of ao dai designers is rising. “The garment is now worn mainly on formal or festive occasions, which is really a sad thing,” he said. “I’m so worried that someday it will entirely disappear from everyday life.” Ao dai for children Hoang is also passionate about nurturing a love for ao dai among the younger generations. “I wouldn’t be what I am today if my parents had not supported and guided my interest in fashion design since I was six,” he said. Kids have not traditionally had any creative input in the clothing they wear and their ao dai have merely been a miniature version of the style worn by adults, he said. “If children feel like wearing the dress now, they will certainly grow up to be ao dai lovers,” said Hoang. His first children’s ao dai collection went on display in 2004. He used children’s paintings to embellish the dresses and the collection was a huge hit. He then assembled more paintings from children, including several from disabled children, into his Mat troi be con (The little sun) collection one year later. “A lot of kids love painting, so why don’t we give them a chance to express themselves in pictures?” Hoang asked. Being a part of the creative process will help enhance kids’ affection for the traditional costume, he added. “They now wear ao dai because they love it, not because their parents want them to,” he said. Following the success of his second kids’ collection, Hoang launched an annual competition titled Tai nang thiet ke nhi (Kid designers) in coordination with Me yeu be magazine and The He Viet (VietGen) media company. This year’s competition, themed Ao dai con ve (The ao dai I paint on), will be held on International Children’s Day today at the Independence Palace in HCMC. Cultural showcase Hoang is also working on a host of other projects to showcase ao dai and traditional Vietnamese culture to both locals and foreigners. Hoping to popularize the ao dai on the international scene, Hoang has created jeans, T-shirts and chemises influenced by the tunic. The trendy designer is planning to open a shop at the Independence Palace featuring his ao dai and a diverse collection of Vietnamese cultural items. A cultural complex is also in the works, says Hoang, to be built in Long Phuoc Ward in HCMC’s District 9. The 20,000-square-meter complex, nestled amongst lush foliage, will be constructed entirely of wood and stone. The complex will include a 300-seat theater modeled on the Duyet Thi Duong theater at the Hue Royal Palace. There will also be an ao dai showroom, and shopping and dining areas. All aspects of the center will highlight traditional cultural traits, Hoang emphasizes. Hoang also owns his own company, Si Hoang, and runs a factory which produces theatrical costumes. “Plays and films are the most effective and easiest approach to culture,” he said. The active entrepreneur says he spends two thirds of his time researching clothing styles from different historical periods to ensure the costumes he designs are historically accurate. Designing costumes, says Hoang, helps him in yet another area of his busy life – teaching at the HCMC Architecture University. Despite his hectic schedule, Hoang always remains focused on his one true goal – sharing his love of Vietnamese culture and tradition with the world. Hoang’s company, Si Hoang, is located at 36-38 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, HCMC. Reported by Diem Thu

Miss Venezuela wins best Ao Dai title at Miss Universe 2008

Miss Venezuela wins best Ao Dai title at Miss Universe 2008

June 26, 2008 (Vietnam)

As the Miss Universe 2008 pageant is picking up momentum, the contestants are vying for the most prestigious beauty award in the entire world. Hoa Binh Theatre at HCM City featured the participants modeling the traditional Vietnamese dress, Ao Dai on June 24. Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, won the title ‘Best in Ao Dai’. Nearly 80 Miss Universe contestants were donning Vietnamese customary garment, created by four famous domestic designers including Lien Huong, Thuan Viet, Sy Hoang and Vo Viet Chung. Along with Miss Venezuela, four other participants were chosen in the final round from India, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Vietnam. However, Dayana Mendoza made her smooth way out and won the contest. There were more that 2000 spectators who had come to become the part of the mesmerizing and enchanting event. As it was a proud moment for Vietnamese people to see stunning participants draped in their beautiful traditional attire. The grand finale will be held on July 14 at Crown Convention Center, Diamond Bay Resort, in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Bring it on

Bring it on

Nguyen Thuy Trang (Thuy Lam) performs in the National Costume Show held in Binh Duong Province last Sunday. She finished in the top 10. The Vietnamese contestant at next month’s Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang is getting along well with the other girls but is keen to take them on.

Nguyen Thuy Trang, the 2008 Miss Vietnam Universe, has always had a high profile. Trang, also known as Thuy Lam, was one of the 10 winners at last Sunday’s National Costume Show where she wore a dazzling, elaborately hand-embroidered ao dai. In a less elaborate but stunning white traditional tunic, she was also among the five nominees for the Best in Ao Dai title at Thanh Nien’s charity show Duyen Dang Ao dai (Charming Ao Dai) last Tuesday. Thanh Nien spoke to her to find out how she is preparing for next month’s Miss Universe grand finale. Thanh Nien: How do you feel at the moment? Nguyen Thuy Trang: I feel quite tired and under pressure, but I take good care of myself and keep to the schedule drawn up by the organizers. I’m eating a little more than usual these days to gain some more weight. You can’t see your family or friends now. Are you affected by this? Who is your roommate now? I feel quite sad, but we still keep in touch by telephone. I haven’t been in the best frame of mind since my family and I have to take care of many things [preparations for the contest] ourselves. I’m sharing a room with Anya Ayoung-Chee of Trinidad and Tobago. She is very nice and eager to discover Vietnamese cuisine. You have lived for more than a week with the other contestants. What are your impressions of them? They are quite different from each other but what they have in common is their sound knowledge of make-up, fitness and clothes. From our conversations, I discovered they all got professional training to become beauty queens. When representing their country at international beauty pageants, they get advice from agencies to choose outfits and performing styles. This puts them at an advantage. What aspects of Vietnam have you introduced to the others? They ask me about a lot of things. What they are most interested in is the ao dai I wore a few days ago. I explained to them the differences between the traditional ao dai and stylized modern ones. I also showed them the most attractive ways of sitting, walking and performing in the traditional Vietnamese costume while preparing for Thanh Nien’s charity show Duyen Dang Ao dai (Charming Ao dai). They have all marveled at the bewitching, demure beauty of our ao dai. The girls are also very excited about sampling Vietnamese cuisine. They are so eager to try different dishes and I promised to show them around Ho Chi Minh City and introduce local dishes to them some day. However, the hot weather has taken its toll on them. The media blew up your last-minute change from Vo Viet Chung’s five-meter-long ao dai to a Thuan Viet piece at the National Costume Show. Were you affected by this? My family and I were quite upset about it. But I don’t read newspapers or care much about what people have said about me in the last few days. My family and I have to take care of so many things on our own, so I really hope people are understanding. I’ve been giving my best. I always keep in mind that I participate in this pageant not just for myself but for my country, which spurs me on. Actually, I didn’t think there would be such a fuss about my ao dai change. I simply thought I’ll wear the outfit I feel most comfortable in while on stage. Themed Vu khuc hac (Dance of Cranes), the ao dai designed by Thuan Viet was modeled on those worn by Queen Nam Phuong [wife of Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam]. The outfit is a gorgeous blend of red and royal yellow, which accentuates the elegant grace of Vietnamese women and conveys a triumphal significance. The combination of intricate hand-embroidered patterns in gilded thread, crystal, pearls and diamonds makes it a resplendent work of art. The costume was to my liking and I think I made a right choice. So what are your major difficulties now? There are several difficulties ahead. One of them is that we’re pressed for time, having to make preparations in just 15 days while the other contestants have had one year’s preparation before their coronation and entry into this pageant. I don’t even have enough time for make-up, hairstyling and choosing outfits. Some people don’t understand my worries; they just kept asking me to do this and not to do that, which stresses me. I represent the host country, so I need to be stress-free. I need everyone’s encouragement and cooperation to fulfill my mission. What do you want to say before the pageant’s final stages? I’m quite perplexed these days. Encouragements from the audiences will be a great source of strength for me to compete in the pageant. I promise I’ll make the most of what I have. But I hope whatever the results are, I’ll always have everyone’s enthusiastic support. Reported by Da Ly

Ao dais charm Universe beauties

Ao dais charm Universe beauties

Thanh Nien’s charity show Duyen Dang Ao dai (Charming Ao dai), which gathered all Miss Universe 2008 contestants together, won rave reviews in Ho Chi Minh City last night.

Despite nearly tripping on stage in the unfamiliar costume, Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza last night won the Best in Ao dai title in Thanh Nien newspaper’s charity show in Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets to the Duyen Dang Ao dai show were sold out as no one wanted to miss the chance to see 80 Miss Universe contestants donning Vietnamese ao dais by four famous local designers. The contestants were divided into four groups to parade along Hoa Binh Theater’s stage with four different collections of ao dais. With the traditional designs of Lien Huong, the black-dominated collection of Thuan Viet, the colorful designs of Si Hoang and the highly stylized ao dais of Vo Viet Chung, the beauties all seemed to become Vietnamese maidens with their trademark grace while walking and performing with ao dais. Looking glamorous in a Vo Viet Chung ao dai, Venezuelan Mendoza defeated four other nominees – Miss Vietnam, Miss India, Miss Thailand and Miss Kazakhstan – to take the Best in Ao dai title. Mendoza was the first choice of the jurors, which included Thanh Nien’s Editor-in-chief Nguyen Cong Khe and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori. Mendoza said she didn’t expect to win the title. “For the first time ever, multi-cultural values mingle with ao dai, creating an international exchange and extravaganza that helps beautiful women from different backgrounds understand one another much more as wellas focuses on Vietnamese features,” said Thanh Nien’s Khe. After raising more than US$23,000 at the Thanh Nien-organized charity auction on Monday, the Ao dai show illustrated again how considerate the Miss Universe contestants have been to disadvantaged Vietnamese people. Upon their arrival in Vietnam last week, the 80 Miss Universe contestants jumped straight into preparing for the ao dai event with a fitting session. “Why must this skirt go with trousers?” Miss Curacao Jenyfeer Mercelina asked designer Vo Viet Chung. Entering the fitting room, Jenyfeer was still wondering how to wear the costume. But she was transfixed by her reflection and was reluctant to take the outfit off. No sooner had she buttoned up her long tunic, Miss Brazil Natalia Anderle was ready to show off her outfit. But the beauty was embarrassed to discover she was only wearing half of it. She didn’t realize the trousers were part of the ensemble, thinking she was supposed to wear an evening dress split to the hip. Some contestants, including Misses Guam, Turkey and Poland, also created amusement by wearing their trousers back-to-front. The designers were enthusiastic about showing the girls the most attractive ways of sitting, walking and performing in the traditional Vietnamese costume. The beauties were also advised to wear high-heeled sandals and jewelry to be more appealing on stage. “Amazing!” “Unbelievable” or “Magic ao dai” were the words the beauties shouted from their fitting rooms. Last night, as they walked on the stage of Hoa Binh Theater, 2,000 people were stunned at how stunning the contestants looked in Vietnam’s traditional dress. “It is amazing to see so many beautiful girls gathered in one place in such a wonderful costume like ao dai,” said Michael Smith from Australia. “I wished I could sit closer to the stage.” Another Australian audience member, Don McDonald said: “Everything was so wonderful, the girls, the ao dais, the music and the organizing,” he said. “Miss Venezuela was very beautiful but of course my choice is Miss Australia,” McDonald said. MISS UNIVERSE ACTIVITIES IN HOI AN TODAY After a visit to Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee Office, sightseeing at the five-star Nam Hai Hoi An Resort and playing games and sports at the Palm Garden Resort, the beauty contestants will join a parade led by Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori in local pedicabs, decorated with their national flags and symbols. A traditional musical show will be held this evening in the ancient town, where organizers and performing artists will put on an extravaganza, bringing back to life scenes from the city’s history for the enjoyment of the pageant contestants. (L to R) Miss Finland Satu Tuomisto, Miss France Laura Tanguy, Miss Georgia Gvantsa Daraselia and Miss Germany Madina Taher modeling Vietnamese ao dais at Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoa Binh Theater last night.