Women in Hà Nội called on to wear áo dài on Mondays and Fridays in October

Women in Hà Nội wearing traditional áo dài in a campaign to promote Hà Nội Tourism Áo Dài Festival. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Women's Union has launched the 2024 Hà Nội Áo Dài Month as part of the 2024 Hà Nội Tourism Áo Dài Festival, in commemorating the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Việt Nam Women's Union and Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20th.

The event aimed to promote and encourage officials, members, and all staff, civil servants, public employees, and workers in central-level and city-level agencies and units; businesses, companies, organisations, and female students in the capital city to wear the traditional long dress on Mondays and Fridays each week.

It also encouraged women to wear áo dài during celebrations, programs, and important events.

At the launch event on October 1, Vice President of the Hà Nội Women's Union Phạm Mỹ Hoa shared that the Hà Nội Áo Dài Month – running from October 1st to October 20th – is not only an occasion to honour the beauty of women through the áo dài, but also an opportunity to promote and introduce the Vietnamese áo dài to international friends, while affirming its value in modern life.

Hà Nội Áo Dài Month also provides an opportunity for the women of the capital to express their love, solidarity, and responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

During the event, the Hà Nội Women's Union received enthusiastic support and participation from businesses, central and city agencies, designers, the Việt Nam Village & Communal House Club, the Hà Nội branch of the Việt Nam's Áo Dài Heritage Club, and artisans Phạm Quang Tuyền and Đỗ Minh Tâm, all working together to spread the image of the áo dài as a symbol of Việt Nam's cultural heritage tied to Vietnamese women.

Additionally, 50 high school girls from disadvantaged backgrounds who have overcome challenges received meaningful gifts from Đất Việt Co., Ltd., as well as white áo dài from the Việt Nam's Áo Dài Heritage Club.

As part of the launch, the Hà Nội Women's Union, in collaboration with the Việt Nam Women's Museum and the Việt Nam Village & Communal House Club, organised a seminar titled "Traditional Áo Dài – Cultural Value, Preservation, and Development in the Contemporary Context."

Researchers and artisans discussed identifying the Vietnamese traditional áo dài, its history and development, its functionality, aesthetic value, cultural identity, and changes in its making and wearing in contemporary life, as well as experiences and solutions for preserving and developing traditional dress. — VNS