Huế-based Áo Dài fashion recognised as national heritage

A model in traditional Áo Dài or long dress of Huế style. The wearing of áo dài (traditional long dress) costume and tailoring craft of áo dài has been recognised as the National Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. — Photo courtesy of Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Department of Culture and Sports

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — The wearing of áo dài (traditional long dress) costume itself and the tailoring of áo dài has been recognised as a National Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, making it the fourth such heritage mark in the central province.

The provincial Secretariat said the Huế-based 300-year-old long dress fashion and the craft was listed in the folklore intellectual property in a decision on August 9.

It is the fourth intangible heritage award after the art of ca Huế folk singing, or Huế Tune (2015), Dèng textile trade of Tà Ôi ethnic group (2016) and Aza Koonh Festival, or a spiritual new rice celebration of Pa Cô ethnic community (2019).

Actors wear the fashion of mandarins in a revival royal event at Ngo Môn (Noon Gate) in Huế City. — Photo courtesy of Minh Hiếu

Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Department of Culture and Sports has revived the wearing of áo dài (traditional long dress) costume in State agencies, by mandating that men and women could wear them as an official uniform on the first Monday of each month since 2022.

It said the traditional long dress fashion aims to promote the beauty and value of Huế 300 years ago.

Men and women in traditional dress from the state agencies. Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Department of Culture and Sports has revived the traditional costume by allowing them to wear long dresses to the office on one Monday a month. — Photo courtesy of Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Department of Culture and Sports

The department said the long dress model was designed with five pieces of silk sewn from 1744 and the style was seen as the national long dress in the King Minh Mạng era.

Many áo dài tailors are open on Mai Thúc Loan Street in Huế City and quick orders can be completed in just three hours.

The province has also included the Long Dress Day at the biennial Huế Festival.

The department has been building the cultural preservation project ‘Huế – the capital of Việt Nam’s Long Dress’ that aims to promote the value of the dress as national intangible heritage.

An owner of fashion shop in Mai Thúc Loan Street in Huế City shows a bolt of silk which can be made into a long dress. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Huế, the imperial capital in Việt Nam for over 100 years, offers a unique tourism service.

It has five UNESCO recognised world heritage sites including the Huế Monuments complex, the music court, Nguyễn Dynasty’s wooden blocks, Nguyễn Dynasty’s royal administrative documents and literature on Huế royal architecture.

The provincial tourism industry also promotes the gastronomy of the old capital, an initial step in building a unique cuisine brand in Thừa Thiên-Huế with Bún Bò, or Huế-styled noodles with beef and various vegetarian dishes.

The province plans to make a dossier on ancient Phước Tích Village for recognition as the National Special Heritage site.

Huế City, a tourism hub in central Việt Nam, aims to be a ‘zero plastic waste’ destination by 2030. — VNS