The two-day event, running from June 19 to 20, launches efforts to develop Ho Chi Minh City’s Ao Dai cultural ecosystem for the 2026-2030 period.

The initiative seeks to connect culture, heritage, education, tourism, fashion, business, media, photography and digital transformation.

Designed as an interdisciplinary development model, it aims to transform the Ao dai from a traditional cultural symbol into a new creative resource for the city, while contributing to Vietnam’s strategy for developing cultural industries in the context of international integration.

Key activities at this year’s festival include the launch of the “1,000 Faces – 1,000 Stories of Saigon Ao Dai” project, a free community cultural exhibition for residents and visitors, the “Saigon Ao Dai” photo exhibition, the “Ao Dai Tribute” program and discussions on Saigon’s Ao Dai culture.

As part of the festival, the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Association also unveiled two key documents: the 2026 Book Street Message on Saigon’s Ao Dai culture and the 2026 Book Street Declaration on developing the city’s Ao Dai cultural ecosystem.

The association also launched an alliance to support the development of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai cultural ecosystem for 2026-2030.

According to Anna Hanh Le, acting Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Association, the festival honors the beauty of the Ao Dai and serves as a cultural forum for the community to gain a deeper understanding of its value in modern life.

Ao Dai festival highlights enduring vitality of Vietnamese culture in Europe

VOV.VN - The “Hương sắc Áo dài Việt Nam 2026” (“Fragrance and Colors of Vietnamese Ao Dai 2026”) festival took place on the evening of May 17 local time at the Sapa Trade Center in the Czech Republic, attracting members of the Vietnamese community, international partners and foreign guests.