Vietnamese 'ao dai' fashion week opens in Japanese prefecture
A Vietnamese 'ao dai' (traditional long dress) fashion week kicked off in Fukuoka prefecture on January 18 as part of the Homeland Spring Festival 2024 of the Vietnamese community in the Kyushu region of Japan.
Some "ao dai" designs by Ngoc Han shown at the week's opening ceremony on January 18. (Photo: The World and Vietnam newspaper)
Tokyo (VNA) – A Vietnamese 'ao dai' (traditionallong dress) fashion week kicked off in Fukuoka prefecture on January 18 as partof the Homeland Spring Festival 2024 of the Vietnamese community in the Kyushuregion of Japan.
The event, lasting through January 21, willfeature 10 'ao dai' collections of four Vietnamese designers, namely Ngoc Han,Cao Minh Tien, Che Quyet Tien, and Tran Thien Khanh. The designs will bepresented by professional and amateur Vietnamese models from both the homecountry and Kyushu.
In her opening remarks, Consul General of Vietnamin Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai said the first 'ao dai' week in the prefecture is achance for Vietnamese people as well as Japanese and international friends toenjoy more than 160 sets of 'ao dai' by the famous designers, thus helpingintroduce the traditional costume of Vietnam and promote tourism in Fukuoka andKyushu.
She described each 'ao dai' as a work of art,noting that by combing the colours of blue-and-white porcelain and obi (fabricbelt of the kimono) of Japan with 'ao dai', the designers aim to highlight thetwo countries’ cultural confluence and popularise Vietnamese cultural values tothe world.
Wearing the traditional costume of Vietnam, ViceGovernor of Fukuoka Omagari Akie said she was surprised by the diversity of 'aodai' designs, materials, and colours, and that she hoped the week will helpenhance cultural understanding between the people of the two countries.
Inoue Hirotaka, Vice Chairman of the Japan -Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance in Fukuoka, expressed his delightthat the year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of an agreement onboosting friendly exchanges between the prefecture’s administration and theHanoi People’s Committee.
A delegation of the Fukuoka administration is setto start a visit to Hanoi on January 22 on the occasion of the 15th anniversaryof the two sides’ friendship to further step up cooperation andpeople-to-people exchanges, thereby contributing to the Vietnam - Japanrelations, he noted./.
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Some "ao dai" designs by Ngoc Han shown at the week's opening ceremony on January 18. (Photo: The World and Vietnam newspaper) 
