The sixth Ao Dai (long dress) Festival in Ho Chi Minh City is set to take place from March 2 to 17 in various tourist spots of the city, heard a press conference held in the city on February 26.

Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H'Hen Nie (second from right) and the organisers at the press conference on the festival on February 26. (Photo: VNA)

The annual culture-tourism festival aims to honour Vietnam’s traditional costume and promote HCM City’s tourism to domestic and foreign visitors, said Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa.

This year, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H’Hen Nie, who was among top 5 of Miss Universe 2018, will be the representative of the festival.

The event also draws the participation of 26 leading ao dai designers across the nation. Notably, it will feature a collection by a designer from the Republic of Korea, introducing Vietnam’s ao dai from the perspective of international friends.

About 15 activities and programmes will be arranged during the two weeks of the festival, across famous spots of HCM City such as Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien pedestrian zones, the War Remnants Museum, the city’s post office, and various public places.

The opening ceremony will take place on March 2 on Nguyen Hue street with more than 80 artists performing in ao dai and a procession will be held the next day with the participation of over 3,000 performers, including those from the audience.

VNF/VNA