Youths wear Vietnam''s royal costumes at the festival. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

A Viet Phuc (Vietnamese Royal Costumes) festival took place on March 13, opening a week for people love to learn about Vietnamese cultural values, Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper reported.

The program was organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City from March 13 to March 19 with five main activities including Vietnamese traditional costume festival, film week, art exhibition, photo contest, closing ceremony and music program.

The festival introduces traditional costumes in the later Le Dynasty (1437 to 1471) and Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).

It was created to help Vietnamese people, particularly youth, learn more about the country’s history and culture.

Now more and more people have also shown increasing interest in ancient clothes. Ancient costumes of Vietnam dating back centuries ago have been revitalized and well-adapted to modern lifestyles thanks to young designers' passion and creativity.

The five-flap long dress had a loose fit and sometimes had wide sleeves. It had two flaps sewn together in the back, two flaps sewn together in the front, and a "baby flap" hidden underneath the main front flap. The gown appeared to have two-flaps with slits on both sides, features preserved in the later ao dai. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

Wearing an Ao Dai Ngu Than (five-flap long dress), Nguyen Tra Giang, a third year student at Van Lang University, enjoyed her time in the special robes. “I wore a five-flap long dress and attended the festival from early because I was so excited. Wearing this outfit, I feel like I am close to previous generations."

25-year-old Nguyen Huynh Minh Phuc, deputy secretary of the Youth Union of University of Social Sciences and Humanities and head of the organizing committee of cultural week, shared that when observing young people participating in the festival, he was very happy and proud to see that many youth have prepared their own Vietnamese traditional clothes.

"I hope that after this festival, many young people feel proud of Vietnamese traditional costumes and can introduce them to friends around the world,” Phuc said.

Wearing the five-flap long dress for the first time, Nguyen Thao Duong, a first year student at the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, is both proud and in love with Vietnamese culture.

“Coming to this festival, I feel very happy because I understand more about the traditional cultural features of Vietnamese costumes. The outfit is very beautiful, and I am proud to wear it. I think this festival also spreads the love for young people who want to learn about Vietnamese traditional costumes," Duong shared.

Another participants, Tran Phuong Anh, a third year student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, was proud to be able to put on those costumes, saying they have many colors symbolizing the cultures of different regions. "I feel national pride when wearing this five-flap long dress."

Quan họ (love duet) performance at the festival. Photo courtesy of organizing committee

An another traditional performance - Cai luong (reformed opera). Photo courtesy of organizing committee

At the seminar "History of Ao Dai, Cham costume and their role in social life". Photo courtesy of organizing committee

Clothes, accessories and books introduced at the festival. Photo courtesy of organizing committee

A woman wears Cham princess traditional outfit and a man wears Ngu Than Ao Dai or the five-flap Vietnamese long dress (Gia Long Dynasty, 1802-1820). Photo courtesy of organizing committee

Participants try on the Viet Phuc (Vietnamese Royal Costumes).

Participants try on the the Viet Phuc (Vietnamese Royal Costumes). Source: Ao Dai Nam Tuyen

Veteran singer Phuong Thanh (middle) in ao tac dress which is a variant of the ao dai, but it has loose and large sleeves. This is considered the national costume of the Nguyen Dynasty, because ao tac can be worn by any class in society, from the royal, officials, to the middle and lower classes, and can be worn by both men and women. Photo courtesy of organizing committee

On the evening of March 13, a seminar in the framework of the cultural week took place at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Veteran singer Phuong Thanh had attended as a speaker, talking about Vietnamese traditional Vietnamese clothes with Dr. Ho Minh Quang, Dr. Dao Minh Hong and young historian Minh Khoi.

Speakers and delegates at the seminar. Photo courtesy of organizing committee

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