VI
EN
According to Decision No. 2320/QD-BVHTTDL dated August 9, 2024, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which announced the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the folk knowledge "Knowledge of sewing and wearing Hue Ao Dai, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province" was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Accordingly, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism assigns the Chairpersons of the People's Committees at all levels in localities where intangible cultural heritage is included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in this decision, within their duties and powers, to carry out state management in accordance with the law on cultural heritage.
According to the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien Hue province, the knowledge of tailoring and wearing Hue's ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage as a result of the project "Hue - The Capital of Vietnamese Ao Dai".
The ao dai became the main attire of the people in the Southern region of Vietnam, affirming cultural independence. In 1802, King Gia Long intended to change clothing styles throughout the country but was unable to do so. From 1826 to 1837, King Minh Mang issued policies to popularize the ao dai nationwide.
In Hue, the Hue ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) is worn by many people, from students, civil servants, and young adults to middle-aged people, elderly women, and women engaged in small-scale trading in shops and markets. From 1744, the eighth Nguyen lord in Dang Trong, Nguyen Phuc Khoat, decided to choose this type of clothing as everyday attire for all the people of Dang Trong (from the Gianh River in Quang Binh to the entire southern region of Vietnam today). In the early 19th century, during the period of national reunification, Emperor Minh Mang continued to choose the five-panel ao dai as the common attire for all Vietnamese people.
Throughout its time as the national capital, Hue, the ancient capital, was also known as the capital of Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress), renowned for its dazzling "robe system" - a symbol of an Eastern dynasty.
Between 1837 and 1945, the five-panel tunic (áo ngũ thân) was very popular in both North and South Vietnam and was considered the national costume of the Vietnamese people. It was regarded as a formal, modest garment with many humanistic meanings, suitable for the physique and sentiments of the Vietnamese people.
Throughout its more than 300-year history, generations of artisans in Hue have accumulated extensive knowledge in tailoring and wearing the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), clearly symbolizing the aesthetic, ethical, and moral values of society. In the modern era, the Hue ao dai remains popular among many people, most commonly students, civil servants, middle-aged and elderly individuals, and women engaged in small-scale trading in shops and markets.
Therefore, the ao dai is a cultural identity of the land, a symbol of the beauty of the people of Hue.
Besides its traditional elegance and grace, the ao dai also reminds the wearer of moral principles, reminding every citizen to cherish, respect, and preserve the precious traditional values left by their ancestors, and to continue promoting these good values for future generations.
Hue's ao dai is a comprehensive combination of weaving, sewing, embroidery, painting, design, and fashion, truly a cultural product, aiming to be a cultural industry product to serve tourism.
Throughout history, the ao dai has undergone numerous adjustments. However, regardless of these adjustments, the ao dai remains the national costume and a source of pride for the Vietnamese people.
Hue was also the first locality in Vietnam to organize a festival to honor the beauty of the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), with the ao dai festival being held during the Hue Festival since 2002. Since then, ao dai festivals have been continuously and regularly organized, not only during festivals.
The People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province has approved the project "Hue - The Capital of Vietnamese Ao Dai" with many rich contents. This provides the legal basis for effectively implementing activities to promote and honor Hue's Ao Dai, boost economic and tourism development, and affirm the brand of Hue's Ao Dai.
