The Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai 2023 (Vietnamese traditional long dress for women) Festival will be held from October 27 to 29 in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake, according to Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Tourism Department.

Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai is an annual event held to foster the promotion of Hanoi tourism and Vietnamese traditional cultural values. Photo: Bao Tin Minh Chau

The highlight of the festival will be the opening program with the theme "Discovering the Beauty of Hanoi" to be staged at the Ba Kieu Temple area at 8 pm on October 27, featuring an eye-catching stage simulating a train that links the past and present, an Ao Dai fashion show with the latest collections of famous local Ao Dai designers, as well as folk and contemporary art performances.

Director Dang Le Minh Tri, program advisor of the festival, said the opening aims to help the public explore the ancient beauty of Hanoi, from women's costumes to various folk performances.

In addition, a series of cultural events will be held during the next two days of the festival, on October 28 and 29. The art-music night titled "Colors of Hanoi" will take place on October 28 at 8 pm, with Hanoi-themed songs performed by famous singers such as Ha Le, Bao Tram, Nguyen Ngoc Anh and others.

The festival's exhibition area will have 60 booths to introduce people and tourists to the history of Ao dai, Hanoi's tangible and intangible heritage, famous local Ao dai brands in three regions of Vietnam, namely the North, Central and South, as well as Hanoi's new tourism products, travel and accommodation promotion.

Various motifs of ao dai by Hanoi designers will be on display at the upcoming Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2023. Photo: Minh Duc

One of the highlights of Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2023 is the Ao Dai Path for Community program with the theme "Strolling around the Sword Lake". Introduced for the first time, it offers photo opportunities by recreating Hanoi's cultural and historical landmarks, such as One Pillar Pagoda, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Quan Chuong Gate and West Lake Lotus Pond in one place.

In addition, the "Bach hoa bo hanh" or Ao Dai Parade around Hoan Kiem Lake, involving 100 people, showcases the beauty of Hanoians in their charming Ao Dai to spread the beauty of Hanoi's traditions among locals and international friends.

Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival also features a conference on promoting the value of Ao Dai and associating Ao Dai with tourism; Ao Dai flash mob dance performance, and others.

Director of Hanoi Tourism Dang Huong Giang affirmed that Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2023 is a meaningful program to promote Hanoi as a "safe, friendly, quality and attractive" tourist attraction on the regional tourism map to attract more domestic and foreign travelers.