The image of the Ao dai (Vietnam’s traditional long dress) is oftenassociated with images of the country and is a beautiful symbol ofVietnamese culture.

Bich Hue Boivineau, wife of theFrench Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, shared her feelings onVietnam’s traditional long dress, on the eve of the first ever“non-border Ao dai festival” scheduled to be held in Ho Chi Minh City onJanuary 21.

She said that she and her husband andtwo children agreed to take part in the festival because it is acharitable cultural event that aims to raise funds for 70 poorhouseholds in Phong Dien district in the central province of ThuaThien-Hue. The funds will also be used to buy a boat for pupils in QuangTrach district in the central province of Quang Binh to go to school.

“One interesting thing when we wear the Ao dai isthat it highlights the strong points and hides the weak points of ourbody,” she said, adding that women in Ao dai look graceful, shapely andelegant.

She said she owned a big collection of Vietnam’s traditional long dresses and wears them on both festive and normal days.

When presenting the Ao dai to international friends, we will take avariety of dresses to portray the non-borders characteristic of theVietnamese traditional dress, Bich Hue Boivineau noted.

The festival, organised by the Vietnam Long Dress Association, willdraw the participation of representatives from the consulate generals often countries, including the US, France, Russia, Germany, Cuba, Japan,the Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia and Laos as well as five foreignorganisations and businesses operating in Vietnam./.