Hanoi (VNA) - More than 500 women andgirls in Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) joined a parade in Hanoi,showing off the beauty of the most elegant and graceful dress of Vietnamesewomen.

The event, held by the Hanoi Women’s Union (HWU), waspart of efforts to seek the national intangible cultural heritage status andeven a global title for the traditional dress.

HWU President Le Kim Anh said the festival was one ofthe Ao Dai-related activities taking place nationwide, under the instruction ofthe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnam Women’s UnionCentral Committee.

Ao Dai has established itself as a cultural symbolconnected with the image of Vietnamese women. The dress has seen significantchanges throughout the years but its traditional characteristics have still beenpreserved, contributing to enhancing the charming beauty of Vietnamese women.

Over the past hundreds of years, Ao Dai has been anendless source of inspiration for movies, music and fine arts, and part of thesoul of Vietnamese people at home and abroad.

The word “Ao Dai” has been included in the Oxforddictionary that explains Ao Dai is a Vietnamese woman’s long-sleeved tunic withankle-length panels at front and back, worn over trousers.

In the mind of Vietnamese people and the eyes ofinternational friends, Ao Dai is a symbol of Vietnamese culture andquintessence.

The dress is worn on various occasions, from familygatherings to diplomatic events, art performances, festivals, especially thetraditional Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, fashion shows and beauty contests,both at home and abroad.

Unlike traditional dresses of many other countriesworldwide, it is not complicated to put on the Ao Dai. While it is simple towear, the dress highlights the beauty of women. Ao Dai, therefore, has become apopular attire of Vietnamese women./.