On the evening of 20/5, the campus of Kim Lien High School buzzed with activity as nearly 700 12th-grade students, along with hundreds of parents and teachers, attended the senior prom (Prom Night K50).
Unlike regular days, many female students wore elaborate, ruffled gowns with intricate lace details, styled like princesses or brides, or dresses with elegant cutouts. Male students appeared dapper in vests, shirts, and ties.
Camera and phone flashes lit up continuously, interspersed with calls to pose, adjust hair, and fix dresses. Groups of students moved between the stage, photo booths, and familiar spots around the school, capturing moments with friends and teachers.
According to Principal Nguyen Thi Hien, the senior prom is an annual event for 12th-grade students at Kim Lien High School, organized by parents at the students' request. Most of the ideas, scripts, visual identity, and performances are created by the students themselves.
Principal Hien stated that the prom program extends from afternoon to evening, featuring interactions, photo opportunities, commemorative video screenings, and performances by students and artists, before concluding with a DJ set. This event is not just a farewell party; it is an occasion for students to showcase their talents and create lasting memories before finishing their three years of high school.
"Students have the chance to temporarily forget academic pressures for the high school graduation exam, to shine in their own way, to enjoy their youth, and to connect more with each other", Principal Hien said.
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
"I am both happy and nervous", said Nguyen Bao Han, from class 12A7.
To ensure a perfect night, Han and many of her friends prepared their outfits and booked makeup artists a month in advance.
Han mentioned spending about 3 million VND from her Tet lucky money and additional funds from her parents for the event. This included 1,8 million VND to rent a white, stone-embellished bridal-style gown for three days, with the rest allocated for makeup and hair styling. She added that some classmates even hired personal photographers, costing around 1-1,5 million VND.
"I think senior prom is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I wanted to be perfectly prepared", Han shared.
Nguyen Vu Phuong Trang, from class 12A8, also spent over one million VND to rent a dress, get makeup, and have her nails done. She started planning her outfit in mid-April, preferring puffy, ruffled dresses in a lolita style to stand out from her friends. She carefully considered a smoky brown makeup tone to be "as beautiful as possible".
Among the male students, Thai Duy, from class 12A9, said his entire class agreed on white shirts paired with business suits. For Duy, finding and renting clothes took considerable time but was an enjoyable experience. He found a satisfactory suit with dress shoes for about 700.000 VND for one day. Duy noted that some male friends spent over one million VND, and all were supported by their families.
What Duy most looked forward to was the moment his class would take commemorative photos, sing the song "A Date with Youth", and rewatch a video marking their three years of study.
"This is almost the last activity of our student life, so everyone is excited", Duy said.
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students attend the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Kim Lien High School students perform at the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Principal Nguyen Thi Hien of Kim Lien High School watches her students' performances at the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
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Students cheer on their friends during talent performances at the senior prom "Prom Night K50" on the evening of 20/5. Photo: Hoang Giang
Below the stage, many parents were equally moved. Do Thi Thu Lan, a parent from class 12A9, arrived at the school at 17h to fully participate in the event with her daughter.
Today, her daughter wore an elaborate dress "like a princess", and neighbors complimented her beauty as soon as she entered the apartment building's elevator to go to school.
"I am happy and proud to see my daughter growing more mature each day, but I also feel a bit wistful because she is truly grown up", she said, considering it worthwhile for families to let their children spend millions of dong on prom attire.
"Studying is important, but it is not everything. High school memories are also precious. When our children are happy, we parents are happy too; the three years of high school happen only once", she stated.
Kim Lien High School, established in 1974, is a public high school with a rich tradition, consistently ranking among the top 3 schools with the highest 10th-grade admission scores in Hanoi. Beyond academic achievements, the school is also known for its many vibrant extracurricular activities.
Thanh Hang
