The 12th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival is scheduled from 1/3 to 31/3, with peak activities from 6/3 to 8/3. Under the theme "Golden Threads - Weaving Aspirations," the organizers aim to honor the historical and cultural value of the ao dai, while also expressing the city's aspiration for growth in a new era.

At a press conference on 3/3, the organizers announced 37 ambassadors from diverse fields including economics, politics, education, and media. Prominent figures include People's Artist Bach Tuyet, People's Artist Kim Xuan, Khong Tu Quynh, Huyen Baby, Miss Thanh Thuy, Miss Bao Ngoc, and Mister Tuan Ngoc.

CEO Trang Phuong (6th from left) and other ambassadors at the press conference on 3/3. Photo: Huy Linh.

CEO Trang Phuong (6th from left) and other ambassadors at the press conference on 3/3. Photo: Huy Linh.

Nguyen Thi Trang Phuong, Chairwoman of Hai Hung Company and founder and CEO of Bon Spa, is taking on the role of event ambassador for the first time. With many years of experience in the health and beauty sector, she believes the ao dai is not merely a traditional costume but also a symbol of Vietnamese women's confidence, resilience, and aspiration to thrive in the new era. "This is an opportunity for me and the business community to collectively spread national cultural values, while also promoting Ho Chi Minh City's image as dynamic, integrated, and rich in identity," CEO Trang Phuong added.

Under Trang Phuong's leadership, Bon Spa has earned numerous national and international awards. Last year, she and 12 Vietnamese business representatives accompanied Ho Chi Minh City leaders to Busan, South Korea, for the 30th anniversary celebration of the Ho Chi Minh City - Busan friendship (1995-2025). The event aimed to strengthen cooperation, investment, trade, and tourism relations between the two countries in general and the two cities in particular.

CEO Trang Phuong receives her ambassador certificate for the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Linh.

CEO Trang Phuong receives her ambassador certificate for the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Linh.

The event, jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union, this year commemorates several milestones: the 50th anniversary of Saigon - Gia Dinh being named Ho Chi Minh City, the 1986th anniversary of the Trung Sisters' uprising, and the 116th anniversary of international women's day on 8/3.

17 activities will take place across various streets and central locations, including President Ho Chi Minh Monument Park, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Metro Line 1, and the showroom at 92-96 Nguyen Hue.

The opening night on 6/3 will feature an elaborate production, highlighting the artistic imagery of "Silkworm Cocoon Transforming into a Butterfly." It will bring together 37 designers from Vietnam's three regions, nearly 400 ao dai outfits, 600 performers and models, and 37 ambassadors. The "silkworm cocoon" imagery symbolizes convergence and transformation, ushering in a flourishing path for the ao dai in an era of integration.

On the morning of 8/3, a folk dance performance and ao dai parade is expected to draw about 50,000 participants across various city locations. Tens of thousands of ao dai will appear simultaneously within the modern urban landscape, promising to create a vibrant cultural spectacle, spreading pride and the spirit of solidarity among Vietnamese women.

Exhibition spaces for ao dai and Metro, free ao dai experience zones, the "Accompanying Vietnamese Ao Dai" activity series, the "Loving Ao Dai" program, along with various creative competitions and international seminars, will expand the festival's reach from artistic stages into community life.

CEO Trang Phuong expressed excitement for the festival's activities. Photo: Huy Linh.

CEO Trang Phuong expressed excitement for the festival's activities. Photo: Huy Linh.

The organizers position the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival as a "vibrant cultural ambassador," contributing to stimulating tourism demand, increasing spending, extending visitor stays, and enhancing the destination's image on the global tourism map.

Hieu Chau