Ao Dai - Vietnamese cultural symbol renewed by young generation

Traditional symbols are “rejuvenated”

For a long time, the Ao Dai has become an image associated with Vietnamese women, a symbol of gentle, discreet but attractive beauty. However, in modern society, where personal style reigns and social networks have a profound influence, the Ao Dai is taking on a new look: lively, diverse and full of creative colors.

On school grounds, streets and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, young people are transforming the Ao Dai into their own style: combining it with sneakers, leather jackets, modern accessories or being creative with graffiti patterns, hand embroidery... These images not only make the Ao Dai more familiar in everyday life but also contribute to affirming the personality and cultural identity of each person.

Ms. Anh Nguyet (Thu Duc city) shared: “Every time I put on the ao dai, I feel like I am connecting with my roots. Once, I took my parents to buy ao dai, not only to wear but also as a way to pass on memories and culture to the next generation.”

Young people choose ao dai and traditional costumes to attend cultural events.

For Khanh Chi (Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City), the ao dai is a way for her to remember her late grandmother: “I kept my grandmother’s wedding ao dai and wore it in a separate photo shoot. For me, it is a way to tell my family’s story through the language of fashion and emotion.”

Minh Nhat, a student of Fashion Design, is one of the young people who has taken the initiative to bring a contemporary breath to the ao dai. Nhat has introduced ao dai designs that combine street art, with spray-painted motifs and bold color combinations. “Ao dai is a precious heritage, but that does not mean it cannot be creative. On the contrary, innovation will help the ao dai reach young people more naturally,” Nhat shared.

Voluntary or imposed?

However, the journey to renew and spread the value of Ao Dai among young people is still facing debate, especially in the school environment. Many high schools and universities still require female students to wear Ao Dai on special occasions. Some places even apply the form of deducting competition points if they do not comply. Meanwhile, male students are only "encouraged", leading to inequality and limitations in accessing traditional culture.

Nguyen Gia Bao, a student at Van Lang University, frankly expressed: “Ao dai should not be a cultural privilege of one gender. When only female students are required to wear it but not male students, the symbolic value of ao dai seems to be narrowed and loses its representativeness.”

Ngoc Mai, currently in grade 11 in District 3, also shared: “I love ao dai, but if I have to wear it during school festivals, especially on hot days, and I get marked if I don’t wear it, it’s no longer voluntary. Culture should be preserved with love, not with obligation.”

The Ao Dai is associated with students in their academic and extracurricular activities.

According to MSc. Le Hai Yen, lecturer at the Faculty of Public Relations and Communication at Van Lang University, the ao dai is beautiful in schools, but if imposed, it will become a burden. Therefore, it is necessary to arouse the love of ao dai through personal stories, social networks, creative and voluntary activities.

MSc. Do Thi Thanh Truc, who studied in the US, said: “On graduation day, my mother and I wore the same ao dai. That image delighted my international friends and I realized that ao dai is not only a costume but also an identity, an introduction to Vietnam to the world .”

Speaker Hoang Bao Khoi, a Vietnamese cultural expert, affirmed: “Ao dai is both a cultural memory and a symbol of national identity and pride. If conveyed correctly, ao dai will live forever in contemporary life.”

Although the Ao Dai is a long-standing traditional symbol, it is still “breathed into life” by the younger generation with new nuances suitable for modern life. The connection between the past and the present is shown through each stitch and the way the younger generation chooses to love, preserve and promote cultural values ​​with passion and volunteerism.

In a constantly changing society, each traditional costume such as the Ao Dai needs to be understood and respected as an inseparable part of cultural identity. This is not only a story of the past but also the responsibility and pride of today's and tomorrow's generations, those who continue the journey of enriching and protecting Vietnamese cultural values ​​in the hearts of humanity.

According to VNA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ao-dai-bieu-tuong-van-hoa-viet-duoc-lam-moi-boi-the-he-tre-a421190.html