Vietnamese Ao Dai: A Symbol of Cultural Connection and Integration in Malaysia

According to a VNA reporter in Kuala Lumpur, on the evening of August 29, within the framework of a special cultural exchange program coordinated by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association (MVFA) officially launched the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia.

This is not only a cultural event of the Vietnamese community in the host country but also a vivid demonstration of the soft power of culture when heritage constantly spreads, becoming a bridge connecting people, countries and regions.

Ao dai is not just a simple costume, but also a symbol of traditional beauty associated with the image of Vietnamese women. At the launching ceremony, Ms. Tran Thi Chang - President of MVFA - emotionally shared that Ao dai is the "cultural ambassador" of Vietnam.

The establishment of the Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia is not only to preserve a heritage, but also to affirm that Vietnamese cultural identity can spread strongly in the context of integration, while creating a bridge connecting the hearts of two nations.

For the Vietnamese community living far from home, the ao dai carries a new layer of meaning: it is a connection to one's roots, a way to remind one of culture, tradition and identity in life in a foreign land.

Ms. Nguyen Lien, Head of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia, designer of the “Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Ao Dai”. (Photo: Vien Luyen/VNA)

Sharing in her role as Club President, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien expressed that Ao Dai has gone from small corners in the family to become a cultural symbol known to international friends.

For overseas Vietnamese, the Ao Dai is not only a source of national pride but also a testament to integration while preserving identity. Club members will strive to organize many activities so that the Ao Dai is not only present in the Vietnamese community, but also welcomed by Malaysian friends and people of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), aiming to recognize the Ao Dai as a world fashion heritage.

Attending the event, Mr. Muhammad Afiq bin Anuar - representative of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism , Arts and Culture - compared Vietnam's ao dai with traditional Malaysian costumes such as "kebaya" or "baju kurung."

Culture, he said, is not just about preservation, but also about connection. Like kebaya or baju kurung, the Vietnamese ao dai carries within it “identity, dignity and inheritance.”

The establishment of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia will open a new bridge, contributing to enriching ASEAN's cultural treasures, while promoting mutual respect among countries.

Mr. Muhammad also emphasized that in the context of an increasingly developing creative economy , heritage and fashion both play a cultural role and contribute to creating new values in terms of exchange, trade and human connection.

The Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia has identified key tasks such as connecting the community of Ao Dai lovers, organizing events to promote Ao Dai, connecting and sharing experiences in preserving heritage. Furthermore, the club will strive to contribute to the recognition of Ao Dai as a cultural and fashion heritage, raising its status in the international arena.

Chairwoman of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association Tran Thi Chang speaks at the event with Mayor of Kuala Lumpur Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif (in green scarf) at the event. (Photo: Vien Luyen/VNA)

In her speech, Ms. Tran Thi Chang added that the MVFA will focus on promoting cultural and artistic exchanges, affirming the role of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia as a cultural and social bridge between the two countries, while fostering the spirit of ASEAN solidarity.

According to her, culture is not only a memory to preserve, but also a soft power for us to step into the future together.

The launching of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Malaysia takes place in a meaningful year when Vietnam celebrates 80 years of independence and 50 years of national reunification, while Malaysia celebrates 68 years of National Day as ASEAN Chair.

These milestones not only affirm the vitality of each nation, but also demonstrate the increasingly strong bond within the ASEAN bloc - where each culture is respected as part of the common strength.

The image of Ao Dai present at the event not only reminds us of the traditional beauty of Vietnam, but also sends a message about cultural exchange, friendship and the desire for integration. Ao Dai has gone beyond national borders to become a cultural symbol connecting Vietnam-Malaysia-ASEAN.

Sharing with VNA reporters at the event, former Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam, Dato Azmil Zabidi, exclaimed that Vietnamese ao dai is truly beautiful, from the material to the design.

Through this cultural event about Ao Dai, Malaysian people will know more about the country and people of Vietnam. Mr. Zabidi emphasized that the beauty of Ao Dai should be spread throughout the world, not just within Malaysia or ASEAN.

The club's launch event demonstrates the vitality of culture in creating new bridges.

From the charming Vietnamese ao dai, the overseas Vietnamese community has built a common cultural space in Malaysia, contributing to enriching spiritual life, while strengthening the friendship between the two nations and fostering the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, where each culture contributes to creating a common strength. This is a vivid proof of Mr. Muhammad Afiq bin Anuar's affirmation: "Common heritage is common prosperity"./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ao-dai-viet-nam-bieu-tuong-van-hoa-ket-noi-va-hoi-nhap-tai-malaysia-post1058903.vnp