For French people of Vietnamese origin, the story told is not only about memories surrounding the ao dai, but also evokes in them feelings and nostalgia for their homeland and roots.
On May 13, at the Kervignac City Hall, Morbihan region, the ART SPACE Association and the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association in conjunction with the APPEL Lorient Association organized a seminar on Vietnamese Ao Dai, entitled Écouter les histoires de Ao Dai - Listen to Ao Dai tell stories .
This event is part of the Toucher Arts project, which includes a series of seminars, concerts, exhibitions and workshops on Vietnamese culture at many schools in many cities in France, in response to 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and France.
 |
Ms. Hoang Thu Trang, President of ART SPACE Association, Head of the Organizing Committee (in yellow ao dai) took a photo with guests Ms. Elodie Le Floch (in black vest), Mayor of Kervignac city and Ms. Stephanie Do (in orange ao dai), National Assembly delegate of Seine et Marne region for the 2017-2022 term, at the event. (Photo: NVCC) |
Ao dai from different perspectives
The discussion started from the idea that "Ao dai is not only a traditional costume, it is also a historical witness present at most important milestones in the lives of Vietnamese people, especially women".
The guests were three special speakers: a French artist and writer, a Vietnamese teacher and a Vietnamese boy who grew up in France. The stories shared by the speakers touched the hearts of the audience.
Dominique Penhoat, a French sculptor and writer of Vietnamese origin, shared her fondest memories of the ao dai. It was a gift from her relatives in Vietnam that she recently found during her journey back to her homeland more than 10 years ago.
Ms. Dominique Penhoat shared: “The moment I first put on the Vietnamese ao dai, a gift from my Vietnamese family, people who share the same blood as me, I felt a strong national pride within me, a special spiritual bond between me and Vietnam.
The ao dai is like a personal identity that connects me to my origin, to my roots. I was truly Vietnamese from that moment on.”
Coming from Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc is a teacher with over 20 years of experience in connecting education and cultural exchange for thousands of Vietnamese and French students.
Ms. Cuc shared with French friends the story of the Vietnamese ao dai, the connection between teachers and students, and helped the French discover the ao dai through the workshop "Painting the ao dai" with watercolors.
The third youngest speaker is Kevin Nguyen, 12 years old but has two years of experience conducting workshops promoting Vietnamese culture in many schools in the Loire Atlantique region, France.
Having access to both French and Vietnamese cultures, Kevin brings interesting stories about the image of Ao Dai from the perspective of second-generation Vietnamese children born and raised in France.
Besides, the boy also shared his memories of his first ao dai, his national pride, his journey of introducing ao dai and Vietnamese culture to French students, and how French children went from being surprised to loving Vietnam's national costume.
 |
Artist Dominique Penhoat, a French-Vietnamese, shared at the event. (Photo: NVCC) |
Sharing after this event, Ms. Chloé Mai Gagne - an audience member, living in Larmor Plage city, said: "The discussion helped me recall many memories about my family, as well as cultural traditions.
During the holidays, we all wear Ao Dai. I was really touched when I saw the young generation proud of their traditional costumes. Besides, I was also very happy to see so many Ao Dai in Brittany, something that had never happened before.”
Stephanie Do - Member of the National Assembly of Seine et Marne region for the 2017-2022 term, also expressed her joy at the event: “The speakers shared stories from the heart. I myself also learned many interesting things about the five-panel and four-panel ao dai, helping me understand more about the ao dai that I am wearing.
I am very impressed with the young people's sharing about the Ao Dai. It can be seen as an inheritance and continuation as well as national pride when we wear the Ao Dai."
Hundreds of emotions about Vietnamese Ao Dai
Not only the discussion, during the event, the French audience also followed the touching stories posted on the online exhibition “Ao Dai Tells Stories” at www.toucherarts, which was first introduced to the French public.
This is a project with a unique idea of interviewing 100 special people around the world, of all ages and living conditions, about their memories and experiences related to Ao Dai, many of whom are living abroad.
The Ao Dai stories are presented in all three languages: English - Vietnamese - French and are introduced regularly every week until July 15 - the end date of the entire Toucher Arts project series.
 |
French audiences in ao dai were given a photo at the event. (Photo: NVCC) |
In particular, all French people attending the event were given a Vietnamese ao dai as a souvenir. The product was carefully packaged, with a message from the donor, and sent from all over the world to France.
This is the result of the campaign “2LIFE AO DAI” with the desire to revive and bring a brilliant second life to used Ao Dai and give them to French friends as a gift of humanistic value, instead of being forgotten in the closet in a wasteful way.
In return, French people who love the ao dai and Vietnamese culture, upon receiving the ao dai, will agree to donate a sum of money to help disadvantaged and disabled children in Vietnam.
Sharing with TG&VN, Ms. Hoang Thu Trang, President of ART SPACE Association, Head of the Organizing Committee, said that this non-profit project was carried out to raise funds to support orphanages and disabled children in the three regions of North, Central and South of Vietnam.
Currently, the "2LIFE AO DAI" campaign has mobilized more than 500 Ao Dai to France, of which 100 have successfully landed and were used to give away at this event.
All the touching stories were spread, recorded and carried out by the participation of 25 Vietnamese students from France, England, America, Australia and Vietnam, along with more than 20 collaborators who are students from 8-16 years old living in different provinces and cities in Vietnam and around the world.
 |
| Delegates attending the event took a souvenir photo. (Photo: NVCC) |
Ms. Trang emphasized: “We want to share with international friends a different, vibrant image of Vietnamese ao dai that they may have never known before.
I think the event was successful in conveying to French friends beautiful images of the Ao Dai as well as the country and people of Vietnam, helping them to better understand, love and appreciate Vietnamese culture."
Ms. Elodie Le Floch, Mayor of Kervignac, France : "I learned a lot of interesting things about the ao dai, especially the history of this costume through the ages. What impressed me most was that the speakers helped me see the importance of the ao dai in the lives of Vietnamese people, as well as showing my connection to my homeland. I believe all the participants of the seminar shared the same feeling of joy when discovering a new culture like Vietnam." |
 | Trang Le Ao Dai honors the beauty of Vietnamese women Delicate in every stitch, meticulous in every pattern, Ms. Trang Le aims for the mission of honoring... |
 | The Franco-Russian story in Francophone Africa Russia's growing presence and influence are significantly impacting France's role in the community of ... |
 | 'Sacred Origins' - Ao Dai Collection 'tells' the story of Vietnamese culture Inspired by the image of mother Au Co - father Lac Long Quan, the Ao Dai Collection 'Sacred Origin' of ... |
 | Promoting Vietnamese Ao Dai in Sri Lanka Joining in the atmosphere of celebrating the 113th anniversary of International Women's Day (March 8, 1910 - March 8, 2023) and responding to "Ao Dai Week" in 2023, Ambassador ... |
 | Dr. Ngo Tuyet Mai: Each Vietnamese person abroad is like a tree planted in a new land. Talking to TG&VN, Dr. Ngo Tuyet Mai, senior lecturer at Flinders University, Australia said: "Every Vietnamese person when going out ... |
Source
Comment (0)