At 17, Hoang Bao chose fashion as a way to tell the story of his homeland, the southernmost tip of Vietnam, through the creative perspective of a Gen Z youth. Sharing about his journey into designing culturally-inspired clothing , Hoang Bao confided that he was born and raised in Ca Mau , a place with traditional shrimp cracker villages, bamboo groves protecting the land, and wind farms that are transforming the landscape of his hometown . These seemingly familiar images have become the greatest source of inspiration for his designs.
The " Bac Lieu Wind Power" costume worn during the stage photoshoot spreads a message of green culture and energy. (Photo provided by the subject)
"I chose to create cultural costumes because I'm afraid that if young people aren't creative and don't tell the story of their hometown in their own way, those simple things will gradually be forgotten," Hoang Bao shared.
Balancing studying, researching culture, and personally realizing his ideas—this journey was truly not easy for a 17-year-old student. Classroom learning remained Hoang Bao's top priority; after finishing his lessons, he would quickly sit down at his sewing desk to create costumes. He cultivated a habit of strict time management, using his lunch breaks and weekends to read materials and learn about culture.
Pham Hoang Bao poses for a profile photo, ready for his design and creative journey in 2025. (Photo provided by the subject)
"The gap between idea and reality was a huge challenge, from handling the bamboo material to make it soft to simulating wind turbine blades to ensure the models' safety while moving on stage; all the details had to be redone many times. Sometimes my hands were scratched from the wire and hot glue, but when I saw the outfit gradually taking shape, I forgot all the fatigue," Hoang Bao recounted.
Hoang Bao further shared: "The biggest pressure for me is still cultural knowledge. When you 'touch' the culture, I think you can't afford to be superficial or make mistakes. I read more materials and ask for opinions from experienced artisans so that the costumes are both creative and retain the true 'soul' of my homeland. These difficulties have helped me mature a lot."
For two years, Pham Hoang Bao accompanied Miss Grand Vietnam, contributing to promoting the culture, cuisine, and beauty of Ca Mau. (Photo provided by the subject)
Born and raised in Ca Mau, the southernmost region of Vietnam, Hoang Bao has always seen his homeland as possessing unique beauty. Through his designs, he wants to contribute to refreshing the image of the Mekong Delta in the eyes of everyone. "With the 'Vietnamese Shrimp Cracker' collection, I want to convey the diligence and perseverance of those working in the industry; while 'Bac Lieu Wind Power' is a story about the future, about the strong transformation of this southernmost region. For me, the greatest meaning is connection: even with geographical distance, cultures can still reach each other," Hoang Bao said.
Cam Ly, the second runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2024, wore the "Vietnamese Shrimp Cracker Flavor" outfit during a photoshoot at The Grand National Costume 2025. (Photo provided by the subject)
Besides his passion for design, Hoang Bao is also the Head of the PVCFC Book and Action Club at Dien Hai High School and the founder of a volunteer group. Hoang Bao shared that these meaningful activities provide him with more "life experiences" for his journey in creating fashion art. From the Book and Action Club, he understands that creativity must be accompanied by positive values for the community. Volunteer activities help him learn empathy and responsibility, understanding that true beauty must stem from authenticity, from the sweat and effort of people.
In the future, Hoang Bao hopes to create a collection titled "Soul of the Land at the Edge of the Sky," to tell the story of Ca Mau more completely through fashion.
The journey of this 2009-born student shows that when the culture of one's homeland is ignited by the passion and responsibility of young people, it can absolutely become a launching pad to help dreams take flight and lead to success.
Some notable achievements of student Pham Hoang Bao: The "Bac Lieu Wind Power" costume won the Most Popular National Cultural Costume award at Miss Grand Vietnam 2024; Youngest designer at Miss Grand Vietnam 2024; Top 50 in the "Reborn Beauty" recycled design category at Miss Earth Vietnam 2025; Top 80 in Carnival Cosmo Vietnam 2025; Top 40 in The Grand National Costume 2025; Head of the "Spread Love" volunteer group in Dong Hai commune, from May 21, 2024 to present; Founder of the scholarship program for disadvantaged students at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, September 5, 2024; Top 150 teams in the 10th season of the "Reading Books, Weaving Dreams" competition (December 30, 2025), organized by the Books and Action Vietnam Project (BNA Vietnam). Secretary of the Youth Union for two consecutive years, actively involved in Youth Union activities (2024-2026).
Bang Thanh
Source: https://baocamau.vn/ke-chuyen-que-huong-bang-thoi-trang-a125285.html
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