Street fashion festivals are flourishing.

In the final months of 2025, a series of Vietnamese traditional costume and fashion shows took place in Hanoi, Hai Phong, and many other major cities, creating an unprecedentedly vibrant scene – where heritage came to life on the streets, connecting with the public through record-breaking performances.

Vietnamese traditional costumes set a record in fashion culture.

In December 2025 in Hanoi , as part of Vietnam Happy Fest 2025, the "Hundred Flowers Parade - Hundred Flowers of Joy" Vietnamese traditional costume parade brought together nearly 1,000 people wearing traditional attire through the old town streets. This number is considered a new record for the number of participants wearing Vietnamese traditional costumes in an outdoor cultural event, creating a rare and unique sight: processions simulating wedding ceremonies from the Nguyen Dynasty stretching along the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake. Alongside this was the " Hundred Flowers of Joy" wedding procession , recreating ancient wedding attire, transforming the entire area around the lake into an open stage for Vietnamese culture.

Street fashion festivals are flourishing - Photo 1.

The Vietnamese Traditional Costume Festival " Hundred Flowers of Joy" is a special cultural project within the "Happy Vietnam Day 2025" program , implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Hanoi People's Committee, Vietnam Television, and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists.

PHOTO: LE XUAN BACH

Previously, Hanoi, along with many other localities such as Hai Phong , Quang Ngai, and Hue, continuously organized parades and traditional fashion shows, creating a vibrant cultural atmosphere. Simultaneously, the Traditional Costume Week and many major festivals witnessed the active participation of young people from the Mong, Tay, Dao, and Thai ethnic groups, bringing highland fashion to the streets with large-scale performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

These events, which are prolonged and continuous throughout the seasons and occasions, create the feeling that Vietnam is forming regular "traditional fashion seasons"—something rarely seen before.

The beauty of open cultural stages

Heritage is no longer confined to static collections, but is brought back to life through movement, music, fashion, and rituals. Many international visitors film and immerse themselves in the historical flow of costumes – highlighting the allure of a highly visual form of cultural performance – fashion.

Street fashion festivals are flourishing - Photo 2.

The Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival - highlighted by the "Hundred Flowers Walking on the Heritage Road" parade (November 2025) organized by the Hanoi Department of Tourism and other units.

PHOTO: BACH HOA BO HANH

This density not only reflects the cultural needs of the public, but also shows that outdoor festival models are being standardized, linked to tourism and festivals, similar to what many Asian cities like Tokyo and Seoul have done.

"When traditional Vietnamese clothing is regularly showcased, the entire design-production-communication-event chain develops, creating a market for materials and craftsmanship. That's how the creative industry operates. I expect professionalization with technical standards, fixed performance spaces, and a collaborative model between designers, artisans, and tourism, to become a local 'specialty event'," expressed director and ao dai designer Nguyen Nhu Khoi.

Fashion expert and photographer Dzung Yoko commented: "Vietnamese people – especially young Vietnamese – have a great need to reconnect with their heritage but also want to incorporate contemporary elements into their clothing and style. This is a natural trend. It will create a sustainable journey: they have more information to innovate Vietnamese traditional clothing in the right direction, being both creative and expressing their aesthetic taste and identity, creating a cultural connection between generations."

Street fashion festivals are flourishing - Photo 3.

Young people wearing traditional costumes paraded at the "Hundred Flowers Walking" event as part of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2025.

The flourishing of street fashion festivals opens up the prospect of forming a "living heritage" if organized annually in conjunction with tourism and creativity. However, there are also many risks and challenges.

People's Artist Vuong Duy Bien, former Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Chairman of the Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association, commented: "Thousands of people showcasing Vietnamese traditional costumes is a very encouraging sign, showing that the heritage is truly returning to life, being actively embraced and spread by the younger generation. However, difficulties and risks are not absent. The most obvious is that sometimes the costumes are chosen not in line with the original spirit, mixing eras or details, causing wearers to unintentionally misunderstand history. Besides, when the movement becomes popular, mass production and chasing trends should be avoided, neglecting the materials and inherent sophistication of Vietnamese traditional costumes. Finally, parades and performances in public spaces need to be organized appropriately to ensure safety and harmony with urban life. All of this aims to ensure that Vietnamese traditional costumes continue to spread beautifully and sustainably."

I believe that if we do these things well – standardizing knowledge, enhancing the role of artisans, controlling quality, and planning cultural spaces – the Vietnamese traditional costume movement will not just be a fleeting trend, but can become a natural part of contemporary life."

Street fashion festivals are flourishing - Photo 4.