The book launch ceremony for "Legends of the Vietnamese Ao Dai" took place at the Front Hall of the Temple of Literature in Hanoi . (Photo in article: Provided by the author)
Looking for a character to… “play” with.
These 50 individuals evoke a sense of beauty in the works of author Do Lan Huong. They include female leaders, scientists , entrepreneurs, artists, educators, military personnel, and outstanding female intellectuals and workers from all over the country. Having known Ms. Huong since I graduated, I understand her nature: she's quick to set out and photograph, even without knowing if the story will be as successful as her initial enthusiasm.
The journeys continued, driven by emotions and a passionate desire to see beauty—the beauty of talent, the beauty of character, the beauty of the sun-tanned cheeks of traditional fish sauce artisans, or the dazzling sun searching for the color of sand in the salty coastal region, and remembering the breeze from the Saigon River soothing the scene of women in the industrial zone leaving work… Every sound of life could not escape the observant eye of Do Lan Huong.
Do Lan Huong immersed herself in the crowd, searching for those precious moments, with some subjects only giving her 15 minutes. Those rare 15 minutes had to be used to capture a vivid photographic moment for a particular subject. And so, when the phone rang to confirm the appointment, she was on her way. She said that over the past two years, some subjects had scheduled photoshoots but then refused, while others couldn't believe who would still go to such lengths until they were captivated by a beauty they had never seen in themselves. Seeing the subject's radiant smile brought relief to the photographer.
Each character represents a different perspective, a different profession, and a different age group. Professional reflexes require quick thinking to develop ideas for each character – with backpacks heavy with equipment, including various cameras and sometimes even a mobile studio, in the freezing cold of the northern winter.
"Photography is about spontaneous moments. When the subject agrees, the shoot must be done regardless of the weather. There are countless flights back and forth between North and South Vietnam, and the subjects have diverse tastes and preferences. Then there's the photographer's skill in capturing their lives through these experiences. "Hundreds of expenses, and yet the total cost is zero. Sometimes it's very discouraging. I'm a woman, I want to be beautiful and graceful, but I'm so engrossed in this profession of 'saving moments for posterity.' If I selfishly focused on my own beauty today, where would the 'Legend of the Vietnamese Ao Dai' come from? The legend of the beauty of Vietnamese women is like a vast, boundless ocean," Do Lan Huong confided.
Author Do Lan Huong (far right on the cover) and writer Kieu Bich Hau (in the middle).
"My mother encouraged me to pursue photography."
Lan Huong said that her mother was an excellent cook, very capable, always busy with household chores and participating in the militia. In the family, she was both gentle and strict in raising her children. “During the days when my mother carried baskets of rice, sweet potatoes, and cassava on foot from Phat Diem, Ninh Binh to Hoang Hoa, Thanh Hoa, crossing the Len Bridge during the fierce bombing, she met a strong young man from the guerrilla unit who took her across the river on a raft. Fate brought them together from that day. My mother gave birth to nine children, and they are all successful. The image of my mother's hard work makes her a frequent figure in my photographs. It's like a debt of love, a lingering feeling of gratitude that I want to repay her for encouraging me to become a photojournalist.”
The female photographer said that it was her mother who encouraged and supported her passion for the profession. Her mother often advised her that being a woman in journalism, especially photojournalism, is not easy; one must be much braver than other women, strong enough to carry equipment, sacrifice many pleasures, accept sunburn, and dress simply but beautifully for the job. “Back then, in my youth, I thought my mother was too strict. But later I understood her; her simple beauty helped me easily integrate, be loved, and made my work much smoother. And most importantly, my mother always wanted me to be safe and not attract too much attention. My mother's subtlety gradually seeped into me, regarding the image and symbol of the Vietnamese woman – small yet extraordinary. It was from that that my dream of the Vietnamese woman ignited and was expressed in the book “The Legend of the Vietnamese Ao Dai,” Do Lan Huong said emotionally.
Ao Dai and the women
At the book launch ceremony, People's Artist Tam Chinh, a legend of the Vietnamese circus industry and also a featured figure in this special book, shared her joy and pride in bringing the essence of Vietnamese culture to the world through the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress). People's Artist Tam Chinh said: "Wherever I go, other countries still praise Vietnamese female circus performers for looking beautiful in ao dai. I thought female circus performers wouldn't need to be so slender, but I find them look incredibly beautiful in ao dai."
Colonel Trinh Tung Lam, journalist and Deputy Director of the Military Radio and Television Center, shared her feelings about wearing the soft, flowing ao dai instead of her dignified military uniform. She said the ao dai helped her to honor the refined, gentle beauty, yet still full of strength and spirit, of Vietnamese female soldiers in the new era.
Roundtable discussion on the legend of the Vietnamese Ao Dai.
Writer and translator Kieu Bich Hau shared about the moment she walked proudly in a vibrant ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) in Italy when receiving the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award for Culture" in August 2025. She affirmed the role of the ao dai as a "cultural ambassador." In addition, Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Huong, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vimeco International Education System and founder of Huong Queen Ao Dai, and poet, painter, and musician Bang Ai Tho also shared inspiring stories about wearing the ao dai in their personal lives.
Artist Do Lan Huong shared her thoughts when photographing these special individuals: “Behind the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) are the talented qualities of Vietnamese women, expressing gratitude for Vietnamese women during both wartime and peacetime. Because Vietnamese women faced extremely harsh conditions during wartime, and in peacetime they managed both household responsibilities and national duties. Therefore, Vietnamese women look graceful and radiant when wearing an ao dai.”
The launch of Do Lan Huong's photo book "Legends of the Vietnamese Ao Dai" reminded me of Vo Phien's essay about the ao dai. He said that the two flaps of the ao dai worn by Vietnamese women, fluttering in the wind, symbolize a peaceful homeland: "The light, fluttering flaps in the wind make even the heaviest, most clumsy figure appear graceful."
Each person has their own adventure, passion, and commitment. Outsiders sometimes observe superficially, saying things like, "Why is that guy or girl doing that so expensive and time-consuming?" But for artists with a "crazy streak," these photographic endeavors, creative pursuits, and subject explorations are a source of happiness. In this chaotic and pragmatic world, being able to express one's individuality is a blessing. Do Lan Huong has achieved just that!
Photographer Do Lan Huong, born in 1968 in Thanh Hoa, known for her expertise in fashion and art photography, dedicated her heart, research, and creativity throughout the three years from 2023 to 2025 to create this book. Prior to this, she worked at the Young Fashion magazine in the early 1990s, where she helped discover and work with many famous models from Hanoi such as Vu Cam Nhung, Thuy Hang, and Thuy Hanh.
Her lens has always been noted for its special favoritism towards the beauty of Hanoi girls. She also represented Vietnam at the International Young Photographers' Conference in Singapore in 2002, exhibiting photographs of traditional costumes such as the yếm đào (traditional Vietnamese bodice) and khăn mỏ quạ (traditional Vietnamese headscarf).
The book "Legends of the Vietnamese Ao Dai" is the result of three years of research and creation by Do Lan Huong. With over 30 years of experience in the arts, she has used her lens to portray 50 outstanding women who are tirelessly contributing to the development of the country.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nu-nhiep-anh-gia-va-cuoc-phieu-luu-choi-anh.html
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