Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports

Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports shared this with Thua Thien Hue Weekend after a year this project was approved and implemented with many events and activities to spread Ao Dai into community life.

Sir, after many years of implementing the Community Ao Dai Week, has the spread and reception from all walks of life been as expected by the organizing unit?

The Community Ao Dai Week, successfully organized over the past years, is a meaningful communication activity, creating a propaganda and orientation effect in the series of activities implementing the Project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai". Through the organization of the Community Ao Dai Week over the past years, it not only helps people approach, understand better, thereby cherishing and appreciating the traditional Ao Dai - "National Costume" in particular, but also contributesto educating love for the traditional cultural values of the nation.

The rich and exciting activities taking place during the Community Ao Dai Week have mobilized maximum social resources, attracted the attention and active participation of all classes of people, and spread the love for Ao Dai. The traditional Ao Dai has gradually become a popular costume in all spaces, cultural and festival activities, tourism activities, educational environments...

Those initial in-depth results have motivated a number of relevant agencies and departments from the central to local levels, organizations and individuals to actively organize cultural and tourism events, professional activities associated with Ao Dai, contributing to promoting culture, attracting tourism, and developing the local and national socio-economy.

The traditional Ao Dai has gradually become a popular costume in all spaces and cultural activities and festivals.

Not only stopping at the week, but further, the Ao Dai has gradually entered life on its own. What is the significance of the project “Hue - Capital of Ao Dai” being officially approved and implemented for a year?

On March 29, 2023, the Project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai" was officially approved by the Provincial People's Committee, which affirmed the correctness of the revival of traditional Ao Dai - Vietnam's "National Costume". This is the highest legal document of Thua Thien Hue province, demonstrating the province's determination to implement the Project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai", the positive response of all levels, sectors, businesses, and the enthusiastic support of all classes of people.

The project contributes greatly to orienting the thinking of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, especially the people - the subject of the Ao Dai, the core subject, accompanying and socializing resources with the Party Committee and the government to successfully implement the project.

What do you think is the most worrying thing in the journey of spreading Ao Dai into current life in Hue as well as the whole country?

Many special activities at Hue Community Ao Dai Week 2024

The Provincial People's Committee has just issued a plan to organize the Hue Community Ao Dai Week in 2024. Accordingly, the week will take place from June 24 to 30 with the aim of exploiting the strengths, brands and unique cultural values of Hue Ao Dai, building the image of Hue tourism associated with Ao Dai, and stimulating tourism development.

The week will have activities such as: Experimental activity space, display and exchange of tailoring skills of artisans from 3 regions, fine art exhibition "Heritage Ao Dai", incense offering and flower offering ceremony to Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, parade and gratitude to Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat and Emperor Minh Mang - the person who made Ao Dai become the national costume, introduction of the book "The 5-panel Ao Dai" and discussion on standardizing traditional Ao Dai costumes, Ao Dai art program "Hanoi - Hue - Saigon" ...

Ao dai is nothing strange to all of us. For a long time, there have been many scientific seminars, discussions; many research activities, creation, dressing, performance, introduction of traditional ao dai not only in the country but also in the world with many different languages, colors, styles, and materials, bringing many positive effects. Since then, ao dai has been known widely in the world and almost naturally recognized internationally as the "National Costume" of Vietnam.

However, up to now, the heritage related to Ao Dai has not been officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, so there are no specific binding regulations, which is one of the major obstacles in the journey of preserving and promoting the cultural value of traditional costumes of the nation.

Recently, many famous designers have paid attention and paid attention to the creation of the five-panel ao dai. Many ao dai have been created with new languages and materials, but still ensure the preservation of national cultural values, creating a reputation. Unfortunately, there are still some designers who have created "too fanciful" products to the point of creating hybrid products that do not preserve the profound cultural and humanistic values of the traditional Vietnamese ao dai.

Myself and my brothers are very concerned, trying to do everything possible to spread the traditional Vietnamese ao dai - Hue ao dai into contemporary life, while at the same time striving to realize the goal of registering the traditional ao dai as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

It is known that the project also aims to complete the dossier “The profession of tailoring Ao Dai and the custom of using traditional Ao Dai in Hue” to submit to UNESCO for consideration and recognition as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. How far has this work been carried out, sir?

As mentioned above, the cultural sector, together with relevant agencies, organizations, experts, artisans, etc., have been very concerned, focused their intelligence, enthusiasm and resources to complete the dossier "The profession of tailoring Ao Dai and the practice of using Hue traditional Ao Dai" in a systematic, scientific and correct manner under the responsible guidance of the Department of Cultural Heritage - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Currently, this dossier has been officially submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consideration and honor as a national intangible cultural heritage according to regulations.

After being officially included in the list of national heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Culture and Sports will advise and report to the Provincial People's Committee to consider carrying out procedures for records, registration, and submission to UNESCO for consideration and recognition as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity as soon as possible.

And, the establishment of an Ao Dai museum for Hue was also in the meaning, shape and implementation. What will happen?

Recently, Thua Thien Hue province has assigned the Department of Culture and Sports, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center to coordinate with Viettravel to develop a project to establish a Cultural Creative Space and Ao Dai Museum at An Dinh Palace to gradually implement the contents of the project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai". Currently, the project is still being researched and proposed suitable spaces: After the Cultural Creative Space Project is officially approved, the Ao Dai Museum promises to be an interesting destination for people and tourists to explore and experience Hue's cultural values, including traditional Ao Dai and Ao Ngu Than "National Costume" of Vietnam.

Thank you!

Phan Thanh (Implementation)