Explore Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2026 with CityHouse: 17 Vibrant Activities Not to Be Missed
On the morning of March 3, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union officially announced the 12th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival with the theme “Golden Silk Threads - Weaving Aspirations.” This is a key cultural and tourism event of the city in 2026, promising a vibrant March with a series of 17 special activities spanning across the city.
Honoring Heritage and Historical Milestones
This year's festival is organized on a large scale to commemorate the 1986th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising and the 116th anniversary of International Women's Day. Notably, this is also a core activity to celebrate the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.
Through the theme “Golden Silk Threads - Weaving Aspirations,” the festival does not stop at honoring the beauty of the Ao Dai but also conveys aspirations for a modern, dynamic city that always respects and preserves the precious heritage values of the nation.
Heritage Spaces and the "Silk Cocoon" Origin Icon
This year's HCMC Ao Dai Festival gathers at iconic destinations:
- President Ho Chi Minh Statue Park
- Nguyen Hue Walking Street
- ITPC Showroom
- Metro Line 1 station system (Ben Thanh Station, City Opera House Station)
The event also spreads to historical-cultural relics and key architectural works throughout the city.
The centerpiece highlight is the opening ceremony on the evening of March 6 at Nguyen Hue Walking Street, featuring the “Silk Cocoon” imagery throughout. The program brings together 37 designers from three regions, showcasing nearly 400 outfits with the participation of 600 actors and models, and 37 inspiring ambassadors.
17 Cultural - Tourism Activities Throughout March
The city will live in the pulse of heritage with a dense schedule:
- Evening of March 7: The Ao Dai Art Program continues to set aesthetic orientations and application trends for Ao Dai in modern life.
- Morning of March 8: Activities commemorating the 1986th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising and International Women's Day will combine folk dance performances and an Ao Dai parade. Along with the "Vietnamese Traditional Costumes and Ao Dai" parade themed “Vietnamese Soul in Unison,” following the route from 92 Nguyen Hue to the main stage at the President Ho Chi Minh Statue Park.
- From March 2 - March 8: The exhibition space at Nguyen Hue Walking Street will display Ao Dai combined with the promotion of cuisine, tourism, and handicrafts. Notably, bringing the Ao Dai into the modern space of Metro stations creates conditions for the public to visit and capture impressive photos.
The festival is also a playground for creativity through a series of competitions:
- HCMC Ao Dai Charming Final: A competition between teams from 168 wards, communes, and Con Dao district.
- Children's Ao Dai Drawing Contest (March 7 - 15): Attracting more than 500 students to showcase their painting talents.
- International Exchange: The talk show “Ao Dai among Consuls General, spouses of Consuls General, and international students studying in HCMC” takes place on March 18 at the Ao Dai Museum, affirming the widespread influence of the Vietnamese national costume to friends from afar.
Spreading Heritage Values in Modern Life
Besides the major events, the Organizing Committee also launched a movement to wear Ao Dai in offices, schools, and businesses across the city. Museum systems and relic sites also have incentive policies for visitors wearing Ao Dai during the festival.
With professional investment and rich content, CityHouse believes that the HCMC Ao Dai Festival 2026 will continue to affirm its position as a distinctive "cultural tourism brand," contributing to promoting the image of friendly and identity-rich Vietnamese people to international friends.
