Reflecting with CityHouse on Key Activities of the 2026 HCMC Ao Dai Festival
The 12th HCMC Ao Dai Festival, themed “Golden Silk Threads - Weaving Aspirations,” attracted thousands of visitors to participate, sightsee, and experience. Join CityHouse in looking back at the key activities that brought vibrant colors to the 2026 HCMC Ao Dai Festival.
Launching the Festival Season with a Press Conference
On March 3, 2026, the press conference launching the 2026 HCMC Ao Dai Festival was held at the Rex Hotel, marking the official start of this year's festival season.
At the event, the organizing committee shared information about 17 cultural and tourism activities taking place throughout March at many of the city's iconic locations. The theme “Golden Silk Threads - Weaving Aspirations” not only honors the beauty of the Ao Dai but also conveys a message of HCMC's aspirations for development and integration.
Solemn Flower Offering Ceremony and a Radiant Opening Ceremony
On March 6, the festival atmosphere officially spread across the city center with a flower offering ceremony at the President Ho Chi Minh Monument Park, with the participation of City leaders, the organizing committee, and representative faces of the 2026 HCMC Ao Dai Festival.
The activity expressed gratitude to the nation's beloved leader while initiating a series of activities honoring Vietnamese culture. Following the ceremony, the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 HCMC Ao Dai Festival took place at Nguyen Hue Walking Street, attracting a large number of residents and tourists.
The special art program featuring Ao Dai fashion shows, music, and stage performances created an emotional opening night where tradition and modernity intersected in each exquisite Ao Dai design.
This was also the time when exhibition, display, and experience spaces for the Ao Dai officially opened to visitors at Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the ITPC Showroom, and the Ben Thanh - Opera House Metro stations:
- Reflective Ao Dai Area
- Cai Luong Performance Area
- 'Beadwork' Handcraft Experience Space
- 'Ao Dai of Love' Booth
- 'Fabric Painting Techniques' Handcraft Experience Space
- Photobooth Experience Space with exclusive Festival frames
- Interaction with Calligraphers – Requesting lucky scripts
Artistic Creativity from the Perspective of the Younger Generation
On March 7, the festival continued to expand creative spaces with community-based activities. The preliminary round of the children's Ao Dai drawing contest at the HCMC General Science Library brought innocent yet inspiring perspectives on the Ao Dai. Through each brushstroke, children expressed their love and pride for the nation's traditional costume.
On the same evening, an Ao Dai art performance program at the main stage of Nguyen Hue Walking Street continued to draw a large audience with creative performances combining fashion and performing arts.
Honoring Women and Traditional Values
March 8 - International Women's Day became one of the most important highlights of the festival. At Nguyen Hue Walking Street, a program celebrating the 1986th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising and the 116th International Women's Day took place in a solemn and proud atmosphere.
One of the most popular activities was the mass folk dance and parade for the Vietnamese Heritage Costume - Ao Dai Festival under the theme “Vietnamese Souls United.” Thousands of people in Ao Dai and traditional heritage costumes moved from 92 Nguyen Hue to the President Ho Chi Minh Monument Park and back to the main stage, creating a scene vibrant with traditional colors.
Additionally, activities also took place at the Tam Thang Tower (Vung Tau ward) and the Becamex Administrative Center (Binh Duong ward), spreading an atmosphere of pride throughout the newly merged city areas.
In the evening, the final night of the “Graceful HCMC Ao Dai” contest took place vibrantly, honoring the graceful beauty of Vietnamese women in the Ao Dai, with 13 prizes awarded across 29 units. The event also presented awards for the online Ao Dai photo contest, with up to 41 prizes awarded to help spread the image of the Ao Dai to the wider community.
CityHouse Accompanying the Spread of Ao Dai Beauty
The HCMC Ao Dai Festival is not only an annual cultural-tourism event but also an opportunity for residents and tourists to connect with Vietnam's traditional identity.
Together with CityHouse, let us create a brilliant festival season—a time to look back and further appreciate traditional values while continuing to spread the elegant beauty of the Vietnamese Ao Dai in the dynamic pulse of urban life.
