(VOVworld) – A “Charming Ao Dai” contest to promote Vietnam’s traditional costumes concluded on Sunday night in Ho Chi Minh City. The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department won first prize among groups of contestants. Tran Thi Lan Huong, Mai Thanh Duy, and Nguyen Thi Thach Thao won the individual female, individual male, and individual over 35 years of age.

Illustrative Image (Photo: VOV5/Duc Anh)

Do My Linh, Ambassador of the 2017 Ao Dai Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “The Ao Dai embodies the charm and beauty of Vietnamese women and represents national history and traditions. It can’t be mistaken for the costume of any other country. When I wear Ao Dai, I feel more feminine.”

3,000 women dressed in Ao Dai participated in the “I love Vietnam” parade in Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Singer Chi Thien, who performed at the event, said: “There are many young people at this parade. I loved seeing the participants forming a giant Vietnamese flag along with Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes. To my surprise, the atmosphere today was really fun.”