The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2026 has 37 ambassadors in various fields (Photo: VOV)

This year’s festival features 17 main activities, bringing together nearly 400 ao dai collections, more than 600 models and performers, and 37 ambassadors from various fields.

A highlight of this year’s festival is the participation of 36 designers from across Vietnam, along with international designers making their debut appearance, including a designer from Japan.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said: “A new feature of this year’s festival is the participation of designers from across the country, along with international designers. This reflects the growing international integration of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival."

"In addition, the event has received widespread participation from 168 wards, communes and special zones, with many experiential spaces organized across the city. We hope March will not only be a time for people and visitors to watch ao dai shows but also an opportunity to live with the ao dai, experience it more and interact more with this traditional costume, thereby promoting Ho Chi Minh City’s cultural tourism,” said Hoa.

Following the opening ceremony, several major activities will take place, including a large-scale mass folk dance and ao dai parade on the morning of March 8. The festival will also feature the “Ao Dai Road” exhibition space and interactive activities such as trying on ao dai, taking photos and learning about the history of the traditional costume.