During his recent meeting with some of the leaders of the Museum of Da Nang, the Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Mr Huynh Duc Tho, showed a keen interest in the museum’s plan for an exhibition area to display ao dai (traditional long dress), and to hold ao dai fashion shows.  Mr Tho said he believed that ao dai fashion shows could become one of the city’s fascinating and impressive cultural activities, imbued with national cultural identity.  This should help to attract more visitors both from home and abroad to the museum.  He noted, however, that the museum’s suggestions should be considered carefully.

Vice Chairman Tho (1st right) and museum representatives (Photo: http://www.danang.gov.vn)

The museum would like to designate an indoor area for displaying ao dai-related items, with a focus on the various types of ao dai worn by local women during their daily activities.

The display area would also feature the ao dai-making process, photo collections about ao dai past and present, and impressive collections by famous domestic designers.  Films about the traditional dress and other related artifacts over various historical periods would also be screened here. 

Above all, visitors to the museum would be treated to 10 - 15 minute ao dai fashion shows every day.  At first, the shows would take place free of charge on a mini catwalk in front of the museum, but as soon as the shows became popular, they would be held on the museum’s 3^rd floor and tickets would be sold to visitors.