(KPL/VNA) A ceremony marking the International Women’s Day and the launch of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Laos was held under the theme “Vietnamese Ao dai – Connecting cultures, spreading identity” in Vientiane on March 9.

The club operates under the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Conservation Support Fund, aiming to preserve and promote the values of the Vietnamese traditional dress among the Vietnamese community in Laos.

The event was attended by Naly Sisoulith, spouse of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, along with Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam and his spouse, representatives of the agencies beside the embassy, Vietnamese associations, and businesses from both countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bien Thi Ky, head of the club, said the establishment of the organisation stemmed from a desire to preserve and promote traditional cultural values within the Vietnamese community in Laos. She noted that Ao dai is not only a traditional costume but also a symbol of Vietnamese beauty, spirit and cultural identity.

She highlighted that the Vietnamese community in Laos has long-standing ties with the host country and has made positive contributions to the special friendship between the two nations. Community cultural spaces such as the Ao dai heritage club are expected to strengthen solidarity among Vietnamese expatriates while helping promote the image of a graceful and humane Vietnam and enhancing cultural exchanges between the two peoples.

Addressing the event, Naly Sisoulith expressed her pleasure at attending the programme celebrating the International Women’s Day and welcomed the establishment of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Laos. She said the initiative contributes to preserving and popularising Vietnam’s traditional cultural values while strengthening mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the two nations.

She also extended her best wishes to women in both countries and voiced confidence that they will continue to play an important role in nurturing the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam also congratulated Vietnamese and Lao women on the International Women’s Day, highlighting the significance of the club establishment to the Vietnamese community in Laos.

He noted that throughout Vietnam’s history, women have always played a crucial role in both family and society. With qualities traditionally described as heroic, resilient, faithful and capable, Vietnamese women have made substantial contributions to the country’s struggle for national liberation in the past as well as its current development.

Within the Vietnamese community in Laos, women not only help maintain family happiness but also actively participate in community activities, helping preserve the Vietnamese language, safeguard cultural identity and build a united and stable Vietnamese community.

During the ceremony, the organising committee officially introduced the executive board of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in Laos, marking the formation of a new community cultural organisation for Vietnamese expatriates.

A highlight of the programme was musical performances and an Ao dai fashion show featuring members of the Vietnamese community in Laos. Collections themed “Ao dai – beauty passed through generations” and “Love for the Ao dai of the homeland” honoured the elegance of Vietnam’s traditional attire while reflecting cultural connections between generations and between the peoples of Vietnam and Laos.

The event not only celebrated the International Women’s Day but also marked the beginning of activities aimed at upholding and promoting the Ao dai heritage in Laos, thus contributing to solidarity within the Vietnamese community and the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

KPL