The first ever show featuring traditional costumes of 54 ethnic groups from all over the country will be held at the Vietnam Culture – Tourism Village in Son Tay, 35km west of central Hanoi, from November 25-28.
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| A woman of Thai ethnic groups pose for a photo in their traditional costumes. |
Over 250 amateur models from 63 provinces and cities would take part in the event, said Chu Tuan Thanh, a member of the organising board.
He also stressed that the show would help ethnic groups examine their traditional dress which have started to become less common as a result of modernisation and urbanisation.
Representatives will show off hundred of costumes for daily and festival occasions.
"The number of costumes surpasses the number of groups as some groups have several minor branches, and each of the branches has different clothes," said Hoang Xuan Luong, head of the organising board.
According to Nguyen The Ky, deputy head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, many ethnic groups were no longer wear traditional clothes.
"Some of them even go to markets in mountainous regions in western lounge suits with neck ties," he said.
That's why local authorities should encourage ethnic groups to wear their own traditional clothes to preserve traditional features.
"I think foreigners will enjoy the performance," Luong said. "We even hope to host the same show for ethnic groups featuring all the ASEAN countries."
A recent conference on the role of the youth in preserving traditional culture also said ethnic people were no longer wearing their traditional clothing.
Representing the Dao Tien group in the northern province of Tuyen Quang, Mai Thi Thao claimed that her traditional clothes were rather heavy, and not suitable for modern daily life.
"Moreover, when I wear my traditional clothes, people look at me as if I were from another planet," she said. "I feel scared."
Sharing the same opinion, Hoang Hai Yen from the Nung ethnic group in the northern province of Lang Son said she was not comfortable in traditional attire.
"We just wear them for festivals," she said.
A team of experts has been sent to local museums and ethnic villages to gather information about traditional costumes. Then the whole collection will be sent to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to be exhibited and researched.
"The youth of today don't to wear traditional clothes very often," said Pham Thi Dao of the Dao ethnic group, a student from Hanoi National University. "No one wants to deny their origins. During my study period at the university, I see that the educational level is directly proportional to the awareness of preserving traditional cultures. That's why I think the State should pay more attention to enhancing the knowledge of ethnic minority people."