Promoting Vietnam’s Ao Dai at London Fashion Week 2026

	Vietnamese Ao Dai Shines at the Southeast Asian Cultural Festival in London
	Promoting Values Of Vietnam’s Ao Dai In Europe

According to the organizers, Ao Dai Fashion Week will take place from September 19 to 21, 2026, in London, as part of London Fashion Week. This will mark the first time that Vietnam’s traditional Ao Dai is showcased through collections by Vietnamese designers on a truly international fashion stage.

The Top 3 contestants of Miss Tourism Vietnam present áo dài designs by Meritorious Artisan Lan Huong. (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Ao Dai Fashion Week London 2026 is designed as a series of interconnected activities, where culture, creativity, community, and commerce are closely linked in a continuous experiential cycle.

At the heart of the event are Ao Dai fashion shows, featuring collections by Vietnam’s leading designers presented on the international runway.

Alongside the runway shows, an Ao Dai parade will be held at some of London’s most iconic and historically significant landmarks, honoring the áo dài as a living heritage while affirming its place in the global fashion landscape.

The event space will also feature an exhibition showcasing the essence of Vietnam’s traditional craftsmanship, introducing brocade, silk, ceramics, folk paintings, handmade jewelry, conical hats, sedge-grass bags, and environmentally friendly products. The organizers plan to include live demonstrations of crafting processes, allowing visitors to experience the depth and richness of Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

In addition, a Vietnamese cuisine and specialty exhibition will offer familiar flavors such as Pho, fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, and Banh Mi, along with premium Vietnamese food products, including dried goods, confectionery, dried fruits, and traditional snacks. Together, these activities will create a comprehensive Vietnamese cultural experience in the heart of London, while also opening up opportunities for networking and commercial cooperation.

An overview of the launch event. (Photo: Organizing Committee).

“The project also places strong emphasis on professional documentation -including runway shows, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and fashion documentaries - contributing to the preservation of the contemporary creative spirit of the Ao Dai as a living heritage,” said Hoang Thi Hai Ha, founder of the project.

She added: “We have set out five overarching objectives: to internationalize the Ao Dai on the London fashion stage; to foster cultural exchange between Vietnam and the global fashion industry; to amplify the participation of overseas Vietnamese communities, international models, and young talents; to introduce traditional handicraft products and sustainable, environmentally friendly materials associated with Vietnamese artistry; and, importantly, to implement a project with a strong cultural diplomacy imprint, under the patronage of Vietnamese representative missions abroad and with the support of reputable community organizations across Europe.”

In her remarks at the meeting, Pham Thi Kim Hoa, Deputy Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, who attended the event, shared insights into the importance of community connectivity and the promotion of national identity through cultural initiatives abroad. She highly commended the spirit of coordination among community organizations, designers, and media teams in bringing the Ao Dai to the global stage.

Pham Thi Kim Hoa, Deputy Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, delivers a welcome address. (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Nguyen Viet Trieu, President of the Vietnamese Women’s Federation in Europe, underscored London’s unique role as an ideal space to launch large-scale community initiatives: “I see London as a very special convergence point for overseas Vietnamese… a place where young generations are well trained at home and further shaped at some of the world’s leading universities in the United Kingdom. It is precisely this interplay between Vietnamese foundations and a global mindset that creates a force capable of becoming bridges for cultural exchange and international cooperation in the future.”

He also affirmed that the support of community organizations and relevant authorities reflects the spirit of unity among Vietnamese worldwide in promoting the country’s image: “Bringing the Ao Dai onto the international runway is how we tell Vietnam’s story through the language of art and culture.”

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