A collection of the 1744-made ao dai (traditional long dress) design is introduced by staffs of the Thua Thien-Hue Culture and Sports Department. The fashion will be used among the department on the first Monday of a month. - Photo courtesy Thua Thien-Hue Culture and Sports Department

The department said the ao dai will be official uniform on the first Monday of each month, starting from Monday past.

It said the move aims to promote the beauty and value of the Hue-based 300-year-old long dress fashion.

According to the department, the decision is also part of the cultural preservation project 'Huế -- the capital of Việt Nam’s Long Dress' that aims to boost the value of the dress as national intangible heritage.

The department said the long dress model was designed with five pieces of silk sewn from 1744, and the style was seen as the national long dress in the Minh Mang King era.

Tourists can find many ao dai tailors on Mai Thuc Loan Street and the creation of one can be completed in just three hours.

Hue plans to host the Long Dress Day at the biennial Hue Festival from next year.  VNS

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