Da Nang Ao dai Festival 2026 scheduled from April 23 - 26
DNO - The Da Nang Ao Dai Festival 2026 will take place over four days, from April 23 to 26, across various public venues in the city, including APEC Sculpture Park, the promenade on the western bank of Dragon Bridge, Bach Dang Walking Street, Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, Son Tra Pedestrian Street, Hoai River and Hoi An Ancient Town.
The festival will open with a grand contemporary folk music and dance performance, recreating the evolution of the ‘Ao Dai’ through showcases of traditional, modern, creative, and children’s collections along Bach Dang pedestrian street and Nguyen Van Troi Bridge.
A highlight of the festival will be the launch of the program “Ao Dai - Connecting Love” which encourages families to take part in activities such as wearing matching ‘Ao Dai’ for check-ins at cultural sites and tourist attractions, joining the photo contest “Ao Dai Tells Cultural Stories”, and participating in ‘Ao Dai’ parades.
During the festival, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organizations will encourage its members, along with foreign non-governmental organizations, expatriate communities, international students, and volunteers living, working, and studying in Da Nang, to take part in the “Day for All People Wearing Ao Dai” campaign and share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #AodaiDanang2026 and #DanangTrongtaAodai.
According to Ms. Le Thi Anh Nguyet, Vice President of the Da Nang Women’s Union, the organization will set up two to three “Zero-cost Ao Dai” booths to provide free ‘Ao Dai’ for members, disadvantaged women, workers, female students, residents, and visitors participating in the festival.
Simultaneously, a fashion parade titled “Da Nang Imprint” will feature around 50 cyclos and 100 TNGo bicycles, with participation from artists, models, students, tourists, and local residents, traveling along central streets such as Bach Dang, Le Duan, Tran Phu, and Tran Hung Dao.
Additionally, exhibition spaces showcasing Ao Dai brands and fashion labels will be set up along city streets, offering visitors and locals opportunities to join lucky draws for custom-tailored Ao Dai, engage in Ao Dai painting, decorate conical hats, and take part in folk games.
These activities aim to evoke cultural memories, connect generations, and promote the preservation of heritage in contemporary life, while creating an engaging cultural, educational, and experiential space for all age groups.
Notably, the program “Hoi An - Colors of Silk” will feature a street parade themed “Silk Silhouettes of Spring Streets” alongside fashion performances set against the scenic riverside backdrop, in a bid to celebrate the heritage space, and honor the elegance of the traditional ao dai, and the beauty of Vietnamese women.
The festival will conclude with the large-scale Ao Dai parade “Convergence on the Han River” featuring around 1,000 participants in themes ranging from office wear and school uniforms to traditional, modernized, and creative designs, hosted by the Da Nang Women’s Union.
The event also presents an opportunity for the Da Nang Tourism Association, the city’s Travel Association, and local businesses to roll out promotional programs for visitors, further enhancing awareness of the festival and showcasing Da Nang’s culture and people.
Sharing her thoughts on the upcoming festival in Hoi An, Canadian visitor Carol McBrady said “The Ao Dai is a unique cultural symbol of Vietnam. It has been spreading cultural values and remains one of the most lasting impressions of Vietnam among international friends. As a world cultural heritage site, Hoi An Ancient Town, which attracts a large number of international visitors, will help connect global audiences and promote the culture, country, and people of Vietnam to the world”.
The Da Nang Ao Dai Festival 2026 not only creates a space for artisans and the public to connect, helping audiences, especially young people, better understand the spiritual beauty and cultural depth of Vietnam, but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity.