Vietnamese community establishes 'ao dai' association in Finland

The association aims to promote the traditional dress among younger generations of Vietnamese people living overseas and introduce Vietnamese culture to Finnish residents.

The launch ceremony was part of activities marking Vietnam Culture Day and the National Great Unity Day 2026 .

Gina Tran, representing the association's founders, said the 'ao dai' was a symbol of Vietnamese culture, beauty and identity, rather than simply traditional clothing.

She said Vietnamese people could feel connected to their homeland and roots whenever they wore the traditional dress, regardless of where they lived.

The association was established to connect people interested in the 'ao dai' and promote Vietnamese cultural values in Finland, Tran said.

She said the association also aimed to encourage younger generations born and raised overseas to learn about Vietnamese culture and maintain ties with their heritage.

"Today's establishment of the association is just a beginning. Our goal is not only to honor the 'ao dai' but also to build a community united by a shared love of Vietnamese culture and actively introduce these values to local society," she said.

The association plans to organize 'ao dai' performances, exhibitions and cultural exchange programs, while connecting Vietnamese communities in Finland with overseas Vietnamese in other European countries.

It also plans to cooperate with cultural organizations, designers and Finnish people interested in Vietnam to promote the traditional dress internationally.

'Ao dai' promotes cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Finland

Vietnamese Ambassador to Finland Nguyen Hoang Dieu Tam said the Vietnamese Embassy in Finland supported efforts to preserve Vietnamese cultural identity and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.

She said holding the association's launch ceremony at the embassy demonstrated support for community initiatives to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural values overseas.

Tam said the 'ao dai' could help introduce Vietnam's cultural heritage to international audiences.

She said cultural activities could connect people across geographical distances and language barriers.

The ambassador said the 'ao dai', as an iconic representation of Vietnamese culture, could attract interest from people who had limited knowledge of Vietnam.

She said 'ao dai' performances, exhibitions, cultural exchanges and community activities could help Finnish residents learn about Vietnam's history, aesthetics, customs and people.

These activities could also help the Vietnamese community introduce its cultural identity to local residents and promote mutual understanding and respect between the two cultures, she said.