Ethnic Groups to Show Off Traditional Costumes

The first ever show featuring traditional costumes of 54 ethnic groups from all over the country will be held at the Viet Nam Culture - Tourism Village in Son Tay, 35km west of central Ha Noi, from November 25-28. Over 250 people from 63 provinces and cities will take part in the event, said Chu Tuan Thanh, a member of the organizing 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 modernization and urbanization. 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 have different clothes," said Hoang Xuan Luong, head of the organizing board.
According to Nguyen The Ky, deputy head of the Central Party of Viet Nam's Commission for Popularization 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." (Vietnam News Nov 18)