Charming Vietnamese women immersed in Japanese culture

Being very proud to be chosen to perform women’s traditional costumes of the two countries Vietnam - Japan in an important event like "Meet Japan 2023" hosted by Binh Duong, that was the common opinion of the contestants attending the program "Binh Duong women and Japanese culture". In addition to this competition, the contestants, who participated in the drawing contest on conical hats and fans, also displayed their works bearing cultural imprints of Vietnam and Japan, making visitors admire greatly.

Truong Thi Bich Hanh, Member of Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of Provincial Party Propagation and Education Committee; Nguyen Thi My Hang, Chairwoman of Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; and representative of Provincial Women's Union awarded prizes to the first, second, and third-ranked contestants in the Kimono costume competition.

According to Truong Thanh Nga, Chairwoman of Provincial Women's Union, to prepare for this important cultural event, Standing Committee of Provincial Women's Union had organized the "Beautiful Ao Dai and Kimono Photos" contest on their fanpage from August 7. After the preliminary round, 39 contestants entered the final to select the 15 best Ao Dai contestants and the 15 best Kimono contestants to perform on the cultural exchange night between Binh Duong province and Yamaguchi prefecture. 

In addition, there were 100 contestants participating in a painting contest on conical hats and paper fans. The Organizing Committee selected 30 creative works with the themes of the Vietnam - Japan event to introduce and display together with traditional Ao Dai of designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam to welcome delegates of the program. 

"The program not only aims to select excellent contestants to attend the "Meet Japan 2023" but is also an opportunity to promote the beauty of Vietnamese - Japanese culture, honor the charm of Vietnamese women as wearing Vietnamese Ao Dai and Japanese Kimono. This is also an opportunity for Binh Duong women to exchange cultures and gain more knowledge about Japanese culture through Kimono costumes, Japanese culture on Vietnamese ao dai, landscape painting on conical hats and paper fan. With the above meaning, the Organizing Committee hoped that the contestants could show their talents and creative ideas to achieve the best results with impressive works to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan," Ms. Truong Thanh Nga shared.

Because of the significance of this activity, the eagerness and excitement of all contestants was easily realized. Many students of schools from Ho Chi Minh City, after hearing that their province had this contest, confidently registered. Nguyen Ngoc Nhi, a first-year student of Business Administration Faculty of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (Ho Chi Minh City), took part in the contest. She said she was happy to interact with other contestants and was ready to participate in activities organized by Women's Union at all levels.

Senior Lieutenant Vo Tra Giang, who is a Di An City Police officer, won first prize of the Kimono costume contest (photo) said: “I am very proud to win a high prize in this contest and express a part of Japanese culture through traditional Japanese women's costumes. To participate in this contest, I watched Kimono performances in Vietnam as well as Japan to learn how to walk and make poses. I am also quite careful in choosing the right outfit, practicing and performing with other contestants to get these results."

Organizing Committee awarded prizes to winning contestants in the drawing competition on fans and conical hats.

At the end of contest, first prize of the Ao Dai competition went to Huynh Thi Le Trinh (Women's Union of Dau Tieng district); first prize of Kimono costume to Vo Tra Giang (Di An City Police Women's Association); first prize of painting on paper fans to Le Thi Bao Thoa (Thuan An City Women's Union); first prize of painting on conical hats to Kieu Thi Mong Huyen (Women's Union of Phu Giao district). The Organizing Committee also awarded 1 first prize, 2 second prizes, 3 third prizes and 10 consolation prizes for each drawing content on conical hats and paper fans; awarded 1 first prize, 1 second prize, 1 third prize and 12 consolation prizes to each Ao Dai and Kimono competition.

Reported by Quynh Nhu - Translated by Ngoc Huynh