When speaking of the inner beauty of Vietnamese women, the first thing that comes to mind is the elegance of the lotus flower.

“In the pond, what’s as beautiful as the lotus?

Green leaves, white petals, and a golden heart.

A golden heart, white petals, green leaves,

Living near mud but unstained by its odor.”

The image of the lotus flower is perhaps the most familiar motif utilized by designers in their creations, across all materials, especially premium ones such as velvet and silk. This requires creativity, meticulous craftsmanship, and constant innovation from designers. 

This year, designer Hanh Nguyen has poured her dedication into the spring áo dài collection, showcasing sophistication, precision, and attention to detail in every delicate stitch. Lotus blossoms are skillfully handcrafted by artisans using techniques such as “velvet on velvet” and “lotus silk on silk,” creating a harmonious and unified composition. The highlighted lotus flowers on the sleeves and the stylized hem of the áo dài bring a softness and grace to the wearer.

With the collection “Sac Xuan Duong Dai” (Contemporary Spring), one cannot help but feel excited by the presence of familiar images that are inseparable from spring and the traditional Tet holiday: the vibrant peach blossoms—the queen of spring in full bloom, the bamboo pole, strings of firecrackers, and green bánh chưng. These familiar symbols come to life on the flowing áo dài, as if taking us on a journey back to childhood. Traditional folk paintings, deeply cherished and displayed in homes for generations, also make their appearance, carrying messages of good fortune for the coming new year. 

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Dong Ho paintings were renowned for their vibrant images of "roosters and pigs with fresh lines, national colors glowing on do paper." Meanwhile, Kim Hoang paintings were cherished in the capital to meet the demand for Tet decorations, embodying the belief of “bringing blessings, welcoming prosperity, and inviting luck into the home.” With their fresh and warm colors, these paintings also helped create a cozy and peaceful atmosphere, welcoming a new year filled with serenity and happiness.

Today, inheriting this rich legacy, designer Hanh Nguyen has woven the "fresh vibrance" of roosters, pigs, the mouse wedding, the return of scholars, and the yin-yang pigs onto velvet and silk. These designs carry heartfelt wishes for a prosperous new year—a year of growth, wealth, abundance, and thriving families with many children and grandchildren. They symbolize a longing for a spring of family reunions, where loved ones return after years of hard work and dedication to express gratitude and respect to their ancestors, honoring the enduring tradition of "drinking water, remember the source." The green banh chung pairs, rooted in the legend of the Dragon and Fairy descendants, reflect the universe and human life within Vietnamese beliefs. As part of the nation’s fertility worship, they embody abundance, filial piety, and love, celebrating the values of sufficiency and harmony in the new year.

The familiar images of rural life, such as herding buffaloes and flying kites, remind us of our roots, the peaceful life of Vietnamese villages, and the grandeur of Kim Hoang paintings that remain timeless. All these elements are brought to life, vibrant and dynamic, in the graceful movements of flowing ao dai, warmly welcoming a new spring season.

With the collection “Sac Xuan Duong Dai”, Ken Design and designer Nguyen Thi Kim Hanh once again highlight the beauty of the áo dài as a soft silk bridge connecting traditional and modern values, blending the art of Vietnam's past and present. Through this collection, a message is sent to today’s younger generation: carry the soul and essence of our nation to shine across the world, introducing international friends to the cultural, artistic, and economic values of Vietnam. Let us unite in the rhythm of progress for “a new era of national awakening.”

“Wherever it may be—Paris, London, or distant lands,

Catching a glimpse of áo dài fluttering on the streets,

One sees the soul of the homeland there. Oh, my dear!”

Take a moment to admire the designs in the “Sac Xuan Duong Dai” collection by designer Hanh Nguyen.