PHOTOGRAPHER: NGUYEN VU
DESIGNER: NHAT DUNG
MODELS: MAI ANH TUAN
MAKE UP: KENNY THAI
HAIR: VAN TRAN
BOUTIQUE: 232 TRAN HUNG DAO, DONG HOI, QUANG BINH
LOCATION: BAI DINH PAGODA, TRANG AN, NINH BINH PROVICE

Inspired by motifs in Hue royal architecture, designer Nhat Dung’s latest collection, “The Silken Spring,” consists of creative áo dài designs for the Lunar New Year. Regal decorative patterns mingle with long tassels derived from ethnic costumes for a refined and exotic look. The collection’s áo dài retain their sophisticated and graceful charm while being revised in a modern manner by Nhat Dung. Key materials of the collection include brocade, taffeta and silk.

The backdrop for this collection is Bai Dinh Temple Complex in the west of the former citadel of Hoa Lu. The site, Vietnam’s largest Buddhist complex, contains hundreds of statues, magnificent architectural works and highlights such as a 40-ton bell, a 10-meter Buddha and a 13-story pagoda. It is set against the magnificent limestone karst landscape of Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.