Lam’s Vu Khuc Hac (Flamingo Dance) dress in red and yellow is also beautifully decorated with crystals, pearls, and embroidery featuring 50 flamingoes. Artists used thread inlaid with gold for the embroidery.

Created by young designer Thuan Viet, the dress is decorated with two small flamingoes made of gold.

“I got the idea for the dress from an ao dai of Queen Nam Phuong, the wife of Bao Dai, the last emperor,” Viet said.

Thuan Viet, Sy Hoang, Lien Huong, and Vo Viet Chung have each made 20 of the traditional tunics to be worn by the 80 Miss Universe 2008 contestants at the Charming Ao Dai charity show to raise money for the Nguyen Thai Binh Fund for disadvantaged students.

The show will be held next Tuesday at the Hoa Binh Theatre, HCM City. — VNS