New Zealand’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Tredene Dobson wore unique Ao Dai during a ceremony to present her credentials to Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 16. 

New Zealand’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Tredene Dobson (left) wears an
unique Ao Dai when she presents her credentials to Vietnamese State President
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Ha Noi, June 16, 2021

In an interviewed with the VGP, she said that wearing also comes as an early celebration of the 46th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam (June 19, 1975 – June 19, 2021). 

This was extra special for Ambassador Dobson because she was able to wear the Ao Dai, painted with a design by New Zealand and Vietnamese artists.

The Ambassador commissioned the design around the theme of connectivity, bringing the culture and history of Viet Nam and Maori, the ingedineous people of New Zealand, together. 

The five peaks of her mountain, Mount Manaia in Te Tai Tokerau (in the far north of New Zealand, the Ambassador’s hometown) also connects New Zealand and Viet Nam through the beautiful lotus flower, the national flower of Viet Nam. 

The Ambassador is also wearing a korowai – a traditional Māori cloak which was woven by traditional Ngāpuhi weavers. 

“Wearing this beautiful piece of art – this collaboration between two amazing young female artists, one in New Zealand and one in Viet Nam – it just makes me feel incredibly proud. It is a privilege to serve as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Viet Nam, and wearing my Áo Dài with its stunning Māori design and korowai today – genuinely connects me to these two incredible countries” said Ambassador Dobson. 

The Ao Dai has for long been an icon of Vietnamese culture, praised for highlighting the graceful beauty of local women./.