LookAtVietnam – A giant representation of the Vietnamese traditional ao dai has been created using 1,000 silk and dried flowers.

The flower-made ao dai.

The ao dai is 10m in length and weighs over 30kg and will be introduced during the Hanoi Flower Festival between December 30 and January 3, 2010.

Artisan Nguyen Manh Hung said he and co-workers have worked three months to make this unique spectacle. The flowers used, including lotus, peach and apricot, symbolize the four seasons in one year. This work is set to be recognized as a Vietnamese record.

The Hanoi Flower Festival will also witness a number of other national records. It also has the largest “Chieu Doi Do” which is the edict on the Transfer of the Capital written by King Ly Thai To announcing the transfer of the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long. Thang Long eventually became Hanoi.

The document is carved on a piece of wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and is 1.93m high, 1.27m wide and 79m weigh. It was made in three years by artist Tran Ba Nam from Phu Xuyen a village famous for this art near Hanoi.

Another record is the largest rattan-made flower vase in Vietnam. It is 6.5m high, 120kg and is made by artist Nguyen Phuong Quang. It took two years and features three famous Hanoian architectural works: Khue Van Cac, the One-Pillar Pagoda and the Turtle Tower.

Vehicles have been banned in Dinh Tien Hoang Road while preparations are made for the Hanoi Flower Festival.

Preparation for the festival:

VietNamNet/VNE