When La Khe Ao Dai and Hanbok blend together in a love song between the mountains and forests of Sa Pa

As the groom stood there, in the fading sunset, the bride slowly walked towards him, their two figures like two verses of poetry blending together between heaven and earth.

Thu Huong, a Vietnamese bride, with her burning love for Vietnamese culture, chose a La Khe ao dai for her Korean groom, Alex.

As of July 2024, there are nearly 300,000 Vietnamese people working, studying and living in Korea. Meanwhile, there are about 200,000 Koreans working and living in Vietnam. The two countries have up to 80,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families.

"Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families are bridges that foster the relationship between the two countries and peoples. We also want to become such a bridge," Thu Huong shared.

The muse of the Northwest mountains, Sa Pa, where the clouds drift slowly embracing the mountain slopes, where the pink color of the reed flowers sways with the afternoon sun on the wedding hall, has become a witness to a love story that crosses borders, where the La Khe ao dai and Hanbok blend together, painting a picture of Vietnamese-Korean cultural exchange.

La Khe Ao Dai: Vietnamese Soul in Every Silk Thread

La Khe village is one of seven La villages belonging to La canton in the past, famous as an ancient Vietnamese village in "the four famous villages of Mo La Canh Cot."

The village has long been famous as a land of silkworms and silk weaving. The village's land is formed by alluvium from the Red River, Day River, and Nhue River, so it is very fertile, suitable for growing mulberry, raising silkworms, and reeling silk.

La Khe’s silk, satin, linen, cinnamon, and brocade products are famous for their sophisticated patterns and designs. Compared to oak and linen, silk and satin are thinner and lighter, but very durable and beautiful, and were chosen to make costumes for the noble classes in ancient feudal society.

La Khe silk was first mentioned in the folk song honoring the golden age "The La, the Buoi field, the Phung broom/ Van Phuc silk, the Mo Bon region."

However, that golden age is long gone. Through many historical ups and downs, in the last few decades of the 20th century, the traditional weaving village of La Khe almost disappeared. In the once famous weaving village, no one is interested in weaving anymore. Silk is a high-end product line, unable to be mass produced.

Nowadays, after many ups and downs of time, La Khe silk weaving is only in the memory of a few people. However, fortunately, there are still a few artisans who are passionate about the old profession, trying hard to preserve the traditional profession.

Sharing about choosing the La Khe ao dai for the groom, Thu Huong said: "With respect for the cultures of the two countries and wanting to hold a wedding with the highlight of cultural exchange, I decided to wear Hanbok and the groom would wear a Vietnamese ao dai at the wedding. After that, I shared with the designer my wish for the groom to wear a traditional ao dai with a strong Vietnamese identity. I wanted the ao dai to be purely Vietnamese from the design to the material. The designer introduced the five-panel design and the La Khe fabric used in the ancient royal court, both delicate and luxurious."

The ao dai is designed in the traditional five-panel style. (Source: Vietnam+)

When the clock struck 4 pm, on the windy Sa Pa mountain top, the sunset seemed to gild everything, the groom Alex, a young man from the Land of Kimchi, stepped out to the sound of melodious music, wearing a La Khe ao dai - carrying within him the thousand-year-old soul of Thang Long.

The ao dai is designed in the traditional Nguyen Dynasty five-panel style, hugging Alex's figure, highlighting her dignified yet liberal look.

The body of the shirt stands out with the Ngu Phuc motif - five bats gathered together, symbolizing "Ngu Phuc Lam Mon," including: Phuc: A happy and fulfilling life; Loc: Prosperity and abundant wealth; Tho: Health and longevity; Khang: A peaceful and healthy life; Ninh: Peaceful and stable.

The hem of the shirt is decorated with water wave motifs, symbolizing the origin of life and abundant energy in the universe. Combined with cloud and water wave motifs, it creates a soft, graceful effect, while at the same time being in harmony with the concept of yin and yang in Eastern philosophy.

And the golden dragon, a symbol of majesty and luck, proudly curls on the silk fabric, embroidered with sparkling gold thread, like a guiding light for a perfect marriage journey.

The Ao Dai is not only a costume but also a work of art with a strong cultural imprint, containing traditional values ​​and good messages, wishing for a happy and fulfilling life.

Hanbok: Romance from the Joseon Dynasty

And then, from below, through the stone steps, Thu Huong stepped forward, like a plum blossom blooming among the mountains. The pink Hanbok embraced the bride, gentle yet proud.

When talking about Korean wedding costumes, we cannot help but mention Hanbok - the traditional costume and also a symbol of the culture and tradition of this country. Combined with a long dress and shirt, Hanbok is especially loved by Koreans and used on special occasions and ceremonies.

The Hanbok is meticulously hand-embroidered over four years, symbolizing blessings and wishes for longevity and fortune. (Source: Vietnam+)

Hanbok is the traditional costume of the Joseon Dynasty, and is also the costume used in important ceremonies of the Royal Palace.

Just like the traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai, the patterns and motifs on Hanbok are not only visually beautiful but also contain profound meanings. Therefore, this costume is also a tool to express the wishes and aspirations of the wearer.

Sharing about the Hanbok, Thu Huong said: "This entire Hanbok outfit was painstakingly researched for two years: from the way the fabric was woven, to the way the delicately woven apricot flowers were created in eight different colors. Apricot is one of the four noble plants (the four gentlemen) alongside orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, symbolizing noble virtues, perseverance, and moderation."

The Hanbok is meticulously hand-embroidered over four years, symbolizing blessings and wishes for longevity and fortune. It is a message of noble virtue, perseverance and moderation, just like the enduring love of the couple.

On the front and back, as well as the sleeves of the costume, there are patterns such as peonies, lotus flowers, water waves, and immortal ginseng, all of which symbolize longevity and happiness.

That Hanbok is not just a costume, but a pink cloud, floating in the Sa Pa wind, carrying the dream of a happy, fulfilled life.

The patterns and motifs on the La Khe Ao Dai and Hanbok are not only visually beautiful but also contain profound meanings. (Source: Vietnam+)

The groom's silk ao dai and the bride's gentle pink Hanbok are not simply wedding costumes, but stories, heritages, and dreams intertwined between two peoples.

That wedding, under the sunset of Sa Pa, became a symphony of culture and love, where tradition flourishes and hearts beat in unison./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/khi-ao-dai-the-la-khe-va-hanbok-hoa-quyen-trong-ban-tinh-ca-giua-nui-rung-sa-pa-post1022401.vnp