VietNamNet Bridge ¨C Most young people have shied away from traditional style dresses for their wedding day. A lot changed their minds after attending last week's Wedding Fair 2007 in HCM City.

Something old, something new: A traditional ao dai by designer Si Hoang has contemporised traditional wedding wear.

Soon-to-be brides and grooms, poor and rich, couldn't get enough of the latest collections of ao dai (traditional style Vietnamese dresses) by wedding fashion houses such as A Soen and Tuong Vi.

"Before visiting the fair, we had a preference for modern designs with Western styles. But now we're going to choose traditional clothes for the most important day of our life," said Trinh Thu Huong, a 26-year-old woman living in Thu Duc District.

Huong and her partner chose clothes from Son Collection, a label that combines modern and classical elements.

Huong's ao dai on traditional silk uses red and yellow colours, which symbolize good luck. Her future husband also chose an ao dai. The couple will wear silk turbans.

"My fiance told me no dress, can make a bride look more beautiful than a traditional one," said Huong, adding that wearing an ao dai on her wedding day will differentiate her from friends who want to look like western movie stars.

Huong is not alone.

Another reason many young brides have opted for a traditional style wedding dress has to do with economics.

"I chose an ao dai by Le Huy Fashion at VND600,000 (US$37.50) rather than a western dress that costs VND900,000 to VND2.5mil," said Nguyen Thi Dung, a primary school teacher who believes the wedding lasts only one day, but love is forever.

"It's not the wedding dress, but the bride and her sweetheart," she added.

The Wedding Fair in District 11's Phu Tho Gymnasium featured established labels in the bridal gown industry such as Milano, Sofial and Bao Fashion and newcomers like Hoa Moc Mien.

Make-up artists and hairstylists Nam Trung and Gia Huy were there.

Local jewellery companies introduced their latest silver and gold collections for brides and grooms at reasonable prices.

The four-day fair closed on Sunday, with more than 200 stalls offering services such as hairdressing, bridal cars, photography, videotaping and sales of home appliances.

Organised annually by the advertising and event company Babi, the event attracted more than 50,000 visitors.

(Source: Viet Nam News)