Celebrating a Proud Moment: ADF Honored With the Legacy of Culture Award

What a beautiful and meaningful moment for the Áo Dài Festival.

We are truly honored to receive the Legacy of Culture Award at the 37th Annual Virgelia Productions Cultural Pageant on November 22, 2025. This recognition took place in the Los Angeles area, making it even more meaningful as we had the opportunity to represent San Jose and share Vietnamese culture beyond our local community.

Stepping onto the stage to accept this recognition was not only a milestone for ADF, but also a celebration of the incredible community behind it. This cultural event brought many communities together, and we were honored to showcase Vietnamese culture among a diverse, multicultural audience.

It is a meaningful achievement to stand on a stage that celebrates diversity, because our goal has always been to share the beauty of the Vietnamese áo dài beyond our own community. Moments like this help us increase awareness, foster understanding, and shine a light on Vietnamese heritage in a space where many cultures come together.

Honored to represent ADF with pride — Cindy (ADF Executive Director) and Alex (Executive Director, Community Programs).

It was such an honor to have members of our Áo Dài Festival leadership, ambassadors, models, and supporters standing together on stage for this award. Moments like this remind us how powerful community, culture, and teamwork truly are.

Áo Dài Festival Team in Attendance:

Cindy Phan – ADF Executive Director

Alex Nguyen – Executive Director, Community Programs

BichLien Nguyen – Designer Relations & Charity Director

ADF8 Ambassadors: Amy Wang • Trina Ngo • Kayla Dinh

Models: Vanessa Vu Tuong Van • Natalie Minh Tran • Nicole Ho

As we look ahead to ADF8, we carry this moment as a reminder of why we do what we do — to honor our heritage, uplift our community, and inspire future generations.

Áo Dài Festival Team