Designer Minh Hanh wins Fukuoka Prize for popularizing Vietnamese fashion, culture

“Minh Hanh has brought the beauty of Vietnamese culture and fashion worldwide. She deserves the prize,” Sadakari Atsuhito, deputy mayor of the Japanese city of Fukuoka, said at the award ceremony in Hanoi Tuesday.

Minh Hanh, 54, won the Arts and Culture Prize. The other winners of the annual award are Thant Myint-U of Myanmar who was conferred the Grand Prize and Ramachandra Guha of India who received the Academic Prize. Bothe are historians and writers.

Atsuhito said all Fukuoka Prize winners are outstanding people who inherited, developed and introduced diverse and unique cultures in Asia to the world.

“Minh Hanh, a representative of Vietnamese designers, has been creating modern designs with a combination of traditional woven brocade patterns of the ethnic people.

“She has organized major fashion shows in Europe, America and Asia, introducing to the world the beauty of Vietnamese fashion and culture.

“Moreover, she contributed significantly to the promotion of fashion and culture through the training of young designers and expanding the Vietnam fashion market.”

Two models in clothes designed by Minh Hanh using a combination of brocade patterns. Photo: Phuong Le

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai said Minh Hanh has also helped promote Vietnamese culture through other activities besides fashion shows.

Hanh said the prize was a reward not only for herself but also for the promotion of Vietnamese culture around the world.

“The prize is just a beginning for my future plans to further promote Vietnamese fashion and culture worldwide, especially in France and Italy.”

The Fukuoka Prize was initiated in 1990 and has so far been awarded to 102 people.

A total of 251 people from 31 countries and territories were nominated this year.

Minh Hanh is the second Vietnamese to win the award after historian Phan Huy Le won the Academic Prize in 1996.