At Thailand International Fashion Week 2025, Nguyen Ba Thien Minh graced the runway with a presence that left a deep impression on the audience. In the collection Mong Ho Sac by Dac Ngoc Designer House in collaboration with Ken Design by Hanh Nguyen, he not only showcased a design rich in cultural identity but also conveyed a spirit of creativity through his confident aura, captivating gaze, and steady walk.
Bangkok and the days of fashion’s convergence
On August 23 and 24, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest tower in Bangkok, became the focal point for fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Thailand International Fashion Week 2025, held under the direction of Dr. Chirawan Lewis, offered a dazzling space where fashion spoke out and cultures blended in every moment.
TIFW was not just a runway but a series of connected experiences: the unveiling of new collections, in-depth conversations between designers, the press, brands, and models. This year’s event drew the attention of major media names such as Vogue, Getty Images, FAB UK, Custom Trends, and JAL Magazine, creating an atmosphere that was both vibrant and rich in depth.
Within this setting, as the runway lights merged with the music, each outfit was elevated into a story. And amid the current of international fashion, Mong Ho Sac resounded like a cultural call from Vietnam—at once familiar and refreshingly new.
“Mong Ho Sac”: A cultural panorama on fabrics
Mong Ho Sac is a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design language. Inspired by Dong Ho folk paintings, one of Vietnam’s oldest cultural heritages, the collection opens a new dialogue between past and present.
Familiar motifs such as elephants, horses, village festivals, and folk games are reimagined on fabric through intricate hand-embroidery. Each stitch carries a layer of folk memory, connecting with the present through couture silhouettes and contemporary structures. The choice of velvet, brocade, and silk keeps the collection refined while creating a flowing movement as models walk. Its color palette is also rich in meaning: red for luck, black velvet for depth, neon green and pink for youthful energy. Every hue becomes a rhythm, blending with the embroidery to compose a harmony that feels both familiar and new. Especially under stage lighting, the embroidered details come alive, as if viewers were standing before a Dong Ho painting infused with vivid spirit.
The outfit worn by Thien Minh exemplified this essence: a red ao dai paired with a black velvet cloak, each hand-embroidered motif reflecting folk beauty with a modern edge. In that attire, he became the centerpiece of a living painting, guiding the audience into a cultural story.
Appeal from top-notch performer’s demeanor
On the dazzling runway, Nguyen Ba Thien Minh took his first steps with an air of confidence. His steady stride, measured rhythm, and focused gaze drew the entire room’s attention to his every movement. That presence revealed both thorough preparation and the assurance of a young face already mastering the stage.
In the moment he turned, the black velvet cloak swept lightly with his motion, revealing layers of hand-embroidered detail: sometimes a festive procession, sometimes folk animals, sometimes a rustic village game. It felt as if Dong Ho paintings were reborn right on the runway—familiar yet deeply moving.
What made Thien Minh captivating was his natural grace. Without relying on elaborate gestures, he conveyed the collection’s strength, dignity, and cultural richness simply through his gaze and walk. Each step unfolded like a narrative frame, binding the outfit with the cultural story the designers sought to tell.
Memorable milestone in Thien Minh’s journey
For Thien Minh, his appearance at TIFW 2025 carried a meaning far beyond a catwalk. It was not only a career milestone but also an experience that opened new doors to international integration. With every movement, he demonstrated growth in his skills: a steady walk, a gaze that knew how to connect with the camera, and the ability to handle layered, flowing garments with complete finesse.
Each photo captured by international media radiated a clear high-fashion aura. Those frames reflected both professionalism and the composure of a young talent stepping onto a global stage. That is what made Thien Minh memorable—not just as a Vietnamese model, but as a distinct presence within a vibrant fashion week.
More importantly, Thien Minh helped bring Vietnamese heritage closer to friends around the world. His image in the “Mong Ho Sac” ensemble proved that culture can be expressed through fashion, and that young models can serve as a bridge between tradition and the modern world. He not only contributed to the success of a culturally rich collection but also presented to international audiences a vision of Vietnam that is both traditional and contemporary.
