The dinner was prepared with Vietnamese and Cantonese elements in mind, the work of star Hong Kong chefs KK Chan and Vicky Lau.

Once they were sated with delicious food, guests were entertained by a fashion presentation that celebrated the áo dài, the traditional Vietnamese dress worn for centuries throughout the country. With its high neck, long sleeves and neat, fitted silhouette, it bears a striking resemblance to Hong Kong’s cheongsam—a similarity that was not lost on the organisers.

The cheongsam has now officially been made part of the prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong, and the fashion show also featured a showcase of cheongsams created by three of Hong Kong’s top fashion designers, Grace Choi, Polly Ho and Janko Lam.

Grace Choi’s collection was inspired by Vietnam’s national flower the lotus, coveted for its delicate pink petals and green, velvety leaves; Polly Ho’s collection took as its inspiration the Asian folktale Grain in Ear, signalling the coming of summer with tropical-fruit prints; while Janko Lam used denim to signify the blending of Chinese and Vietnamese cultures via both countries’ famed rivers.

Delicious food, creative clothes and high-quality designs from Hong Kong: what could be better?