The “Golden Buffalo of Vietnam” Costume Designed by a Van Lang Student for Mister Tourism World 2025

On the evening of February 16, 2025, the Top 30 contestants of the Mister Tourism World 2025 competition delivered outstanding and mesmerizing performances in the National Costume segment. Among them, the “Golden Buffalo of Vietnam” costume, designed by Designer Nguyen Nhut Duy, a student from Van Lang University’s Class 28 majoring in Graphic Design, was showcased by Hung Nguyen, the reigning Mister Tourism World 2025.

The “Golden Buffalo of Vietnam” is Nhut Duy’s first-ever costume design, weighing nearly 50kg. It draws inspiration from the buffalo, a symbol deeply intertwined with Vietnamese spiritual and cultural life for thousands of years. The buffalo’s horns represent the crescent moon, which holds significance in Vietnam’s agricultural beliefs and traditional ceremonies. In ancient times, people would observe the buffalo’s posture on New Year’s Eve—whether it was lying down or standing, facing the door or turned inward—to predict their fortune for the upcoming year. Buffalo horns are also a symbol of strength, highly valued by various ethnic communities. Historically, buffalo horns were crafted into war horns to signal warnings and boost soldiers' morale in battle.

The costume was meticulously crafted using PE foam engraving, glitter coating, synthetic gemstone embellishments, and an integrated LED lighting system. Its intricate details and creativity earned high recognition from the international judging panel. Nhut Duy expressed his pride in using this costume to promote Vietnam’s cultural heritage on the global stage.

At National Costume competitions, Van Lang University’s Arts majors continuously strive to contribute high-quality designs that embody the spirit and cultural identity of Vietnam, bringing national pride to prestigious beauty pageants worldwide. Congratulations to Nhut Duy and the talented students of the Faculty of Arts & Design!

News: Thu Hương
Photos: Nhựt Duy