The film by overseas Vietnamese director Luu Huynh beat 20 foreign films selected from 70 movies around the world to win first prize at the 16th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.

“Ao Lua Ha Dong” tells the story of the misfortunes of a Vietnamese family who live in southern Vietnam during the wars. The family’s ups and downs always link with an Ao dai made from traditional Ha Dong silk - a keepsake handed over from older generations.

The film won the Pusan International Festival Audience Choice Award in October 2006 and was named the Audience Choice at the Fukuoda International Film Festival in September this year. It also won the Vietnam Cinematography Association’s Golden Kite Award for best film in 2006.

“Ao Lua Ha Dong” has also been selected to compete in the best foreign language film category at the 2008 Oscars.

The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers film fest, which opened on October 23, is one of the most prestigious cinema events in China.