The information was released on July 7 at the awards announcement ceremony in Hanoi.

Minh Hanh produces contemporary fashion designs based on her deep insight of the many ethnic cultures in Vietnam. Her work fuses ao dai (a traditional long tunic), time-honored embroideries and fabrics inherited from Vietnamese ethnic minorities.

Her fashion shows and cultural activities have helped promote Vietnamese culture closer to the world. Additionally, she has stayed active in training a staff of young designers, expanding the Vietnamese fashion market as contributions to the creation of elegant and unique costumes in Asia.

Her great contribution to the development of fashion culture makes her worthy of the Arts and Culture Prize of the Fukuoka Prize, according to Fukuoka website.

The renowned designer is due to fly to Japan in September for an official awards presentation ceremony.

Previously, historian and professor Phan Huy Le was the first Vietnamese to receive the Asian cultural award in 1996.