Thai Queen Highlights Craftsmanship in Distinctive Outfits During Vietnam Visit

King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida visited Hanoi University on the afternoon of Sept. 16. The event marked the final day of their state visit to Vietnam from Sept. 14, at the invitation of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his wife. Photo by Giang Huy At the event, Queen Suthida wore a midi skirt and cropped jacket made of ikat silk featuring a lantern pattern. Ikat is a type of Thai fabric woven using a distinctive technique in which threads are tie-dyed before being woven into cloth. The outfit was accented with a row of black beads along the neckline, front hem, sleeves and skirt hem. Completing the look, the queen carried an octagonal rattan handbag accented with light purple sapphires and other gemstones, paired with silver sapphire earrings and a large-faced wristwatch. On the third day of the visit, Queen Suthida chose an olive-gray outfit as she accompanied King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua to lay wreaths at the Bac Son War Martyrs Monument and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Photo from her Instagram The ensemble paired a tailored blazer with a mesh-patterned silk skirt, detailed with dense black beadwork along the sleeves. Flower-shaped gemstone earrings accented the look, which was completed by a woven rattan handbag featuring intricately carved silver hardware. Photo by Giang Huy At a state banquet hosted by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his wife on the evening of Sept. 15, Queen Suthida appeared in a royal yellow Thai Dusit gown detailed with gemstones and pearls, paired with a bow-shaped clutch. The Thai Dusit represents one of eight formal royal dress styles created for Thai women in the 1960s through a collaboration between Queen Mother Sirikit and French couturier Pierre Balmain. The design combines traditional royal aesthetics with the silhouette of Western evening gowns from the 1960s. The ankle-length skirt is made of Yok silk, a type of Thai silk with raised patterns, or brocade woven with gold and silver threads. The name "Dusit" comes from Dusit Maha Prasat Palace in the Grand Palace complex. In Buddhism, Dusit, or Tusita, is the fourth heavenly realm, associated with bliss, supreme happiness and purity. According to Matichon, the gown symbolizes nobility, auspiciousness and peace. Photo from her Instagram During talks on the morning of Sept. 15, the queen wore a purple Thai dress made of silk embroidered with gold thread, paired with silver-colored high heels. Photo by Giang Huy She carried a rectangular rattan bag decorated with the initials "ST" and a jeweled flower. The design is among Thailand's popular handicraft products. Photo from her Instagram The Thai royal couple piloted their aircraft to Hanoi on the afternoon of Sept. 14, marking the official start of their state visit to Vietnam. To mark her arrival, the queen appeared in a gray A-line dress tailored from ikat silk woven with a delicate rice-grain texture. The garment featured floral motifs across the lower outer skirt in tones of gray and navy, designed to transition into the pattern of the inner layer. Intricate hand-embroidery with light gray and black beads accented the floral details, creating structural depth throughout the fabric. Photo by Giang Huy Queen Suthida completed her arrival ensemble with petal-shaped hairpins, sapphire earrings, and fine gemstone jewelry. She carried a rectangular Yaan Lipao rattan handbag featuring a tulip-shaped handle, highlighting traditional Thai basketry techniques. Photo by Giang Huy The accessory was crafted by artisan Abdulroning Waji, a member of the Royal Handicraft Association in Narathiwat province who specializes in blending ancestral Yaan Lipao weaving methods with contemporary forms, according to Matichon. Preserving royal artisanal knowledge transmitted across generations, the heritage craft serves as an international showcase of refined Thai handicraft culture. The state visit marks the first time a Thai monarch has traveled to Vietnam in five decades, following the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1976.