Vietnamese Traditional Dress: Ao Dai

Ao Dai, the Vietnamese traditional dress, is among the most remarkable representations of its beauty. The Ao Dai Vietnam has changed with Vietnam over hundreds of years, shifting from regal to practical, modest to high fashion, and back again. The graceful lines of the Vietnamese Ao Dai are admired by people of all ages, and they look good on both sexes. Continue reading if you want to find out more about the history of Ao Dai Vietnam and get advice on how to make your own.

Relevance Of Vietnamese Traditional Dress - Ao Dai

If you want to understand and genuinely enjoy Vietnamese culture, you must become familiar with Vietnamese traditional clothing. Every nation's traditional costumes may actually reveal a lot about the traditions, religion, way of life, history, and beliefs of the culture, even if you ask stylists and designers. It represents ancestry and fills a gap between the past and the present, rather than just being made to flaunt a certain "identity”.

Traditional clothing is typically worn for historical and formal events like weddings, baptisms, national holidays, etc. because it may convey a lot. Since many of these costumes are made of distinctive threads, materials, and textiles that are exclusively accessible in a particular nation, they frequently remain relevant today.

You will notice that most Vietnamese traditional clothing is made of silk, which is one of the reasons for this since silk is regarded as a national treasure in Vietnam. Due to the high demand for silk in the market, there are several small factories, private residences, businesses, and workshops that produce silk. Their fabrics' quality can be seriously compared to some of the best silk products made in China and India.

The way each outfit is made is what makes the Vietnamese traditional clothing so fascinating. Vietnamese people want to avoid products made of synthetic silk whenever possible and are willing to pay more for superior products. Furthermore, when we say "top-quality," we mean that the entire item was woven by true professionals who continued to follow the national costume's traditional methods.

What Is Vietnamese Traditional Clothing Called?

The Ao Dai, or Vietnamese traditional clothing, is distinctive for having a traditional appearance that vaguely resembles Chinese apparel. It has existed since 1744 and is best known for being a fluid, flowing tunic with splits in the front and back that typically falls to the knees and is worn with loose leggings below. According to historical accounts, the color and particular styles of a man's tunic can reveal a lot about his social standing or class. Several of the preferred colors are:

- Royalty: Gold

- Commoners: Blue

- Government officials: Purple

- Young girls: White

- Married women: Bright colors

- Unmarried women: Pastel colors

The most common color for special event trousers is black and white, though they can come in other colors as well. The Ao Dai is still worn by Vietnamese people at weddings and New Year celebrations even if it is no longer worn on a daily basis.

The traditional Ao Dai is also worn by Vietnamese women, but the fabric flows down to the lady's ankles. Various regions of Vietnam have their own distinctive Ao Dai stylings. Some people pair it with a simple blouse, long skirt, a Vietnamese hat - Non La (slanted conical hat), or a stunning headscarf. The form-fitting tunic is also made accessible elsewhere, particularly for women.

The significant role of Ao Dai Vietnam in the culture

1. Dressing Ao Dai Vietnam on the special occasions

a. Dressing Ao Dai Vietnam in Tet holiday

In Vietnam, the Tet holiday is the most significant and significant festival of the year. Vietnamese people therefore feel that wearing Ao Dai can establish the festival's formal ambiance, demonstrate the respect of the older generations in the family, and perpetuate the Vietnamese tradition — despite the practicality of wearing Western - style clothing for daily tasks. These are the explanations for why wearing Ao Dai on the street during Tet holiday is common.

The demand for stylish and fashionable Vietnamese traditional dress has expanded in response to the different needs of the Vietnamese people and the vibrant Tet festival activities. The length of the front and rear layers are reduced in the Ao Dai worn during Tet holidays, and it is also sewed from cool and cozy materials like silk, linen, etc. Because they are thought to bring luck and a successful start to the new year, red, yellow, and vibrant colors are popular choices for the Ao Dai in Tet holiday.

During the Tet holiday, everyone in the family, including the men and children, wears Ao Dai to participate in the New Year's ceremony, take family photos, and visit pagodas to pray for a prosperous year. To commemorate the Lunar New Year, locals in a few small towns in Vietnam's north dress in traditional Ao Dai - Ao Tu Than garments.

b. Dressing Ao Dai Vietnam in wedding and engagement parties

Vietnam has a long tradition of wearing Ao Dai throughout wedding and engagement celebrations. However, due to the unique and contemporary beauty of the western wedding dress, which has long since been introduced to Vietnam and supplanted the Vietnamese traditional dress - Ao Dai at weddings as a result of globalization. Today, Ao Dai Vietnam for both brides and grooms becomes more and more alluring and fashionable thanks to the growth of the fashion sector and the inventiveness of Ao Dai designers. As a result, many couples now blend Ao Dai with Western attire for their weddings, using Ao Dai for the religious service and Western attire for the reception.

In addition to the bride and groom, other participants in the wedding ceremony who wear Ao Dai include the couples' parents, close relatives, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. Ao Dai for the bride and groom are often crimson to symbolize luck and pleasure. To make the wedding venue interesting, bridesmaids and groomsmen's Ao Dai are also bright colors like yellow, blue, pink, etc. Couples typically rent Ao Dai for their wedding and engagement parties because, like in Western nations, the cost of wedding Ao Dai is rather high.

c. Dressing Ao Dai Vietnam on other special occasions

The old men frequently don Ao Dai to perform the ceremonies at the traditional festivals in Vietnam, particularly the royal rites. In addition, Vietnamese ladies wear Ao Dai Vietnam to key meetings with foreign partners as a sign of respect. Additionally, both Vietnamese men and women participate in the international beauty pageant wearing the national costume, known as Ao Dai Vietnam, to demonstrate their patriotism and promote Vietnamese culture to foreign audiences.

2. Dressing Ao Dai Vietnam as a uniform of high-school students

High school girls in Vietnam are required to wear Ao Dai as a wonderful method to uphold Vietnamese tradition. The majority of Vietnamese high schools have a policy requiring female pupils to wear Ao Dai on Monday. Because of this, many female students wear Ao Dai on Mondays, which enhances their natural beauty and sense of elegance. Vietnamese students typically wear white Ao Dai along with silk slacks to school to help them feel at ease and fashionable.

Modern styles of Vietnamese Traditional Dress

When it comes to Ao Dai, contemporary designers aren't hesitant to take creative risks. Think boat neck, cropped length, and short sleeves. Some of these modern interpretations of the traditional attire have made it more useful, allowing it to be used in less formal circumstances. On motorbikes and bicycles, knee-length types are practical, and on hot days, you'll find people wearing a variety of more casual collars, such as boat neck and scoop neck forms.

When to wear Ao Dai?

Vietnamese women enjoy dressing in Ao Dai for photo sessions in picturesque locations. Hanoi's golden autumn days are ideal for photo shoots near Hoan Kiem Lake. You may see the attire in all its splendor during Tet (Lunar New Year), when women don it to visit friends and relatives, pay respects at temples and shrines, and go shopping. The ideal occasion to don one's finest Ao Dai is a wedding. In Vietnam, the bride and groom as well as the wedding party will dress in extravagant Ao Dai for the traditional ceremony, and then the reception guests will arrive in more straightforward but equally vibrant attire.

Tips to choose and dress Ao Dai Vietnam

Tips to choose a suitable Ao Dai 

You should take into account the following factors while choosing an appropriate Ao Dai Vietnam:

- Material: One of the crucial phases is selecting the right material for your Ao Dai. You should select cozy materials like silk and linen because Ao Dai Vietnam is frequently made to accentuate your body's curves. Additionally, since they can reveal too much of your flesh, materials like chiffon and heavy lace should be avoided.

- Color and pattern: You can select the appropriate color and design for your Ao Dai based on your body shape. Dark colors and little patterns can make you appear thinner and smaller if you have a round or somewhat fat figure. Bright colors and large or horizontal patterns are excellent options for slim ladies to help you fill up.

- Ao Dai designs: You can select the best design for your Ao Dai based on your objectives. A stylized Ao Dai will be a fantastic option if you wear it for photography or outdoor activities due to its practicality and stylish features. A traditional Ao Dai will be a preferable option to wear to an important meeting or a traditional celebration, nevertheless, to demonstrate your respect.

Tips to wear Ao Dai Vietnam

- Select appropriate undergarments: When wearing Ao Dai Vietnam, you should select undergarments that complement the color of your Ao Dai. Ao Dai is typically worn by Vietnamese ladies with colorful underwear. In order to shape your upper body, you should also select the specific bra that is made to be worn with Ao Dai.

- Combine Ao Dai Vietnam with the proper accessories: Ao Dai can now be worn in a variety of ways, but there are some guidelines you must abide by. To fit in with the formal environment of meetings and traditional celebrations, wear Ao dai with high heels, silk scarves, and jewelry. However, you are allowed to combine Ao Dai with any other accessories you desire in other situations.

- Behavior when wearing Ao Dai: Because Ao Dai Vietnam is a formal costume, you should be extra careful about how you stand, walk, and hold yourself because these things might affect how beautiful Ao Dai looks.

What to do with Ao Dai Vietnam?

Take pictures of the scene to preserve the wonderful experience with Ao Dai Vietnam

When visiting Vietnam, it's a terrific idea to take pictures with Ao Dai. Wearing Ao Dai can help you become a true Vietnamese woman and gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture. In order to fully capture the traditional and historic beauties of Ao Dai Vietnam, foreign tourists frequently rent Ao Dais and snap photos in historical locations. Pose in classy positions when shooting pictures with Ao Dai.

Enjoy the Ao Dai beauty in Vietnam fashion shows

Ao Dai is now used as an inspiration by both local and foreign fashion designers in addition to serving as the national costume of Vietnam. As a result, there are numerous Ao Dai Fashion Shows staged each year in Vietnam. If you're a great admirer of Ao Dai Vietnam, you'll undoubtedly attend these presentations to take in the variety of Ao Dai Vietnam's fashion-forward designs and styles.  

In summary, every nation will have unique cultural values and traits. Ao Dai Vietnam is another national emblem that captures the essence of the Vietnamese people, similar to the kimono in Japan, the hanbok in Korea, or the sari in India. We hope that this post will help you learn more about the culture of Vietnam and Ao Dai's natural beauty.