The traditional dress of Vietnamese women

It’s not surprised that when a Vietnamese person said that “AO DAI is a famous model fashion of Viet Nam. The "AO DAI" has had many versions throughout the years. There were collarless versions made famous by former first lady of south Vietnam madame Nhu in 1958. There is also a mini made for everyday use, its panels were knee-length and slits up to the waist. Whatever the design, the "AO DAI" remains a beautiful Vietnamese dress revealing the strong yet feminine side of Vietnamese women.

Go back Vietnam’s history, AO DAI is a new art creativeness. It’s replaced the class distinction between rich men and poor men in social. And if we go far from there, in the 18th century, Vietnam’s women wear the long dress. In 1744, Vu Vuong, a leader who control the North area of Vietnam’s Middle and belong to Nguyen’s dynasty, required everybody changed model based on Chinese’s model. The clothes with buttons or nuts had been replaced dress and split dress . Minh Mang king, the second king of Nguyen’s dynasty gave the rule to everybody about forbidden wearing dress.

Ao Dai had been discover when France came to fight Viet Nam when a Vietnamese woman who named Tuong changed from 4 to 2 lap of dress first. Frenchman called that “Le Mur” meant “The wall” in English language.

After that, AO DAI had been changed so much, there were 2 popular type; a type with round neck that had ragla hand (tay lien) and a type with puff hand. And of course, there were multi types accept 2 famous type above like; boat neck, rectangular neck, V neck that was suitable with persons had a little bodies. The curve type above shoulders were suitable with persons had thin bodies.

Material for making AO DAI was collected from template silks that was draw or had to be embroidered on silk’s face by hands.

We couldn’t sew AO DAI by automatic machine; it’s just only made by hands. Each parts of AO DAI were an art products of sewer.

Mrs. James Sterson, a emissary from American said that: No country in the world has the traditional fashion that’s so extremely amazing, include traditional culture in its like Ao Dai of Viet Nam.

Nowadays, AO DAI has been popular over the world. Vietnam’s women who live in foreign country always wear it like the proud emotions of them about Viet Nam and leave the goods appearance to foreigner . And what’s pity for anybody who come to Vietnam without bring back an AO DAI for souvenir’s memory and show to the person who have never come to Viet Nam.