Ao Dai, Vietnam 2018

Ao Dai is a traditional Vietnamese costume. It is worn with trousers, overhanging from the neck to the knees. It is used for both men and women; but, now there are commonly more women wearing it than man do.

Source: vn-zoom.com

Ao Dai are often worn on festive occasions, in environments that require solemnity and courtesy, a high school or college student uniform and it may represent the national costume in international relations. Most Vietnamese men choose to wear Ao Dai for ethnic costumes at international beauty contests.

I. THE HISTORY OF AO DAI

No one knows when the original dress was born and how it looked because there are no records and not many people research. The earliest vestiges of the Vietnamese, according to the engravings on the face of the Ngoc Lu drum several thousand years ago, showed the women in costumes with two long pieces of their dresses.

II. AO DAI IN TRADITONAL CUSTOMS

1. Wearing Ao Dai in Tet Holiday

Source: pinterest.co.uk

Ao Dai is not dressed regularly in everyday life. But, in the lunar new yeae, women usually wear it as a habit.

Today, Ao Dai is renewed, bringing more convenience to people in the course of daily activities. The body of the dress is cut shorter to create comfort, ease of movement. This also makes the image of the girl in Ao Dai become more modern, dynamic but still retain the charm, elegance inherent.

2. Wearing Ao Dai in the engagement parties & weddings

a. Ao Dai for brides

Source: cuoihoivietnam.com

Wearing two different dresses in the engagement party and wedding is not compulsory in the traditional wedding. However, the brides often do not want to miss anything, including the preparation of decent costumes to take pictures of each of the most beautiful moments of the day. Therefore, most of them will choose to have two Ao Dai for their engagement party and wedding.

b. Ao Dai for mothers of bride and groom

Source: dantri.com

Compared to brides’ Ao Dai, Ao Dai for mothers of bride and groom place more emphasis on comfort and decoration to hide the stereotype. However, the splendor and elegance still have to be promoted to suit a special occasion such as wedding.

c. Ao Dai for bridesmaids 

Source: marry.vn

Lovely bridesmaids will be an impressive point in the big day. So, the bride and groom will never forget the special guests from the costumes, make up, flower hands or accessories … to ton sur ton with party space. Catching up with this demand, domestic wedding fashion brands offer many beautiful designs for bridesmaids alongside wedding dresses.

3. Wearing ao dai in special occasions

Source: bazaarvietnam.vn

Ao Dai are usually worn by women in some special and important occasions, such as festivals and meetings. Especially, in the meetings of governments, staffs and wives of authorities wear Ao Dai to make the meetings graver and more polite.

4. Wearing ao dai in daily life

Source: baomoi.com

In recent years, Vietnamese dress has become closer to everyday life. In the past, ao dai was only for fashion shows or used for festivals, Tet, nowadays, women wear long dresses when going to work, on trips. Many models of apparel are born to catch up with the trend and needs of the wearer.

Up to now, the traditional Ao Dai has been changed and modernized. Vietnamese Ao Dai with many new designs, shorter dresses, can be worn with breeches, pants or dress with skirts.

III. WHERE TO SEW & BUY AO DAI 

1. Where to sew Ao Dai

Source: thegioigiatsay,com

a. Sewing Ao Dai in Hanoi

• Mr Happy:
  Address: 636 Truong Chinh
  Hotline: (+84) 243 563 7666
• Tien Trach
  Address: 65 Pho Hue
• Mr.Long
  Address: 428 Bach Mai and 275 Cau Giay
• Phan Hai
  Address: 43 Le Van Huu
• Thuy Linh 
  Address: 56 Ton Duc Thang 

Price: VND 500,000 – 2,000,000

b. Sewing Ao Dai in Ho Chi Minh city

• Nguyen Dung
  Address: 207 Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1
• Charm Khanh
  Address: 327 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3
• Lien Huong Dress
  Address: 111 Pasteur, District 3
• Toan Thinh
  Address: 195 Ly Tu Trong, District 1
• Nhut Luan Fabric Store
  Address: 45 Thu Khoa Huan St., Ben Thanh Ward, District 1

Price: VND 900,000 – 1,000,000

2. Where to buy Ao Dai

Source: unapartepormillon.com

a. Buying Ao Dai in Hanoi

• Minh Minh
  Address: 95 Xa Dan; 152 Lac Trung; 123 Tan Mai
  Hotline: (+84) 97 666 1916 – (+84) 43 200 4096
• Huu La
  Address: 30 Hang Bong street, Hoan Kiem District
  Hotline: (+84) 918 402 332
• Thanh Mai
  Address: 428 Bach Mai street, Hai Ba Trung District
  Phone: (+84) 422 122 859
• Ha Phuong 
  Address: 80 Nguyen Huy Tuong street, Thanh Xuan District
  Hotline: (+84) 934 636 343

Price: VND 550,000 – 2,000,000

b. Buying Ao Dai in Ho Chi Minh city

• ABC Clothes
  Address: 19 Ly Chinh Thang, District 3
  Hotline:  (+84) 838 483 823
• Minh Chau 
  Address: 835 Le Hong Phong Extension, Ward 12, District10
  Hotline: (+84) 972 990 557
• Hanh Hanh
  Address: 85/11 Le Lai, Ward 12, Tan Binh District
  Hotline: (+84) 838 426 600
• Minh Thu
  Address: 129 De Tham, Co Giang Ward, District 1
  Hotline: (+84) 838 361 947

Price: VND 500,000 – 10,000,000

IV. TIPS FOR BUYING AO DAI

Ao dai celebrates women’s curves, so we are always looking for ways to wear Ao Dai beautifully to go to luxury places, rituals and even Spring Festival. Those are too skinny or too chubby will reveal more weaknesses when wearing Ao Dai. Thus, we need to choose the suitable Ao Dai depending on their shape.

1. Slender and skinny body

Collar: Those should choose Ao Dai with a collar high from 3 inches but not over 4.5 cm, the way to wear high collar will help hide the neck bone and make you more confident and active.

Form: The dress must be properly fitted, not hugged.

Material: When choosing Ao Dai for thin people should choose soft lightweight fabric, slightly elastic and not too thin. Silk soft fabric, synthetic silk, brocade, satin, velvet … is the most suitable for you. In particular, you should choose ao dai that are sewn 2 layers that will make your body more full.

Color: If the skin is not bright, choose the shirt neutral color, such as light yellow and mint green, which will brighten up the skin and make you look full.

If your skin is bright and white, the colors red, dark pink, yellow, orange … are the right color for you when wearing, which make your body fuller.

2. Chubby body

Collar: With round shape and fullness, ao dai having the neck will reveal short neck defects, so you can choose the round neck shirt, V, or charming boat neck.

Color: The way to wear long dress with a boat neck, dark purple color, dark red color will fit the shape of you. A shirt with a neutral color, slightly inclined to cold tone, will help people have a leaner body look better.

Material: People with a slightly round shape should choose the material that is soft, flexible, but thick enough to not bruise the weaknesses, especially you should away from the glossy fabrics, such as satin, silk.

3. Fit body

With this body, you can choose to wear nice dress with any style, any pattern or texture you like.

However, to get the best Ao Dai, you should not sew with chiffon material because with this is too thin that looses the beauty of the texture on the chiffon fabric.

Besides choosing the style, material, makeup … the style of the wearer through every gesture, gait and language of gentle communication will create real beauty for Vietnamese women.

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