Áo dài in Vietnamese Daily Lives

Many Vietnamese found it puzzling when foreigners like me refer to the áo dài as the “national costume of Vietnam.” This is because, unlike other so-called “national costumes” such as the cheongsam for the Chinese, the áo dài is not simply reserved for special occasions in Vietnam. With improved standards of living and the atmosphere of openness brought about by the Đổi Mới, Vietnamese women quickly threw aside the Communist revulsion of its supposed bourgeoisie nature and incorporated it into the daily lives like never before. Despite the various discomforts associated with donning it (tales of strategic dieting and need to learn the proper way of cycling with an áo dài on abound), the Vietnamese are not about to throw the áo dài back into the closet. Look out for the next few postings… I’ll be illustrating how áo dài is being used in present-day Vietnam!