Ao dai: Traditional Vietnamese dress of grace and beauty
Wang Le
["china"]
‍Tradition and fashion do not always go hand in hand. But they do in the case of ao dai, a traditional long gown of Vietnam.  
With it's form-fitting and long-sleeved top flowing over loose trousers that reach the sole of feet, the ao dai is a combination of grace, modesty and beauty. 
It almost covers the entire body, but at the same time, draws the natural curve of a woman's body. The slit on both sides of the gown makes it comfortable and suitable for movement. 
An ao dai comes with a tight-fitting top and loose trousers. /VCG Photo

An ao dai comes with a tight-fitting top and loose trousers. /VCG Photo

A girl in white ao dai. /VCG Photo

A girl in white ao dai. /VCG Photo

Ao dai is a combination of grace, modesty and beauty. /VCG Photo

Ao dai is a combination of grace, modesty and beauty. /VCG Photo

Ao dai is believed to have originated in the 18th century. /VCG Photo

Ao dai is believed to have originated in the 18th century. /VCG Photo

The traditional wear is still popular among Vietnamese. /VCG Photo

The traditional wear is still popular among Vietnamese. /VCG Photo

The design of the dress has changed over time and its origin is controversial. Some believe it all started in 1744 when the Nguyen Dynasty required both men and women to wear pants and gown. 
But it was not until 1930 that the wear started to take its modern shape. A Vietnamese artist called Cat Tuong is said to have integrated western dress style into the traditional ao dai. 
Nowadays, the ao dai as an embodiment of Vietnamese culture remains popular among Vietnamese in the country and abroad. While women are seen more often wearing ao dais, sometimes men also wear them to important occasions such as weddings and religious holidays. 
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(Cover designed by Fan Chenxiao)