Áo dài - the Heart and Soul of the Vietnamese Culture

There is nobody who does not appreciate the beauty of áo dài. Áo dài is the national costume of Vietnam, a symbol that has been passed down for generations. From the young to the old, from men to women, everyone wears áo dài with pride.

Xoe Xo

However, the origin of the áo dài is something many people still do not fully understand. This article will discover the birth as well as the meanings of the Vietnamese traditional áo dài.

What is an áo dài?

Thuy Design House

In short, áo dài is a type of costume symbolizing the unique Vietnamese culture as well as the gentle and graceful beauty of women.

A traditional Vietnamese áo dài is composed of a shirt with long sleeves and a high collar as well as a pair of pants. The collar is usually about 3cm high, the sleeves extend to the wrists, and the body of the shirt is designed to hug the wearer’s figure with a button on one side. The hem consists of two flaps, each of which will be split from the waist to near the ankle. On the chest and back there will be extracts. The pants are wide-legged and have a length from the waist to the ankle, although sometimes they can be as long as the heels. Men's áo dài is similar to women's áo dài, but the waist is not as tight and the body is often straight and vertical, showing masculinity and maturity.

CHATs by Cdam

The first version of today's áo dài was the “Áo ngũ thân lập lĩnh” (five-part dress) which originated in 1744 during the reign of Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat. With the ambition to unify two political parties, Nguyen Phuc Khoat issued an edict requiring all high-ranking officials to wear the same uniform. The traditional áo dài has basically been shaped from this five-part dress.

The meaning of the áo dài

1. Represents the breath of Vietnamese culture

It's not easy for a type of clothing to exist and develop for so long. Áo dài has always captured the hearts of Vietnamese people, experiencing ups and downs along with cultural reforms. Indeed, no matter how far you go, Paris or London, the áo dài is still flying in the wind. Vietnamese people in foreign countries can feel the soul of their homeland and be proud of their unique roots. In 1970, the áo dài won the gold medal at the Osaka International Fair in Japan and was also voted as one of the most beautiful national costumes.

The image of the áo dài is at the core of people's lives, from students and teachers to brides and grooms. This costume is often used by Vietnamese on the most important days of the country and of their lives. In international beauty pageants, the representatives of Vietnam always walk confidently in their áo dài, hoping to make their nation proud.

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2. Ao dai bears the philosophy of life

The Vietnamese áo dài contains deep traditional messages, having different meanings for whoever it is designed for. The men's “five-part dress” represents the five key characteristics of humans: Nhân (morals), Lễ (respect), Nghĩa (loyalty), Trí (wisdom), Tín (faithfulness). The undershirt inside the five-part dress is white, denoting the concept that the mind and body should always be pure and clean.

Design by Bella Ngo

Meanwhile, the woman’s four-part dress is symbolic of the four virtues of a Vietnamese woman: Công (diligence), Dung (beauty), Ngôn (eloquence), Hạnh (good morals). The two fronts bound together are similar to the ties between a husband and a wife. In addition, the four skirts also represent the four fathers and mothers (parents and in-laws) that a woman must take care of.

The five buttons of the original áo dài symbolize five relationships: father and son, the King and his people, husband and wife, the young and the old, and friendship.

Ao Dai by Nguyen Hong Thanh

3. Áo dài is a miniature of the country

The áo dài is designed to be gentle and graceful. It often hugs the wearer’s body, showing the perfect S curve, which is also the shape of the Vietnamese land. The culture of Vietnam has been promoted around the world by many people through classic to modern styles of the áo dài. In 2003, this costume was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.