This article will give you everything you need to know about Ao Dai Vietnam from history and cultural meaning to tips when buying or wearing Ao Dai Vietnam. Let’s get started.

I. The history of Ao Dai Vietnam

Ao Dai Vietnam had created hundreds of years ago. At first, it is just worn by a group of Vietnamese people but then, it is more and more popular and become the national costume of Vietnam. Also, through time, the shape and design of Ao Dai Vietnam have changed a lot. Now, let’s see the highlight history of Ao Dai Vietnam for both women and men.

1. History of Ao Dai Vietnam for women

a. The primitive version – Ao Giao Lanh (around the 17th century)

Ao Giao Lanh is considered the earliest version of Ao Dai Vietnam which is recorded. This was a four-piece dress, wearing with a long black skirt and a colored fabric belt to tie around the waist.

b. Ao Tu Than (18th century – early 20th century)

Because of the convenience for farming and trading, Vietnamese people turned “Ao Giao Lanh” into a neat four-piece dress with two front flaps which is can be tied together. Ao Tu Than was mixed with a long skirt, a “Yem” – an ancient bodice like an undergarment of women and silk belt tied at the waist. This was the daily clothes for working class so Ao Tu Than was made from dark fabric to avoid getting dirty.

Meanwhile, urban women in Vietnam worn Ao Ngu Than (a five-piece dress) to distinguish themselves from the lower class. Ao Ngu Than looked like Ao Tu Than but two front flaps and two back flaps were sewn together, the fifth flap was hidden underneath the front flap. With this design, Ao Ngu Than became more charming and swanky. Therefore, this kind of Ao Dai was absolutely popular with the rich until the 20th century.

c. Ao Dai Lemur (1939 – 1943)

In 1939, a big breakthrough of Ao Dai from Ao Tu Than was made by Cat Tuong Artist. While, in the past, Ao Tu Than was like the traditional loose and baggy dress, Cat Tuong Artist changed the significantly its style to hug the curve of the body and added many western details such as puff sleeves, heart-shaped neck, and ribbons. Also, this new style of Ao Dai was worn with the white pants, a purse, an umbrella, and high heels. Is was named Ao Dai Lemur because Lemur is the French name of its designer – Cat Tuong Artist. However, Ao Dai Lemur is considered indecent and against traditional values, so only some modern women dared to wear it. Gradually, Ao Dai Lemur was forgotten.

d. Ao Dai Mrs. Nhu (the early 1960s)

In 1958, Mrs. Nhu (known as Mrs. Tran Le Xuan) who was the wife of Ngo Dinh Nhu – Chief Political Adviser of Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam’s First Republic designed a new version of Ao Dai. It was an open-necked dress decorated with elegant patterns on the fabric. Ao Dai Mrs. Nhu was very popular because it was more charming and extremely suitable with the hot weather of Southern Vietnam. However, it was strongly criticized as it was against the traditions and customs of Vietnamese people at that time.

e. Tight Waisted Ao Dai (1960 – 1970)

In this period, Ao Dai became more fashionable. Therefore, Tight Waisted Ao Dai was widely popular among open-mind women in the urban areas as it could tone up their body curves. Also, for practical use and convenience, a mini version of Tight Wasted Ao Dai was designed with panels that reached only to the knee. This mini version was used mostly by female students.

f. Modern Ao Dai (1970 – present)

With the development of the fashion industry and the effect of the globalization, nowadays, the modern Ao Dai Vietnam becomes more fashionable and more popular, but it still retains its traditional beauty and original form. Modern Ao Dai can be made from a diversity of materials and mixed with jeans or loose silk pants. Today, Ao Dai Vietnam is worn on special occasions, the traditional festivals, and the wedding.

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2. History of Ao Dai Vietnam for men

In the past, Ao Dai was used to be the daily costume for Vietnamese men. It had a more simple design with a two-piece dress mixing with the loose pant. However, from 18th to 19th century, when the western clothes were imported in Vietnam, they have gradually replaced Ao Dai and have become the most popular costume for men in Vietnam because of its masculinity and practicality. Over time, the design of Ao Dai for men has not undergone much change. Today, it is just used in the traditional ceremonies or Tet holiday and worn most by Vietnamese men of the older generation.

II. The meaningful role of Ao Dai Vietnam in the culture

1. Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam on the special occasions

a. Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam in Tet holiday

Tet holiday is the most important and biggest celebration of the year in Vietnam. Therefore, despite the convenience of Western-style outfits for daily chores, Vietnamese people believe that wearing Ao Dai Vietnam can create the festival’s formal atmosphere, show the respect of the older generations in the family and maintain the Vietnamese tradition. These are the reason why in Tet holiday, it is easy to see people wearing Ao Dai on the street.

Today, to adapt to the diverse demand of Vietnamese people and the energetic festival’s activities in Tet holiday, many kinds of stylized and fashionable Ao Dai Vietnam have appeared. Ao Dai worn in Tet holiday is simplified by cutting off the length of the front and back layers and also, is sewn by the cool and comfortable materials like silk, linen, etc. Red, yellow and the bright color are the favorite colors that many people choose for Ao Dai in Tet holiday because they are believed to bring the luck and good start in the new year.

In Tet holiday, not only women, all the members in the family including men and children also wear Ao Dai to carry out the New Year’s ceremony, take the family photos and visit the pagodas to pray for a happy year. In some small villages in the north of Vietnam, the local people wear the ancient types of Ao Dai – Ao Tu Than to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

b. Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam in wedding and engagement parties

Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam in wedding and engagement parties used to be the ancient tradition of Vietnam. However, with the globalization, the western wedding dress has imported to Vietnam and replaced the traditional Ao Dai in weddings because of its novel and modern beauty for a long time. Today, thanks to the development of the fashion industry and the creativity of Ao Dai designer, Ao Dai Vietnam for both brides and grooms becomes more and more charming and fashionable. As a result, many couples, these days, has combined Ao Dai with the Western dress at their weddings in which Ao Dai is for the traditional ceremony and the Western dress is for the party.

Apart from the bride and groom, the wedding ceremony, the parents of the couples, the close relatives, bridesmaids, and groomsmaids also wear Ao Dai. Ao Dai for the bride and groom are usually red to present for happiness and luck. Ao Dai for bridesmaids and groomsmaids are also a bright color like yellow, blue, pink, etc to create an exciting space for the wedding. Like in the Western countries, the price of wedding Ao Dai is quite expensive so the couples usually rent Ao Dai for their wedding and engagement party.

c. Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam on other special occasions

In the traditional festivals in Vietnam, especially the royal rites, the old men often wear Ao Dai to carry out the ceremonies. Moreover, in the important meetings with foreign partners, the Vietnamese women wear Ao Dai Vietnam to show their respect. In addition, the national costume – Ao Dai Vietnam is worn by both Vietnamese men and women in the international beauty contest to represent their patriotism and promote the Vietnamese culture for international audiences.

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2. Wearing Ao Dai Vietnam as a uniform of high-school students

In Vietnam, female students in high school have to wear Ao Dai as a great way to maintain the Vietnamese tradition. Most high schools in Vietnam have the rule for female students to wear Ao Dai on Monday. Therefore, every Monday, you can see a lot of female students wearing Ao Dai in the street, which create pure and elegant beauty for female students. In Vietnam, students usually wear white Ao Dai mixing with silk pant to help them feel comfortable and cool at school.

III. Where to sew, rent and buy Ao Dai Vietnam

1. Where to sew Ao Dai Vietnam

If you have already fallen in love with Ao Dai Vietnam, do not hesitate to sew one for yourself. Because Ao Dai Vietnam has a unique feature that Ao Dai can tone up the female body curves, it is better if you choose a famous tailor shop to sew an Ao Dai which is perfect with your size. The price to sew an Ao Dai Vietnam is from US$ 50 – US$ 150 depending on the material you choose. Here are some recommendations for the prestigious tailor shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City:

a. Where to sew Ao Dai Vietnam in Hanoi

Ao Dai Phan Hai

• Address: No. 43, Le Van Huu Street, Ngo Thi Nham Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 024 943 8900
• Website: http://www.aodaiphanhai.com/

Thuy Linh Tailor Shop

• Address: No. 149, Ton Duc Thang Street, Hang Bot Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 121 638 0331
• Website: http://www.xuongmaythuylinh.vn/

Ao Dai Chi

• Address: No. 91, Ton Duc Thang Street, Hang Bot Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 974 049 886

Ao Dai Minh Duc

• Address: No. 41, Dang Tien Trung Street, Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 912 395 531

Ao Dai Thanh Mai

• Address: No. 435, Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Co Nhue Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 906 284 933

b. Where to sew Ao Dai Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City

Ao Dai Hanh

• Address:

1. Branch 1: No. 6/3, Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Branch 2: No. 178/4, Phan Dang Luu Street, Ward 3, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Branch 3: No. 102, Le Thi Hong Street, Ward 17, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.

• Tel: (+84) 982 936 339
• Website: https://aodaihanh.com/

Ao Dai Minh Thu

• Address: No. 29, De Tham Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 918 463 817
• Website: http://aodaiminhthu.com/

Ao Dai Cam Tu

• Address: No. 382/16, Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 11, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 903 968 698
• Website: http://aodaicamtu.com/

Ao Dai My Hanh

• Address: No. 660, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 907 951 011
• Website: https://aodaimyhanh.com/

2. Where to rent Ao Dai Vietnam

Of courses, sewing an Ao Dai for yourself will be more sophistic and fits perfectly with your body. However, it can take you about a week to complete an Ao Dai so if you do not have enough time in Vietnam to wait, you can rent one at Ao Dai rental shops below. Also, the rental price of the Ao Dai is much cheaper from US$ 2 to US$ 10.

a. Where to rent Ao Dai Vietnam in Hanoi

Ao Dai Phuong Hoang

• Address:

1. Branch 1: No. 123/127 Xuan Thuy Street, Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
2. Branch 2: No. 111B, Thai Thinh Street, Thai Thinh Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi

• Tel: (+84) 983 501 082
• Website: http://aodaiphuonghoang.com/

Ao Dai Khanh Ngoc

• Address:

1. Branch 1: No. 80, Kham Thien Street, Kham Thien Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi
2. Branch 2: No. 94, Thinh Quang Street, Thinh Quang Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi

• Tel: (+84) 989 091 921
• Website: http://www.aodaihanoi.vn/

b. Where to rent Ao Dai Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City

Ao Dai Bung Qua – Sansan Bridal

• Address: No. 179, Nguyen Xi Street, Ward 26, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 124 646 4444
• Website: https://sansan.vn/

Ao Cuoi Xinh Xinh

• Address: No. 5, Ho Van Hue Street, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 908 414 981
• Website: https://aocuoixinhxinh.com/

3. Where to buy Ao Dai Vietnam

When coming to Vietnam, you can buy Ao Dai Vietnam as the unique souvenirs for your friends and family members. The price of an Ao Dai may fluctuate from US$ 25 – US$ 100. Here are some places where you can buy Ao Dai:

a. Where to buy Ao Dai Vietnam in Hanoi

Little Ao Dai

• Address: No. 9/72, Hoang Cau Street, Cho Dua Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 946 755 111

Oz design house

• Address: No. 34G, Ly Nam De Street, Cua Dong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 246 270 0046

Ly Nguyen

• Address: No. 42, Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
• Tel: (+84) 246 295 7722

b. Where to buy Ao Dai Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City

Oversize Shop

• Address: No. 465, Vo Van Tan Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 128 546 0817

The Kat House

• Address: No. 14, Nguyen Huu Cau Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Tel: (+84) 926 272 717

IV. Tips to choose and wear Ao Dai Vietnam

1. Tips to choose a suitable Ao Dai Vietnam

To choose a suitable Ao Dai Vietnam, you should consider several elements below:

• Material: Choosing an appropriate material for your Ao Dai is one of the important steps. Because Ao Dai Vietnam is often designed to tone up your body curves, you should choose comfortable materials like silk and linen. Also, you should avoid choosing too thin materials like chiffon or big lace cause they can expose too much your skin.
• Color and patterns: According to your body shape, you can choose the suitable color and patterns for your Ao Dai. For round or kind of chubby body, dark color and small patterns can help you seem to be more thin and small. For thin girls, bright color and big or horizontal patterns will be great choices to make you become full.
• Designs of Ao Dai: Depending on your purposes, you can choose the suitable design of your Ao Dai. If you wear Ao Dai to take photos or outdoor activities, a stylized Ao Dai will be a great choice because of its convenience and fashionable designs. However, if you wear Ao Dai to an important meeting or a traditional festival, a traditional Ao Dai will be a better choice to show your respect.

2. Tips to wear Ao Dai Vietnam

• Choose suitable lingerie: When wearing Ao Dai Vietnam, you should choose the underwear that fits color with your Ao Dai’s color. Vietnamese women usually wear underwear having a bright color with Ao Dai. Also, you should choose the special bra that is designed to wear with Ao Dai to shape your upper body.
• Mix Ao Dai Vietnam with appropriate accessories: Today, you can wear Ao Dai flexibly but there are some rules you have to follow. In the formal meetings and traditional festival, you should mix Ao dai with high heels, silk scarves, and jewelry to fit with the formal atmosphere. However, in other cases, you can feel free to mix Ao Dai with other kinds of accessories you like.
• Behavior when wearing Ao Dai: Cause Ao Dai Vietnam is an elegant costume, you should take more consideration on your posture, gesture and how to stand, walk, etc which can affect the beauty of Ao Dai.

V. What to do with Ao Dai Vietnam

1. Take photos to capture the beautiful moment with Ao Dai Vietnam

Taking photos with Ao Dai is a great idea when you coming to Vietnam. When wearing Ao Dai, its unique beauty can make you become a real Vietnamese woman and understand more about Vietnamese culture. Foreign tourists usually rent Ao Dai and take photos in historical sites to show totally the traditional and ancient charms of Ao Dai Vietnam. When taking photos with Ao Dai, you should pose elegant postures.

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2. Watch the beauty of Ao Dai in Vietnam Fashion Shows

Today, Ao Dai is not only the traditional costume of Vietnam but also becomes the inspiration for many fashion designers including local and international designers. Therefore, in Vietnam, there are many Ao Dai Fashion Shows hold each year. If you are a big fan of Ao Dai Vietnam, you definitely come to these shows to enjoy the diversity of style and fashionable design of Ao Dai Vietnam.

About Lux Travel DMC

Lux Travel DMC is one of the leading luxury tour operators in Vietnam with over 15 years operating in this industry. We offer the tailor-made package tours to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Our services are always rated as high quality by tourists and recognized by a lot of big awards. Share your interests with travel experts of Lux Travel DMC and our professional team will design an unforgettable trip that fit perfectly with your requirements. Get in touch with Lux Travel DMC here.

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<p>The post ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AO DAI VIETNAM first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

In the other hand, you will need to emphasize where and what you like to visit, for how long and in what time of the year, basically, vacationing in Vietnam is possible all year round if you plan your stay accordingly. In this order, you and your family may find Vietnam an interesting destination to holiday around and to see the endless tourist attractions that have been dotted all around this mystical country, however, traveling through the country means an endless list of interesting things to do and to see, as well as a wide assortment of souvenirs to buy, you may keep in mind that Vietnam is not a number one shopping destination in Asia, but the topic is about the things you may like to buy as a souvenir when in Vietnam. If you have limited funds for items to buy, or let say you don’t have enough room in your luggage, here are some of the most popular items you can bring home as souvenirs of your holidays to Vietnam.

Here are my top list of souvenirs that one could buy and taking back home as a memory of Vietnam:

Conical Straw made hat

Called Non La in Vietnamese language and is undoubtedly one of the labels that is featuring the Vietnamese people. This conical straw made hat or cap is used primarily to protect you from the sun heat and the rain protection. Vietnam is a tropical country; in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) only have two seasons: the dry season and rainy season. But in the north, in Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam) have 4 stations like most of the Europe. The other function besides being a conical hat is to use it to collect rainwater, or use it as a basket to carry the fruits.

When traveling through the country you will see almost middle aged people and older are wearing this kind of nationwide used conical hat, they use if in rural areas, particularly farmers. In big cities like Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), is used by street vendors who work under the sun and this have become one popular item to buy among the tourists. Also, this beautiful conical hat has two versions one used for man and the other one for women. To buy your conical hat just walk around the Hanoi’s old quarter or the same area’s in other cities and you see almost every souvenir shop has them to sell, the price is vary from 25.000 to 50.000 Vietnam Dong ( US$ 1 to 3)

Ao Dai, the typical Vietnamese dress

Ao Dai (pronounced Ao Zai), is the Vietnam’s typical, or traditionally used dress of Vietnam is represents the country’s national dress as well as the symbols of the Vietnamese culture, Ao dai usually comes with a conical hat and are the most distinctive characteristic of the culture of Vietnam.

The ao dai dress (ao zai) or traditional costume of Vietnam, is used by both men and women, but today, you see more Vietnamese women regularly use is to participate in photo shooting, or in weddings, or just wear as a habit, in the weekend you see a bunch of different Vietnamese female taking memorial photo along the Hanoi’s Old Quarter and or the west lake, for me this is the most beautiful dress along with the Kimono of Japanese people. Particularly, the Vietnamese ao dai dress is considered as an elegant garment. Vietnamese women usually wear ao dai in important events, celebrations, weddings; solemnest acts (such as funerals or other religious ceremony at a pagoda) and interestingly, the girls who go to school and college wear ao dai in mondays (students in general). An Ao Dai price is vary depending on the quality from 700.000 VND to the 1500.000 VND and the best place to buy them is the Kim Ma Street in Hanoi.

Vietnamese Silk

The silk is no longer belonging to the luxurious dress, nowadays anyone could buy a silk fabric and make her own silk custom, the silk’s in Vietnam are originally made of the country’s Silkworm farm, one of the best places to buy the Vietnamese silk as a souvenir from your holiday to Vietnam will be the old quarter of Hanoi, there are particularly an special area dedicated to the silk fabric sellers you can check them and choose your own silk, the cost of Silk per meter is vary from 100.000 VND to 200.000 VND depending on the quality and the quantity of the Silk you are going to buy.

Best time to holiday to Vietnam

Vietnam is a country located in the eastern side of the Indochina region bordering with Laos, China and Cambodia, the country’s weather considered as the tropical and sub tropical ( depending on the region), that means that Vietnam has two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Although the temperature is stable throughout the year, the climate will be acceptable I you are planning your Christmas Vietnam vacation packages. Country’s geographical area could be divided into 3 main part, the Northern, The central and the Southern Vietnam and generally in north and central Vietnam you will feel the four season climate while in the southern part of Vietnam there are only wet and dry season, Nha Trang, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City and the Phu Quoc island are considered as the tropical climate range in the country.

Vietnam golf Vacation

Vietnam is becoming known as one of the premier golf destinations in Asia. Discover the diversity of Vietnam’s of culture, landscape and history, while devoting time to your favorite hobby, golf. Vietnam is one of the first countries in the Asia to create high quality golf courses, including the last emperors’ private 9-hole course in Dalat in the 1920s. There are currently 14 golf courses in Vietnam, with more to come in Central Vietnam. Golfers can travel across the country to play golf at their own pace since we have tour packages ranging from 20 day golf tours to quick one day golf outings in major cities. We have introduced the daily golf packages at our local golf courses in HCMC and Hanoi. All-in-one packages include green and caddy fees, plus car and driver. You choose the course and day and we will do the rest! Read more about Vietnam golf vacation

Lux Travel DMC, LTD – leading your luxury Holiday to Vietnam

Hamid, writing about the different subject regarding a luxury Holiday to Vietnam , no matter what is your traveling style, your name it we deliver it with the highest level of comfort and safety. Lux Travel DMC is the first DMC providing the first hand travel packages within Vietnam and other Indochina destination.

<p>The post Souvenirs to buy when Holiday to Vietnam first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>