The Ao Dai is a Vietnamese national costume, and one of the most beautiful and elegant dresses most commonly worn by women. Developed from Chinese court clothing in the 1930s, Ao dai nowadays is very popular with different colors and designs.
It’s very simple, consisting of a close-fitting blouse, with long panels in the front and back, that is worn over loose white trousers. Differently from hanbok or kimono, Ao Dai is wore in various occasions, not only traditional cases.
The ao dai is considered to be an elegant, yet demure, garment. “The ao dai covers everything, but hides nothing”, according to one saying. The dress must be individually fitted and usually requires several weeks for a tailor to complete.