In Country Tours
The In Country Tours logo consists of a woman wearing Vietnam’s ‘Ao Dai’, standing on a ‘monkey bridge’. But what does that even mean? Let’s take a closer look at this traditional dress.
What is Vietnam’s Ao Dai?
It is the Vietnamese national dress, in its current form consisting of a tight tunic and long silk gown worn over trousers. In Vietnamese, the words ‘Áo Dài’ translate as ‘long shirt’, and traditionally it has been worn by both men and women, but is more commonly worn by women.
It has become a symbol of Vietnamese feminine beauty, and is a symbol of pride for the Vietnamese people. The image of a Vietnamese woman wearing an Ao Dai dress and a ‘Non La’ conical palm leaf hat is widely recognised throughout the world and celebrated by travellers visiting Vietnam.
Origin of the Ao Dai
Images of people wearing a version of this dress are featured on the Ngoc Lu bronze drum, the most famous of the Dong Son bronze drums, dated back to the year 600 B.C.! Although the style has evolved over the centuries, the dress style itself is thousands of years old.
Ao Dai in popular culture
For a very long time the beautiful Ao Dai had been a source of inspiration for artists and poets, cementing its place in Vietnamese arts and literature. It became much more widely known internationally following the 1995 Miss International Pageant where Vietnamese representative Truong Quynh Mai won the Best National Costume award for her Ao Dai.
Ao Dai in the present day
This outfit has become a common choice of fashion for special occasions in Vietnam. People wear it for weddings, for celebrating the Tết holiday and for other formal celebrations. Schools often require female teachers and staff to wear the Ao Dai, particularly in the south of the Country. Many companies require their female staff to wear the Ao Dai as a work uniform. Travellers can often see flight attendants, receptionists, banking, restaurant and hotel staff in Viet Nam wearing it. White Ao Dai are very common, but they are frequently seen in very bright colours and often with intricate patterns and designs.
Vietnam’s Ao Dai for travellers:
Vietnam is well known as a destination for high-quality, custom tailored clothing at affordable prices. Visitors can make the most of this opportunity and have a stunning Ao Dai outfit custom made during their stay. Tailored clothes shopping experience is a fun adventure but you can also have a beautiful and wearable Vietnamese momento.
In Country Tours can plan this as part of your itinerary in most major travel destinations in Vietnam. Get in touch with us via ICT_support@incountrytours.com
Be sure to check out our article on the ‘Monkey Bridge‘, also part of out ICT logo.
