Vietnamese traditional dress

Special Áo Dài

Vietnam Information - The Vietnamese traditional dress, "Áo Dài", is one of the most elegant and beautiful dresses for women. 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. As a Vietnamese girl who loves to travel abroad, sometimes I bring an Áo Dài to travel with me. Whenever I wear it, my Áo Dài always attracts friendly looks from both locals and travelers.

I once got a message from an Irish poster in the Thorn Tree travel forum. He wrote to me "You must get a wonderful reaction from the local people when you wear your Áo Dài. I think you would stop the traffic, if you were to wear it walking down a street in Ireland."

An Áo Dài can be worn with a Nón (conical hat) or a turban of the same color. I wish I could bring a Nón (conical hat) with me more often when traveling abroad, but it would require a great care, as this kind of hat is very soft and easily deformed. Certainly, a photo with a conical hat would have made the essential photo of a Vietnamese girl abroad.

Mỹ Sơn Holy Land in Central Vietnam

Every girl in Vietnam has at least one Áo Dài, as it's not expensive to make. Whenever we wear Áo Dài, because of the long trousers, high heel sandals or shoes are necessary, it makes the girls look taller. The traditional color of trousers is white, but now many colors are acceptable. The Áo Dài is worn on such special occasions like engagement or wedding ceremonies, contract signing ceremonies or any special event. Áo Dài is used as an uniform at some offices, airlines or shops etc., and the white Áo Dài is also the uniform of Vietnamese school girls. You will see this uniform more often in southern Vietnam, where the weather is warm throughout the year. In northern Vietnam, its cold in the winter, so this uniform is not always suitable.

There are many Áo Dài shops where we could rent an Áo Dài for a day if we want. Normally, I buy cloth at the market then bring it to a tailor, but sometimes I also rent an Áo Dài for a day, as I want a different design and color. Some fashion designers have changed the traditional Áo Dài into a modern style without the collar and sleeve. The new design is great, but I always prefer the traditional style. We can buy plain cloth and get the Áo Dài shop to paint any picture or flower on the Áo Dài as per our request.

Sunset over the sea in Brunei

Here are 105 photos of Áo Dài that were taken in Vietnam and when I traveled abroad during 2007-2012, after I was presented a digital camera (Ricoh) and started taking these special photos. Now I have 15 traditional Áo Dài of different colors and a modern Áo Dài (without the collar and sleeve) in my photo album. I like natural photos without special make-up and computer touch-up (like Adobe Photoshop). Thanks must go to my father, friends, tour guides, travelers and locals I met when traveling, even motorbike, tuk tuk & cyclo drivers, who helped me take these photos. I hope you also like my Áo Dài.

Hanoi_girl

Source: http://www.travelblog.org

Vietnamese traditional dress pictures

The Taj Mahal - India When I visited the Taj Mahal, I wore a blue Áo Dài. An Indian photographer at the Taj Mahal helped me take this photo, and this is my favorite photo on the trip.	Trấn Quốc pagoda in Hanoi Trấn Quốc pagoda is located by Hồ Tây (the West Lake). This is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi. I wear a pink Áo Dài and a turban of the same color.
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám (built in 1070) was the first university of Vietnam. This is a very famous place in Hanoi.	Cát Cát village, Sapa - April 2008 A great view of mountains and rice terraces on the way down to Cát Cát village in Sapa, north west Vietnam. My father is taking this photo for me, while my mother is walking down stairs with her blue and white umbrella.
Sapa - April 2008 I am sitting near the Heaven Gate (Cổng Trời) at the summit of Hàm Rồng mountain in Sapa (altitude 1,600m), north west Vietnam.	View of Sapa city I am sitting on Hàm Rồng mountain and enjoying a great view of Sapa city below, as well as Fansipan mountain far away.
Nanning, China - May 2008 Long Xiang tower (tháp Long Tượng) at Jing Xiu Shan park (công viên Thanh Tú Sơn) in Nanning, China.	Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai, Thailand Sukhothai is located in northern Thailand, 440km away from Bangkok. It used to be the capital of Sukhothai kingdom from 1238-1438 and now it's a UNESCO world heritage site.
Vân Long nature reserve, Vietnam The boat rower and I at the Vân Long nature reserve in Ninh Bình province, northern Vietnam - August 2008.	Suối Tiên, Mũi Né, southern Vietnam
Mỹ Sơn Holy Land in Central Vietnam Mỹ Sơn Holy Land in Central Vietnam is a UNESCO world heritage site. It used to be an imperial city during the Chăm dynasty from the 4th to the 12th century. It was a large complex, which was built to celebrate the divinity of the king. The 70 towers of red brick used symbolic architecture to reflect the various facets of the king's divine nature. However, after the wars, most of the buildings had been destroyed. There remain only some brick towers and ruins, but they still look very special.	The Imperial Citadel in Huế city A Hanoian girl wearing an Áo Dài and Nón (conical hat), which were made in Huế city, standing at the Imperial Citadel in Huế city, Central Vietnam.
Savannakhet, Laos - January 2009 Wat Xaiyaphoum is the oldest and largest temple in Savannakhet, southern Laos.	Hạ Long bay, Vietnam This is one of UNESCO world heritage sites in Vietnam.
Hạ Long bay, Vietnam - June 2008 Hạ Long bay in north east Vietnam is a UNESCO world heritage site. It's located 175km away from Hanoi. There are 1,969 islands in the bay.	Bhaktapur, Nepal - April 2009 Myself and 23-year-old Nepalese guide in Bhaktapur, also known as the City of Devotees. This city was the capital of Kathmandu valley during the 14th to 16th centuries. At present, it's a UNESCO world heritage site.
Wooden statues at Đồng Xanh park Wooden statues at Đồng Xanh park, Pleiku city, Central Highlands of Vietnam - December 2009.	Terelj national park, Mongolia Mongolia is the 18th country I have been to. This shot was taken at Terelj national park (70km from Ulanbaatar) on my birthday in June 2011. In the background, there is a ger (Mongolian tent).
Flying Áo Dài Áo Dài is most charming when it's flying in the wind. This photo was taken at the Flag Tower in the Old Citadel of Hanoi.	Flying Áo Dài I am standing in front of the bell tower at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
Cát Cát waterfall in Sapa	Nanning, China - May 2008 Long Xiang tower (tháp Long Tượng) at Jing Xiu Shan park (công viên Thanh Tú Sơn) in Nanning, China.
Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi A model of Nhà Rông (communal house) of the Bahnar ethnic minority group is being displayed at the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. It was made by original ethnic minority people from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.	Hạ Long bay, Vietnam
My birthday in Sukhothai, Thailand Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand - June 2008.	Sukhothai, Thailand The conical hat traveled with me for 19 hours from Hanoi to Sukhothai by various means of transport. Before leaving Thailand and flying back home in Hanoi, I presented this conical hat to a travel agent near Khao Sao road in Bangkok.
Phát Diệm cathedral, Vietnam Bamboo shaped columns at Phát Diệm stone cathedral, Ninh Binh province, northern Vietnam.	B52 wreckage at Hanoi Military Museum American B52 bomber wreckage, tanks and aircraft used during the American War are being displayed at the Military Museum in Hanoi.
St Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi at Xmas 2006 The Cathedral (built in 1886) is always beautifully decorated at Christmas. Many people visit this place to take photos and enjoy the great atmosphere. In the background, a man was standing on a ladder and decorating the statue.	Hải Vân Pass I am standing at the summit of Hải Vân pass in Central Vietnam (altitude 1,500m). In the background you can see the National Highway No. 1 along the pass.
The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand	Bhaktapur, Nepal - April 2009 Nyatapola temple, Taumadhi square, Bhaktapur city, Nepal.
Đồng Xanh park, Pleiku city, Vietnam The park is located 10km away from the city's center. At this place you can see models of communal house, grave house, long house, gongs and wood carved statues of the Bahnar and Jrai ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.	Ancient house in Buôn Đôn village, Vietnam
Ancient house in Buôn Đôn village, Vietnam This is Mr. Amacong's house in Buôn Đôn village, Dak Lak province. Mr. Amacong of the M'nong ethnic minority group is the best elephant hunter in Vietnam. This shot was taken in December 2009 on my 5-day trip to the Central Highlands of Vietnam.	The Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka - February 2010 I am standing at the beach in Negombo town. Sri Lanka is the 16th country I've been to and I like this country.
Ruins at Dương Long towers Dương Long towers are located 40km away from Quy Nhơn city in South Central Vietnam - April 2010.	Bhaktapur, Nepal - April 2009
Vũng Rô Bay in Vietnam View of Vũng Rô bay from Đèo Cả pass, Phú Yên province, Vietnam - January 2012.	Authaya - Thailand Authaya is located about 86km north of Bangkok. It was the capital of Siam kingdom from 1350 to 1767. At present, Authaya ruins are a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Taj Mahal - India A great view of the Taj Mahal on a sunny morning.	The Temple of Literature in Hanoi I am standing by stone tortoises at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. There are 82 stelae on the back of stone tortoises, which recorded the names of successful contestants in the examinations between 1442 and 1778.
Guan Yin (Quan Âm) Guan Yin pagoda (chùa Quan Âm) at Jing Xiu Shan park (công viên Thanh Tú Sơn) in Nanning, China - May 2008.	Hanoi - my home city I am sitting by Hoàn Kiếm lake in Hanoi's center. The brick tower behind me is "tháp Hòa Phong" opposite Hanoi Post Office.
Hanging bridge in Cát Cát village, Sapa	Hạ Long bay, Vietnam
The lotus lake in Hanoi I am standing on a small boat at the lotus lake in Hanoi. The man, who rows the boat with a pole, had to sit down to keep the boat balanced. I am holding lotus flowers in my hand. June to August is the lotus season in Hanoi. To take this photo, I had to wake up at 5am and went to the lake, as the lake owner only works	Military Museum in Hanoi At the Military Museum in Hanoi, there is a famous photo of a north Vietnamese girl towing wreckage of the US B52 bomber. It was taken in the early 1970s during the American war. You can see the same star on the photo and on the wreckage.
Hạ Long bay, Vietnam Next to me is a flag with words "Ha Long Bay - World Wonder of Nature".	Mũi Né sand dunes Yellow sand dunes in Mũi Né, southern Vietnam.
Mũi Né in southern Vietnam	The Imperial Citadel in Huế city Huế city is my favorite destination in Vietnam. I have been to this lovely city 23 times on business trips. I was promoting a hospital construction project there.
Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin, China Our boat was passing by Xiang Zui Shan (Elephant Trunk Hill - Núi Vòi Voi) in Guilin, China. This hill has the shape same like an elephant trunk and it's the symbol of Guilin. This shot was taken in May 2008. It was raining, that's why I had an umbrella.	Vân Long nature reserve, Vietnam
That Ing Hang stupa, Savannakhet, Laos I brought a Vietnamese lantern from Huế city to Savannakhet for taking photos. Then I presented it to a Vietnamese family in Laos, as they invited me to the lunar new year party at their house. (January 2009)	The most famous mosque in Brunei The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque was built in 1958 in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei Darussalam. This is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. It's also very famous for the golden dome and special architecture.
Phù Lãng ceramic village At Phù Lãng ceramic village by Cầu river in Bắc Ninh province, 67km from Hanoi.	Khoang Xanh, Vietnam - March 2009
Bhaktapur, Nepal - April 2009 There are pictures of Japanese girls wearing Kimono and Sakura flowers on the front and back panels of my dress.	The Imperial Citadel in Huế city
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi Khuê Văn Các (built in 1802), which is the red tower in this photo, is the symbol of Hanoi. In October 2010, Hanoi will celebrate the Millenium Year.	Sapa - April 2008 Beautiful flower garden on Hàm Rồng mountain in Sapa, north west Vietnam.
Nanning, China - May 2008 Tian Chi lake (hồ cá Thiên Trì) at Jing Xiu Shan park (công viên Thanh Tú Sơn) in Nanning, China. You can see a lot of fish at the lake.	Hạ Long bay, Vietnam
The lotus lake in Hanoi The man, who rows the small boat with a pole, is the owner of this lotus lake. You can see his tent on the lake. June to August is the lotus season in Hanoi. I am holding lotus flowers in my hand.	St Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi at Xmas 2007
Cyclos in Hanoi	Suối Tiên, Mũi Né, southern Vietnam
Stone Buddha statues (La Hán) Stone Buddha statues at Bái Đính pagoda in Ninh Bình province, which is the biggest pagoda in Vietnam.	Lijiang (Li river) in Guilin It was raining when I stood on the boat cruising along the Lijiang (Li river - sông Ly Giang) in Guilin, China - May 2008.
Hạ Long bay, Vietnam It was raining when this shot was taken. Regardless of the rain and mist, the scenery still looked amazing.	Phù Lãng ceramic village, northern Vietnam Next to me is a kiln and ceramic vases.
Khoang Xanh, Vietnam - March 2009	Khoang Xanh, Vietnam
The Imperial Citadel in Huế city The Imperial Citadel in Huế city (along with the tombs of the Nguyễn emperors) is a UNESCO world heritage site. Huế city was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyễn dynasty. 13 emperors ruled Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty.	Bhaktapur, Nepal - April 2009 At the door of a house in Bhaktapur city, Nepal.