Vietnamese national costume (2)

Women in áo dài

10 Mar 2015 | From Phúc of Vietnam

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Phúc initiated this direct swap with me for her friend in Germany who wanted a Tarsier postcard. I am to send the tarsier postcard (unwritten and in an envelope) to Phúc in Vietnam and in turn will mail the postcard to her friend in Vietnam.

The postcard Phúc sent me shows Vietnamese women wearing the traditional áo dài while performing with musical instruments. The áo dài is a Vietnamese national costume. It has become the symbol of the Vietnamese feminine beauty, and the pride of the Vietnamese people. It is often called áo dài Việt Nam to link it to patriotic feelings. The ao dai is now standard for weddings, for celebrating Tết and for other formal occasions. A plain white ao dai is a common high school school uniform in the South. Companies often require their female staff to wear uniforms that include the ao dai, so flight attendants, receptionists, bank female staff, restaurant staff, and hotel workers in Vietnam may be seen wearing it.