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Earlier this year, Phuong Anh (from Ho Chi Minh City) held her wedding with her Indian husband. The couple chose to wear traditional Vietnamese attire on their big day. Phuong Anh shared more about this decision: “I had two weddings with my husband. When we had our wedding in India, we wore traditional Indian clothing and found it very interesting. When we had our wedding in Vietnam, I also wanted to choose traditional clothing so that my husband could understand more about the culture of my country.”
Phuong Anh is a prime example of the current trend among young people to wear traditional clothing on their wedding day. A generation has begun to show more interest in and desire to experience traditional culture, after periods of disruption.
Young people are increasingly interested in traditional clothing.
Understanding culture is understanding yourself.
Vietnam has experienced many periods of cultural influx, from Indochinese culture, Eastern European culture, Hong Kong culture, and more recently, the Korean cultural wave. Young people today have the opportunity to access these cultures through the internet and travel. But the more they explore and travel, the more they realize they don't fully understand their own culture. Gradually, they return to their earliest forms of tradition, such as traditional clothing.
Nguyen Duc Loc, the founder of the Y Van Hien traditional clothing brand since 2017, shared: “When young people go abroad for cultural exchange, study, or work and see many traditional costumes from countries around the world, they begin to ponder about their own culture, wanting to understand who they are and what their country's traditions are like. After some research, many fall in love with and choose traditional clothing as their wedding attire.”
The movement for traditional costumes began early, with many professional designers drawing inspiration from ancient materials. Traditional costumes only truly became widely accessible to young people through the series of events celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi in 2010 and the work "A Thousand Years of Clothing and Headwear" by author Tran Quang Duc in 2013.
The traditional clothing movement started early, and many professional designers have drawn inspiration from it.
Around 2017, the use of traditional Vietnamese clothing for weddings began to emerge among young people who appreciate traditional culture. However, it wasn't until mid-2020 that this movement started to spread widely and have a significant influence on society. Today, wearing traditional clothing at weddings is no longer uncommon.
Mr. Tran Huy Khoi, founder of the Da La Xuoc Phuc traditional clothing brand, also shared: “Traditional clothing can be made from many special materials, especially those with an East Asian feel such as brocade and silk, which help to accentuate the soft and elegant beauty of the wearer. There are many types of traditional wedding attire, depending on each period and the way people dress. Couples who want to dress in the most authentic Nguyen Dynasty style can choose to wear the Tac and Nhat Binh dresses, as these two types of dresses are ceremonial attire and are most appropriate for important occasions.”
Traditional Vietnamese clothing is divided into ceremonial attire, casual wear, and everyday wear. For formal occasions like weddings, the traditional Vietnamese tunic (áo Tấc), Nhật Bình tunic (áo Nhật Bình), and Ngũ Thân tunic with fitted sleeves are preferred by young people. This is not only a way to show love and respect for national culture but also a novel way to express individuality and uniqueness on the joyous occasion.
For formal occasions such as weddings, the traditional Vietnamese tunic styles like the "áo Tấc," "áo Nhật Bình," and "áo Ngũ Thân" with fitted sleeves are preferred by young people.
Couples can choose patterns, colors, lines, materials, and accessories according to their personal preferences. With the trend towards smaller, more intimate, and personalized weddings, this is also an advantage of traditional attire that young couples love.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Loc further shared: “If customers want to wear outfits for special occasions that require many cultural elements, we will advise on standard, complete and harmonious outfits, such as headscarves. For customers who want a more modern look, we can coordinate hairstyles, handbags, shoes, and other modern accessories. There are also couples who want a more modern style with patterns and color combinations to suit their preferences.”
Another option for your special day!
Compared to the general market for wedding attire, traditional wedding dresses still offer reasonable costs for young couples, whether for tailoring or renting. Rental costs vary depending on the brand, but on average, a complete wedding outfit including clothing, veil, shoes, clogs, and jewelry accessories will range from approximately 1,000,000 VND to 3,000,000 VND.
Traditional attire is still reasonably priced for young couples to have made or rented.
As for the cost, tailoring, printing, and embroidering custom-designed clothing will have different price ranges depending on the complexity of the finished product, potentially reaching tens of millions of Vietnamese dong.
Nguyen Duc Loc said: "I think that nowadays, traditional costumes are available in many materials at quite affordable prices for young couples who want to experience them. Some couples can rent two or three sets to wear interchangeably during the wedding days, or have one set made for multiple occasions. This is also an interesting highlight, rather than following the stereotypical, mass-produced designs of the past."
Many young people find it difficult to choose wedding dresses, so they often prefer traditional Vietnamese attire. The loose and flowing style of traditional clothing helps them conceal their flaws. At the same time, traditional clothing easily creates cultural harmony.
Many young couples find it difficult to choose wedding dresses and often prefer traditional attire.
Many couples, both Vietnamese and foreigners, choose traditional Vietnamese attire for their weddings to find cultural similarities. Additionally, foreigners in Vietnam also choose traditional clothing as a way to express their love for their country. Many overseas couples also trust reputable brands to purchase traditional Vietnamese clothing for their weddings abroad. Thanks to its ease of wear and unique cultural significance, traditional Vietnamese clothing is increasingly being chosen alongside Western attire for weddings.
“The story isn't just about wedding dresses, but about an increasingly open mindset to explore what our attire truly is. And when we're on the right path, we can develop many wonderful and beautiful things, bringing our cultural wave to international friends,” concluded Mr. Nguyen Duc Loc.
