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The festive atmosphere permeated every corner of the city, from peaceful little streets to bustling shopping centers. Laughter and cheerful spring music blended together, creating a joyful symphony welcoming the new year. The distinctive aroma of sticky rice cakes (bánh chưng and bánh tét) mingled with the delicate scent of apricot and peach blossoms, evoking fond childhood memories. Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) is not only a time for family reunions but also an opportunity for everyone to share joys and sorrows and send each other the best wishes.
The colors of spring bloom on traditional dresses.
"Dressing nicely for Tet" has become an indispensable part of Vietnamese tradition. After a period of hard work, we all surely want to appear before friends and family looking presentable, exchanging New Year's greetings. Thus, deeply rooted in tradition, the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) is a perfectly suitable outfit for the New Year, whether you choose to stick with the traditional style or modern designs.
The Vietnamese spirit will forever remain in the thousand-year-old ao dai, unchanging no matter how life and the form of the ao dai may change.
“Throughout its history, the ao dai has undergone both successful and unsuccessful transformations during its most important periods, but its greatest value lies in its ability to adapt to the changing times” - (Designer Minh Hanh). The more modern the country becomes, the more modern the ao dai becomes. We have countless diverse choices in style, color, fit, and width to experiment with and apply every time Tet (Lunar New Year) comes around.
In the hearts of Vietnamese people, Tet (Lunar New Year) is associated with images of abundance, warmth, and beauty in new clothes.
Dressing nicely to celebrate Tet has become a beautiful tradition.
In recent years, young Vietnamese people have gradually returned to and shown love for the traditional cultural beauty of the nation. The ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) has become a beloved "token," worn by young people during special holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). In fact, for many, wearing an ao dai is a must during Tet.
A graceful young woman in a traditional Vietnamese dress on Tet (Lunar New Year).
Choosing to wear the traditional Vietnamese áo dài (long dress) during Tet (Lunar New Year) not only shows respect for national cultural values but also allows young people to affirm their Vietnamese cultural identity. Therefore, for many young men and women born in the 90s and 2000s, Tet must include the áo dài, traditional Vietnamese clothing, and decorations such as red couplets, sticky rice cake strings, and peach blossoms to truly feel like Tet. Thus, Tet has become a season where everyone shows off their beauty and welcomes spring with the traditional attire of the nation.
Young people wear traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses for photos during Tet (Lunar New Year).
Innovating without losing identity
Today, the ao dai is also a traditional garment worn on important family, clan, and community occasions, as well as on major national holidays. In particular, in recent years, the ao dai has become increasingly popular among women in schools, offices, and businesses; at important national events; and at international forums.
The Vietnamese word "áo dài" has been included in the Oxford Dictionary and has been transformed into influential works of art by artists both domestically and internationally, conveying messages of peace and celebrating the beauty of women. In recent years, through their efforts and national pride, many designers have brought new and unique beauty to the áo dài.
Few garments are as modest and refined, yet so flattering to the graceful and delicate figure of Vietnamese women, as the traditional ao dai.
Although there is no official document designating the ao dai as the national costume, from ancient times to the present day, in the minds of Vietnamese people and in the eyes of international friends, the ao dai has been considered a symbol embodying the essence and culture of the Vietnamese nation.
Vietnamese people are flexible and agile due to difficult living conditions and a strategically advantageous geographical location that often attracts the attention of other countries – as Professor Tran Ngoc Them concluded in his book "Fundamentals of Vietnamese Culture". Accordingly, the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) is also flexible because the Vietnamese mindset is also adaptable to incorporating new elements into the ao dai.
Once the everyday attire of Vietnamese women before the 1970s, the modern ao dai boasts versatile transformations in style, material, and pattern.
Originating from the four-paneled tunic of the 17th century, the Vietnamese ao dai has undergone many transformations to serve the needs and roles of women at each point in time before gradually taking its final form in the 1960s.
The traditional ao dai was once criticized, but after many changes, it has become a tradition. Today, women's ao dai have been modernized into many diverse styles, while men's ao dai have not changed much. Ultimately, to be called an ao dai, the creator needs to preserve essential characteristics such as proportions and structure to distinguish it from other styles. But in the end, everything must originate from tradition, from the roots of humanity, and culture created by the majority.
The ao dai is deeply intertwined with the lives of Vietnamese people, a symbol of traditional culture, and the very soul of Vietnamese women. Therefore, every time a Vietnamese woman wears an ao dai, she is preserving traditional cultural values. The beauty of the ao dai thus enhances the unique grace of Vietnamese women; at the same time, it acts as a "cultural ambassador," introducing the image of Vietnam to the world. Consequently, the use and modernization of this garment throughout history have always adhered to certain standards.
