A lasting impression for any visitor to Vietnam is the beauty of Vietnamese
              women dressed in their Ao Dais. These long flowing dress worn over
              loose-fitting trousers are considered to be Vietnamese women's national
           dresses.
              Early versions of the Ao Dai date back to 1744, when Lord Vu Vuong of
the Nguyen Dynasty ordered both men and women to wear an ensemble of trouser and gown
that buttoned down the front. Although popular, men wore it less often than women, and
generally only on ceremonial occasions such as at weddings and funerals. It took another
twenty years before the next major design change occurred and nearly another two hundred
years before the modern Ao Dai emerged.
The original Ao Dai was loosely tailored with four panels (Ao Tu Than), two of which were
tied in the back. In 1930, a Vietnamese fashion designer and writer, Cat Tuong, lengthened the
top so it reached the floor. Tuong also fitted the bodice to the curves of the body and moved
the buttons from the front to an opening along the shoulder and side seam. As a result of these
changes, Ao Dai became a contoured, full-length dress. The dress splits into a front and back
panel from the waist down. During the 1950s two tailors in Saigon, Tran Kim of Thiet Lap
Tailors and Dung of Dung Tailors, started producing the gowns with raglan sleeves. This
created a diagonal seam running from the collar to the underarm and is the preferred style
today.
There have many stylish variations in color and collar design in the past four decades. Most
noticeable is the gradual shortening of the gown's length, such that today, it is usually just
below the knee. Variations in the neck collar, between boat and mandarin style, are common.
But more adventurous alterations such as low scooped necklines, puffed sleeves, and
off-the-shoulder designs are emerging as more women experiment with fashion. Less rigid
control over color and access to new fabrics have also created dazzling results. Every Ao Dai
is custom-made, accounting for the fit that creates such a flattering look.
It is hard to think of a more elegant, demure and yet sexy outfit, that suits Vietnamese women
of all ages than Ao Dai.