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Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
VIETNAM
Dress
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Fashion
Normal
business attire consists of a suit and tie for men and suit or dress for
women. During the hotter months, formal dress for men is a shirt
and tie. The trend in the south is to be more casual, as suit jackets
are worn only on very formal occasions and first meetings.
Clothing
should be kept simple, informal and discreet. Comfortable clothing
would include lightweight tropical wools and cottons. Tropicals and
washable cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during
the rainy season.
Avoid
shorts if possible as they are usually only worn by children.
Ao
Yai
An ao
dai, pronounced "ao zai" in the country's north and "ao yai" in the south
is the national dress for women. As such, it is worn on ceremonial
and formal occasions and as a
uniform
for school or work.
Ao
dai literally means "long gown." The tunic, which can be of cotton, satin
or acrylic, features a form-fitting bodice that extends to long panels
in the front and back. These are split to the waist. When worn on a bicycle,
it is the front panel that is held up on the handlebars. The back is folded
on the seat. The neck is traditionally of the high mandarin type, perhaps
the last reminder of the tunic's Chinese origin. The sleeves are long and
tight. Ideally the panels fall just short of the cuffs of the trousers,
which themselves are of satin and usually white. They can also be black.
"Guocs" or high-heeled sandals usually complete the outfit.
When
worn as a school uniform, the ao dai is totally white. Its only embellishment
is discreet white embroidery on the bodice, and perhaps some lace on the
trouser cuffs. Professional people-teachers, hostesses, and entertainers-may
wear a colored tunic, but the trousers are usually white.
Links
to More Information
Vietnamese
Fashion
Traditional
Fashion
Design
in East Asian Costume
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