The Ao Dai is a Vietnamese national custume. Now most commonly worn by women. It's a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over pantaloons. Ao classifies the item as a piece of clothing on the upper part of the body. Dai means "long". The word "Ao Dai" was originally appiled to the outfit worn at the court of the Nguyen Lords at Hue in the 18th century. In the 1950s, Saigon designers tightened the fit to produce the version worn by Vietnamese women today. The dress was extremely popular in the South of Vietnam in the 1960s and eraly 1970s. On Happy Lunnar New Year "TET" and other important occasions.
