The design and structure of the costume were versatile and flattered Vietnamese men's body type, giving the man a confident and mature demeanor. Photo: Q.T

Under the Nguyen Dynasty where the Confucian ideology was considered the social moral norms, the design of the five-paneled Ao Dai somehow met the aesthetic demand of the society at that time. Particularly, the design and structure of the costume were versatile and flattered Vietnamese men's body type, giving the man a confident and mature demeanor.

Through ups and downs in history, the five-paneled Ao Dai is now not only part of the Vietnamese identity, but also a heritage and a representation of the nation’s moral and aesthetic values. The efforts to restore men's five-paneled Ao Dai in recent times have revived the costume’s presence in traditional rituals and daily life.

By Minh Hien

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