Listen and read Unit 2: Clothing

LISTEN AND READ - UNIT 2: CLOTHING

The traditional Vietnamese dress, the ao dai, has been a source of inspiration for poets, writers, and musicians for centuries. The ao dai consists of a long silk tunic with slits on the sides, worn over loose pants. Historically, both men and women wore the ao dai, but nowadays women tend to wear it more, especially on special occasions. Despite this, many Vietnamese women now prefer modern clothing at work for convenience.

Fashion designers have been working to modernize the ao dai, incorporating elements like lines of poetry and traditional symbols from Vietnam's ethnic minorities such as suns, stars, crosses, and stripes. By adding these elements, designers have been able to maintain the traditional essence of the ao dai while making it fashionable and appealing to modern tastes.