An ao dai tunic worn with skirts is proving controversial with conservative fashion observers. Many people said this has affected the image of Vietnam’s traditional long dress.

The tunic with skirts has become a popular trend for young Vietnamese recently

The ao dai is traditionally worn with trousers, but combining the tunic with skirts has become a popular trend for young Vietnamese.  

Fashion designer Anh Thu has gone as far to claim that the new model ao dai is more similar to the Chinese cheongsam or Suon xam. “Some years ago, when I came to China, I saw Suon xam being sold at many local markets. I think Vietnamese people may imitate from the Chinese dress,” Thu added.

Designer Duc Hung said that if the new-style ao dai combination it supposedly would negatively affect the image of the country’s traditional long dress.

“Designers always try to keep the national identity of the long dress, so, we really want to get the public support our point of view. The change of ao dai should be limited to preserve the country’s cultural feature,” Hung said.

Dtinews