Viet Nam News Traditional long dresses for men are slowly coming back into fashion. This is thanks to a men’s group whose members wear them and hope that other men will do so too. During colonial times, men started to wear Western suits more often. When Vietnamese men wear traditional long dresses while on overseas visits, they can attract a lot of attention because they look quite different to other types of clothes. By Lê Hương & Hồng Vân Carefully wrapping a black turban on his friend’s head, Chu Đức Giang is helping his friend take a trip back in time. With the sun shining as bright as the clothes Giang and his friend wear, these two young men are keeping a tradition alive through the robes on their backs. They spent a Sunday morning joining other members of the Traditional Long Dress for Men’s Club to tour the Literature Temple and the Imperial Academy, the first university of Việt Nam built in 11th century in downtown Hà Nội. The men’s group wear áo dài (traditional long dress) and during their tour, pause from time to time to lend a listening ear to the guide. Although they may look like they have arrived from days gone by, their ancient appearance is given a modern twist as many reach for their cell phones to take a selfie or two. The newly established club, a smaller group of Đình Làng Việt (Vietnamese Communal Houses), which is keen on preserving the ancient values of communal… [Read full story]
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