If you’ve ever been to Vietnam, you definitely have seen at least one or two people wearing áo dài on regular days. It’s a common sight of elegance and tradition, simple yet sophisticated. However, if you’ve ever spent Tết Holiday or Vietnamese Lunar New Year in the country, then you’ve undoubtedly seen a couple of hundreds of people dressed in radiant áo dàis.
Like everywhere else, people wear new clothes to celebrate the new year. In Vietnam, the traditional tunic, or áo dài, reappears each year during Tết. These tunics add to the festival’s formal atmosphere and artistic touch.
Áo dài represents feminine elegance and culture. And as Vietnam welcomes another year, you still have time to find that perfect áo dài before the holiday frenzy starts.
When using social media to browse for ideas, it’s easy to scroll endlessly and come up short of what you're really looking for — be it style inspiration or ready-to-wear pieces. Fret not, this is not a sponsored list. We just compiled a few of the most-followed Instagram accounts that feature modern, chic, customizable áo dài for this year’s Tết celebration — or for any day of the year, actually.
Hy Maison
hy_maison has that Japanese kimono vibe in their designs, evident in their mostly red and black pieces. They offer ready-to-wear áo dàis for both men and women, along with other wearable items. They’re based in Ho Chi Minh City with two shops in District 3’s Wards 12 and 5. For those based outside HCMC, they ship nationwide free of charge.
Xeoxo
The idea behind Xeoxo started with two friends in Hanoi, Hương and Hằng, who wanted to provide others with high-quality and well-designed clothes to wear. And the rest, as they say, is history. They offer áo dàis for adults and kids — perfect for mother and daughter twinning. They have shops in Hanoi and HCMC and they ship worldwide.
Meman Saigon
MÊMAN is a clothing brand in Saigon’s District 1. Looking at their Instagram feed, you’ll get the minimalist vibe of their style. They're using premium Japanese linen fabric. They provide áo dàis for men and women — keeping it simple and putting more emphasis on the elegance of áo dàis. If you’re looking for a place where ‘less is more,’ this one’s for you.
Crab.December
Based in HCMC, crab.december is an online shop for all kinds of áo dàis — traditional, modern, with embroidery or plain, for adults and kids, too. They’re Tết ready since December of last year, already accepting orders from all over Vietnam.
Magonn Design
Established in Hanoi by two fashion designers Nguyen Minh Phuc and Tu Ngo, Magonn Design is their love letter for their country. Both went abroad to study and when they came back, they were all about sharing their love for fashion and classic style with the modern Vietnamese. Their áo dàis are “chic and classic.”