Week 2- Uyen Ngo

As a Vietnamese American, the Ao Dai has been quite symbolic of my identity. Whenever I put on an ao dai, it made me feel connected to my home, despite being 7,500 miles away. For me, I saw it as a symbol of the Vietnamese people and the culture and history of Vietnam. As Professor Valverde mentions, even tho the ao dai "is a fusion of cultures, integrating Chinese, French, and American influences", it still "retains its uniquely Vietnamese heritage" (Valverde 6). Looking at its evolution throughout the last century is a story in itself of the journey of the Vietnamese people. Its importance is shown through incidences such as when Vietnamese refugees fled to the West, despite having to leave many things behind, some women chose to bring their favorite Ao Dai because to them, "this simple possession represented their whole lives in Viet Nam" (Valverde 6). 

To me, the modernization of the Ao Dai is a representation of the new variation of identity for the Vietnamese people. While before, there was only one form of the Ao Dai, today, there is a variation of interpretations. An example is Le Phuong Thao whose "masculine lines and loose-fitting, functional ao dai appeal to the modern woman" (Valverde 6). It is important to recognize the meaning behind the ao dai and what it represents, which is the power and grace behind a Vietnamese women. However, I believe the modernization of it is important because it shows the change in our identity as through the years, Vietnamese women all have had very different experiences, from being Viet Kieus or staying back and attempting to rebuild their lives after the war. The rise of these new interpretations of the ao dai means that each woman can now find a version that captures her experience, all while still holding its true meaning. 

Works Cited

"San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles" Ao Dai: A Modern Design Coming of Age 2009: Catalogue