The ao dai (Vietnamese: 醥 d鄆) is a Vietnamese national costume; now most commonly for women. In its current form; it is a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over pantaloons. The word is pronounced ow-zye in the north and ow-yai in the south; and translates as 'long dress'.

The name 醥 d鄆 was originally applied to the dress worn at the court of the Nguy?n Lords at Hu? in the 18th century. This outfit evolved into the 醥 ngu th鈔; a five-paneled aristocratic gown worn in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Inspired by Paris fashions; Nguy?n C醫 Tu?ng and other artists associated with Hanoi University redesigned the ngu th鈔 as a modern dress in the 1920s and 1930s. Pictures From Asia David Henley