The áo tứ thân (chữ Hán: 襖四身, pronounced as /vi/, four-part dress), is a traditional Vietnamese dress commonly worn in the Northern part of Vietnam. The dress is related to the Áo ngũ thân which translates as "5-part dress".[1]
The áo tứ thân was worn widely by women centuries before the áo dài. As Vietnam expanded southward during Nam tiến, áo tứ thân gradually became associated specifically with northern women.
The áo tứ thân was the dress of peasant women, which explains why it was often made with plain fabric in dark colors, except when it was to be worn at special occasions such as festivals or weddings.Regardless of its many different forms, the basic áo tứ thân consists of:
Áo tứ thân in modern-day Vietnam (worn almost exclusively in northern-related festivals) tends to be extremely colorful, using different hues throughout the dress, from the tunic to the bodice and the skirt.
Áo tứ thân is now obsolete in terms of its daily use in Vietnam. However, it can be seen often in traditional occasions such as festivals, especially in northern Vietnam. It is still sometimes worn as formal wear by some ethnic minorities, such as the Tày, Sán Chay, and some Thổ people.
In southern Vietnam, the simpler silk two-piece ensemble áo bà ba is preferred for day-to-day use.