National costume, also known as folk costume, expresses an identity through costume which is

associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. In some countries national
costumes also indicate social, marital or religious status. If in Vietnam the “ Ao Dai “ is the
national costume, the " qipao ", or simply called by the name “cheongsam", is the famous
traditional clothing in China and is a very essential costume to wear on significant events
throughout the year.

The difference between these two outfits is huge, especially the structure. The Ao Dai for men
and women are the same, unlike Qipao, which is just made for women and its design evolved
with time, and there are now various styles of cheongsam. The Ao Dai is made up of two parts:
the tunic and the pants, while the Qipao is a one-piece dress for women. Another distinction is
the dress's design and style. In fact, the tunic of Aodai adds curves to the body and covers the
entire body except for the head, hands, and feet. This has two flaps: a front and a back. On the
front, it is often embroidered with patterns or poems. Additionally, Ao Dai's collar is shaped like
a V, whereas its sleeves are sewn tight to the hand. In contrast, the cheongsam is typically a
tight-fitting dress, with a pair of high side slits above the knee-level. The length of the
cheongsam can vary; it can be either long or short and is more often seen with short sleeves;
however, it can also be sleeveless. In terms of its collars and neckline It is typically found with
the mandarin collar and has asymmetric closure which runs from the central collar across the top
area of the chest to the armhole curing down to the right side. Moreover, there are various styles
of cheongsam necklines, including a symmetrical opening in the chest area.

There are many resemblances between these two traditional costumes. It was also modernized in
the same period as Qipao, which meant the western ideals existed in both countries at the same
time. In Vietnam, Ao Dai would be slimmed down, just like Qipao. Moreover, both Qipao and
Ao Dai bring the beauty of each country and carry historical value on them. However, I lean
more toward the beauty of the Ao dai because this is the symbol of my country which makes me
feel so proud of my nation's identity.

In conclusion, although Ao Dai and Qipao have different structures and styles, but when it comes
to the time, they have the similar significant.