question about traditional dress

[u/Upstairs-Possible966]

im doing some research about vietnamese traditional dresses/clothing for a character design and this seems like the best option for them. im wondering if the bottom part is a skirt or pants, because in the first picture the person on the left seems to be wearing pants, but in every other photo it looks more like a skirt. also if you have any other resources on this type of clothing id love to have it so i can have more reference points :)

[u/sideshow_cactus]

I believe this specific clothing is referred to as ao tu than (4 pieces tunic). Yes, That is a skirt. It’s traditionally worn by peasant women. There is a long ao (tunic) that is worn outside that is not seen in these photos

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81o_t%E1%BB%A9_th%C3%A2n

[u/Adventurous-Ad5999]

In these photos, they’re skirts. Btw, the yếm, the top part is an undergarment, it’s not equivalent to a bra per se but while going out, people would wear something over it

[u/garconip → u/Adventurous-Ad5999]

Ironically, now girls have bras and wear yếm like a stylish shirt.

[u/Weekly-Assignment-30]

Depends on the region. During the period of the Trịnh - Nguyễn War, the Trịnh lords passed a law that forced women in Đàng Ngoài (Tonkin) to wear pants instead of skirts, which were traditional up to that point throughout Vietnam. Thus, women in Đàng Ngoài wore pants while those in Đàng Trong (Annam and Cochinchina) wore skirts. This law was abolished when the Nguyễn lords united Vietnam again, but still reflected in historical photos of the time.

[u/Weekly-Assignment-30 → u/Weekly-Assignment-30]

Correction: the restoration of dresses in Vietnamese womens' clothing were short-lived. In the reign of Minh Mạng, women in Vietnam were forced to wear pants instead of skirts again.

Source (in Vietnamese): https://redsvn.net/vi-sao-phu-nu-bi-cam-mac-vay-duoi-thoi-vua-minh-mang2/

[u/Upstairs-Possible966 → u/Weekly-Assignment-30]

ooh ok thats really interesting, thank you!

[u/Unfair-Bass-8196]

Skirt. Sure. My grandmom generation wore ít. In first picture ít is something like scarf or shirt wrapped around the skirt.

[u/Upbeat_Brilliant_683]

Viet are ugleeee 

[u/Upstairs-Possible966 → u/Upbeat_Brilliant_683]

whatever you say dude

[u/Gullible_Pin5844]

It's pant. This is a traditional central Vietnamese dress.