Thuba Nguyễn

Thuba wears an áo dài, the national garment of Vietnam. The áo dài carries the country's history. It goes back to 18th-century imperial decrees meant to unify Vietnamese dress. The modern cut came out of a cultural rebellion in 1930s Hanoi, mixing traditional dress with French colonial fashion.

Men and women wear it. The tunic is silk and fitted through the bodice, worn over loose silk pants. The prints and designs can be made traditional or modern, and the same garment works for everyday and for formal occasions.

With it she wears a nón lá, the conical Vietnamese hat made from palm leaves, bamboo, and straw. In an áo dài she feels empowered and close to her culture and her ancestors. She is a con gái miền Tây, a girl from the Mekong Delta, and for her the áo dài is pride and resilience.

THUBA NGUYỄN · ÁO DÀI, AN GIANG, VIETNAM · MINNESOTA · ARCHIVE NOTE, 2026