Áo dài the way the dress ties feminine beauty to Vietnamese nationalism, especially in the form of "Miss Ao Dai" pageants, popular both among overseas Vietnamese and in Vietnam itself. "Ao dai" is one of the few Vietnamese words that appear in English-language dictionaries. "Tà sau": back flap "Tà trước": front flap The ao dai can be worn with a "nón lá" (conical leaf hat), a style associated with Huế. On weddings and other formal occasions, a circular headgear called a "khăn đóng" is worn. For centuries, peasant women typically wore a halter top () underneath a blouse or overcoat, alongside a
Miss Asian America community-based projects, service learning, and presentations in their heritage language. Cultural integration and the introduction of neoliberal values have also been examined through the prism of the Miss Asian America Pageant extensively by women's studies scholars. Professor Nhi T. Lieu, in studying Miss Asian America pointed to the pageant's role in promoting capitalism and neoliberal values presented within traditional contexts such as the utilization of the Vietnamese women's garment known as the ao dai. Lieu adds that the role of technology in beauty pageants also enabled the introduction of modernity and consumer goods to many Asian American households in attendance