Sep 1, 20202 min read

The Meaning Of School Uniform

Updated: Sep 2, 2020

When it comes to student life in Vietnam, students and school uniform go hand in hand. Students from primary school to high school are required to wear uniform to school daily. There are normally uniform for the summer, winter, and for physical education classes.

During the French colonisation era, áo dài was the typical uniform for school girls back then.

Girls' uniform during the French colonisation era

As for male students, it was simply white shirts, white trousers, and ties. White was the principal colour, as it symbolizes youth and innocence.

Boys' uniform during the French colonisation era

As time went by, the uniform got altered and updated. During the 90s, it was simply white shirt, dark trouser, and red scarf. However, nowadays, uniform is modernized and tailored based on the characteristics of each school with different colour and styles. The school badge can typically be seen on the left sleeve of the shirt.

Vietnamese Primary School's Uniform

Vietnamese High School's Girl Uniform

As for áo dài, it is worn occasionally during special events by high school students in the North such as the First Day of School ceremony, Teachers' Day, etc. As for high school students in the Central and the South, depending on each school's policy, áo dài may be required to be worn daily or on special occasions.

Áo Dài

ITS SPECIAL MEANING

School uniform indicates and represents the school that a student goes to. When wearing uniform, students are expected to act nicely to make their schools proud and to avoid tainting their schools' reputation.

Uniform erases the difference between students' family background so that those who come from low-income households do not feel insecure. The uniform brings students together. It is a reminder of students' duties and responsibilities that they must study hard, have the right attitude and behaviours in order to make their teachers and parents proud.

Uniform helps families save money, as parents are not pressured to buy new clothes for their children whenever they go back to school. It also keeps students focused on studying and not be distracted by fashion.

It is a memorabilia that a student can keep to remind him/her of the beautiful memories made when he/she was a student.