The áo gấm is a traditional Vietnamese brocade tunic for men. It is more elaborate than the formal áo the, a similar men's tunic. These tunics are often worn at ceremonies, birthdays, festivals and other circumstances where the women wear an expensive áo dài. The word gấm on its own means brocade (錦) hence "brocade tunic".
The elegance of the brocade tunic is proverbial, as per the Vietnamese saying áo gấm đi đêm ("a brocade tunic going in the dark"), meaning to display your wealth or talents but too late or where they cannot be seen.[1][2]