Ao quan is the Vietnamese name for the academic dress or ceremonial gown as worn in the past by doctoral laureates upon passing the Imperial Examinations (fig.). The accompanying hat is known as mu tien si, literally a ‘doctoral hat’ (fig.).

These gowns of civil mandarins are on display at Hanoi's Temple of Literature (fig.). The one above is that of a first rank doctoral laureate, whereas the one to the right is that of a sub-doctoral laureate.