Live Life Team
Vietnamese couples get engaged at least six months before the wedding and they do not meet each other beforehand. The weddings are arranged by the parents. They set the wedding day with the help of a fortune teller or Buddhist monk to ensure a lucky date.
Traditional dress for both bride and groom is similar. Her outfit is in either pink or red and his, with a simpler design, is in blue. The dress is called the Ao dai gown and is accompanied by the Khan dong headdress.
Before the wedding, the groom, along with his family, takes presents to the bride’s home that include items such as betel leaves, wines, fruits, teas and cake. The gifts are covered with a red cloth and must be carried by unmarried girls and boys.
The wedding day has three distinct ceremonies. First, the mother of the groom, accompanied by other relatives, goes to the bride’s home to formally ask for her hand and tell her when the groom will appear. The future mother-in-law brings pink chalk for a good future and betel nuts, signifying respect.
The groom then arrives, also with relatives, bringing trunks covered in pink satin that contain gifts. There must be six or eight trunks for good luck. His arrival is announced by fire crackers, set off by his relatives, then again by the bride’s family. He then hands over a red envelope, another gift to the family and the bride is then allowed to greet her future husband. Then the wedding party heads for the groom’s home.
At the groom’s house, guests are offered tea and the ceremony is performed by a priest. He blesses the couple and winds a red thread around the altar, binding them in marriage. A feast of chicken, rice, sweetmeats and more tea is then enjoyed by all.
