Wedding Custom and Ceremony in Vietnam - The important rituals (part 1)

Up to now, marriage is one of the most important matters in one person’s life. Nowadays, the Vietnamese wedding custom in Vietnam is somewhat simpler, but it still maintains the traditional characters.
Many rituals have been ignored because they are not suitable for modern life. However, there are some obligatory wedding rituals that all couples should comply with.

The traditional wedding shows the important cultural characteristics of a nation.

The following are steps of wedding custom in Vietnam:
*Marriage proposal

In the traditional sequence, the marriage proposal is the first ritual in the traditional wedding Vietnam. However, in the context of Vietnam society when there are many European cultures imported, the ritual can be removed. It is the official meeting of two families.

If the bride and groom or their parents are Buddhist, they will ask the fortuneteller or a monk for what date and time is best for their wedding day. After the date and time are appointed, the offerings including betel leaves and areca nuts, fruits, candies… will be brought to the bride's family for preparing for marriage proposal. After the bride's family agree, the couple will burn incense and offer the gifts to the ancestral altar.

Nowadays, most of the young couples know and love each other before the marriage proposal, so this ritual is mainly moral factor. On this day, two the families will discuss official betrothal and wedding ceremonies. The bride's family usually prepare an informal meal for the groom’s one.

(to be continued...)