In the 1700s, Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat, who ruled over the southern region of Vietnam, mandated that trousers be added to the o di to make his subjects distinguishable from the northerners. Today, o dis are worn mostly by women and are worn for high school, traditional festivals, and (. Hannah has a passion for DE&I and plays an integral role in ensuring The Knot content highli. This means long shorts, skirts, or trousers on the bottom and a short or long sleeved shirt on top. The, It's usually tailor-made to fit the bride perfectly. Vietnamese weddings truly stand out, andconsider yourself lucky if you ever get the chance to experience one. In the engagement ceremony, the bride wears the traditional ao daiin bright gold or red colors. The most common colors are red, soft gold, pastel pink, and white. What to Say During Your Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony. Doing a traditional m hi is not too common these days but back in antiquity, the m hi was sometimes the event where the groom met the bride for the first time, so you can imagine that this ceremony, when it exists today, is quite amended to be more of an engagement party that, together with the m ci, bookends the engagement period of the bride and groom.". We had our m Hi in October. Most of the people who are invited to participate in the ceremony of a wedding are the family, close relatives of the bride and groom. Now, what is an o di? There are no major surprises here. This can keep you dry enough, without sticking to your body. Besides, although there is no mandatory rule on the color of the wedding dress, most people are aware that they should only choose to wear shirts and skirts with fresh and bright colors. The groom and groomsmen will line up in a procession to offer more gifts to the bride and family. Thanks for contributing an answer to Travel Stack Exchange! Will all accommodation be full (or at inflated prices) if arriving in Vietnam right in the middle of Tt? Bride Spotlight: How to Complement Your Wedding Qipao with the Perfect Hair Accessory. However, since it used to be a French colony, French is the most popular second language. Newlyweds should also pray at the ancestor's altar for happiness in their marriage. How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? Shorts are also fairly common, as are sandals, for both men and women. "Most Vietnamese couples take engagement photos in their actual wedding attire," says Chan. I'll post my own findings as an answer because it's too long for a comment. Bright colors are a must. Family and friends who carry red gift boxes also wears ao daifor the ladies and pants and a shirt for the men. - Vietnam is known for its fast-growing tourism sector. For example, with the HMong people, the groom usually wears a white shirt underneath, a dark shirt with nice patterns on the sleeves, and wide-leg black pants. A ceremony will be performed by the couple and their parents to ask the ancestors for their blessing. Dark colors such as black, gray, or purple are considered the color of bad luck, bringing a breakup to the couple. A part of the ceremony is when we bow twice to our parents. Learn about the wedding traditions that make Czech weddings charmingly unique. The first is the time of year that the wedding will take place. Source: The Star, Her World Brides. Anything that could be construed as white or ivory is going to be frowned upon at a wedding. amrufm/Flickr. This article walks you through what to say during your wedding tea ceremony to show respect and gratitude to your elders and unite your two families as one. It marks a celebration of the bride and groom coming together as a couple. I was told that it is not longer necessary to use the red envelope for the gift. No surprise there, as khn ng literally means wrapped towel"! They may challenge him to push-ups, jumping jacks and other activities to show that he is strong.". The gifts were to be placed into a box on a big decorated table near the entry of the hall. Khn ng is made by tightly wrapping long, flattened fabric so that each fold is perfectly placed to create its crown-like shape. There is almost only one dress code for guests attending a wedding party that is beautiful, new, and bright. Along with the Western wedding dress, brides also wear the o Di, the traditional Vietnamese dress. In fact, it's nothing short of unusual for the tea served to actually not be that, but rather this alcoholic beverage. Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, so it's no wonder many people decide to relocate there. Vietnamese wedding traditions and customs are so unique that it would be a shame not to honor them. While, "historically, Vietnamese weddings (m ci) have been heterosexual," weddings are meant to be uniquely your own, celebrating the details that make your partnership yours while adapting traditions and custom as you and your partner see it. The groom's family is expected to bring gifts such as fruits or sweet treats. Vietnamese business people wear pretty typical international business attire that means suits for men, and formal shirt/blouse or suits for women. It appears that your cart is currently empty! Most noticeable and outstanding is the brides wedding dress. Upon arrival, the groom and his family will ask for permission to marry. Discover your dream cheongsam and get $10 off ->. Song hy character Usually, this ceremony happens before the wedding day. At this time, the brides are no longer bound in the dress code as in the ceremony but are free to choose in their preferences. In the end, you can always wear what you want, but dressing appropriately in Vietnam will increase your chances of having a problem-free trip! "The combination of red and gold or all white is reserved only for the couple on the day of the wedding. Vietnamese wedding traditions and customs, such as Tea and Candle Ceremony, are dedicated to the beloved couple and their elders and ancestors. Add in Hue: 46, 2A Xuan Phu Building, Hoang Lanh Street, Hue City, Vietnam, Add in Hoi An: 493 Cua Dai Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam, Vietnam, Contact in Ho Chi Minh: 185/18 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Costumes for participants in the ceremony. Traditional Vietnamese dressesfor women are calledAo Dai (o di), which is a long (floor-length) dress with a tiny turtleneck and long sleeves. It is best to avoid flamboyant or brought colors typical, darker, or neutral colors are best. This is not America. I wore my best formal dress. While in many Western weddings it's commonplace to have a first look where to-be-weds see each other in their wedding attire for the first time, that's less common within Vietnamese weddings. They come bearing (symbolical) gifts. Chan explains that "parents typically take the couple to a temple to find an auspicious date and time. It traditionally features a mandarin collar, long sleeves, and side slits that go down from the waist to ankle. o di is the long, split tunic that fits somewhat close to the bodice. They all meet at the groom's house for a secondary tea ceremony and followed by lunch hosted by the groom's side," notes Chan of the m Hi engagement ceremony, which actually carries a striking resemblance to the flow of a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony. If you come looking casual or sloppy, it's disrespectful to the couple. So to dress it up for weddings, some guests may wear a variation known as baju kurung cekak musang, which has a Mandarin-style collar with five buttons. "When the couple is invited to the guests' wedding in the future, they are expected to do the same in return. While you probably would get criticized as a racist for doing this in the US, here in Vietnam, it is unlikely that anyone will care. A new wedding dress by hiring a designer can cost from 100 million to billions of dong. I have visited a dozen or so countries in Asia, and the Vietnamese struck me as by far the most hospitable to Westerners and forgiving of our quirks. Discover your dream cheongsam and get $10 off ->. However, while it is still fairly common to see women wearing Ao Dai in the situations we described above, it is far less common to see men wearing the male version, which is looser, and often comes with a matching hat. weddings. Mainly this is because the north was historically influenced by Chinese culture, and later, communism. The important suggestion is that you should ask the host about how you should dress to suit their wedding ceremony in order to be more prepared carefully. The couple will offer tea and be presented with gifts again, and then lunch is served. In some special situations or due to economic conditions, the party may be grand or omitted. Hence, attending a wedding in white may come off as offensive or rude. Wearing an ao dai in a lovely bright color or a gorgeous formal dress can help you make a great impression. Attending a wedding of a Vietnamese couple soon? Heres what to know about the traditional Vietnamese wedding gifts. And why wouldn't they? It is a frustrating fact that women are still struggling to gain equal rights in Vietnam and that we are the ones who need to adjust. The bride wore a traditional Vietnamese dress during the ceremony, but most of the others wore regular Western formal wear. In Vietnam, the bride and groom and the wedding entourage will wear elaborate o di at the traditional ceremony, then guests will show up for the reception in simpler but equally colourful designs. Also, since the groom's family didn't speak Vietnamese, a relative of the bride translated everything for their benefit. Are you paying attention to the costumes that Vietnamese people will use in the wedding ceremony? Wedding pros explain the elements often included in traditional Vietnamese nuptials. I got the explanation for that: assuming any wedding in a big town has 200 to 1,000 guests, it is rather clear that you are likely to be invited to a wedding every two weeks if you have some relatives and friends. What to wear in Vietnam is also going to vary by season. The performance was widely panned for various reasons, but Bassett clearly thought the response was overkill. It's served family-style and may have a minimum of eight courses." The type of wedding will depend on the religion of the couple, with a majority of the ceremonies being performed in Catholic churches and sometimes . 4. After initial greetings, the bride will be brought out to join the groom to commence the tea and candle ceremony," explains Nguyen. Another symbol of prosperity, apart from the red colors, is the odd number of these . One bow represents our gratitude to our parents for raising us to who we are. The same goes for traditional Vietnamese weddings. Here, we have gathered ten of those of the highest significance. The other party is totally unknown to me. Most of the time, really formal attire or a suit is not required. Because of the difference between these two parts of the ceremony and celebration, the dress of a marriage ceremony in Vietnam also has a great difference between the two times of the wedding ceremony. This procession will include the groom's close family and friends, and is headed by a couple, usually the parents of the groom or an elder couple of the clan. In Vietnamese culture, there are three ceremonies: a formal engagement ceremony when the groom's family asks the bride's parents if their son can marry their daughter. I know a little about Asian culture, but the only country I've visited until today was Japan. Brocade fabric is made of colored silk and other blends with raised opulent designs. A few choose their own designer to make their own wedding dress. No matter what kind of wedding you're attending, there are always specific dress rules you should pay attention to. See here for our guide to getting a business visa in Vietnam. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It can get especially cold up in the highlands, so dress appropriately. In the past, these could indicate a mans position in the social hierarchy. The format is as follows: Upon the arrival of each guest, a couple will take a photo with them at the venue's entrance. Travel Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for road warriors and seasoned travelers. Young Vietnamese girls wear white o di as part of their school uniforms as a symbol of their coming of age. "Even with all the customs and tradition, Vietnamese brides are still able to bring their own twist to their weddings. The groom's designated head couple will ask for permission to enter, and the bride's head couple will grant it and the whole parade will troop into the bride's house, to be met by the bride's family, except for the bride herself, who will be hidden in a different room. Besides shoes, a pair of sandals will be of much use when traveling in Vietnam. There was neither space or time for the guests to dance or mingle with each others. That is a common thing in all wedding cultures. Le don dau or Vu Quy (The wedding reception). A small number of young people or close friends can choose the modern Vietnamese clothes more freely, such as skirts, or fashionable dresses, but must ensure polite, discreet and bright elements. It was only after 1744 and during Nguyn dynasty that men and women began to wear very elaborate o tc (ancient formal o di with long sleeves) for their wedding ceremonies; this tradition still continues into the modern era with . Some safe colors include formal cool colors like gray, brown, tan, or muted shades of green and blue. Wikipedia actually has an article about Vietnamese wedding traditions, which should give you a good idea. Sometimes red envelopes filled with cash are offered first before presenting the mam qua red tins. Superstition and belief are still large parts of daily Vietnamese life. There are different rules, traditions, and beliefs you should keep in mind. What color should you not wear to a Vietnamese wedding? 2017 - 2022 BY MOVE TO VIETNAM | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, packing list for anyone moving to Vietnam, When visiting Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum in Hanoi, When visiting small villages or hill tribes. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. A big difference comes from various materials, decoration on the dress, hiring a designer or available in shops on the street. Most of the time, you will see them with beads embedded as a flower design. As for going shirtless anywhere besides the beach, that would be a no-no. One of the most interesting things about traditional Vietnamese weddings is that theBuddhist monk or a fortune-tellersets the wedding date. "Prior to the m Hi is the Dm Ng (also known as the m Ni), during which the parents of the bride and groom come together to first discuss a pending engagement for the couple after the couple has expressed their intent for marriage. What Is the Dollar Dance Wedding Tradition? Ao dai attire is still widely used in most of the Vietnamese wedding. By drinking the tea, the elders signify the acceptance of the couple's marriage and offer advice for a long-lasting, healthy marriage. Having covered traditional Vietnamese clothing as well as what most Vietnamese wear on normal days, lets now address the burning question youre probably asking: what should I wear in Vietnam? Vietnamese wedding ceremony. Vietnamese wedding traditions and customs regarding reception don't differ much from those in other cultures. Selecting a wedding date is one of the first steps in planning a wedding. This is in irreplaceable mandatory attire. These colors are going to help you blend into the crowd, not stand out, while still giving you a formal and dressy look.. If youre coming from a country that isnt so hot, you may be surprised that Vietnamese wear a lot of extra clothing when the weather becomes only slightly cool. Auspicious Wedding Date Selecting a wedding date is one of the first steps in planning a wedding. This is the part of the wedding where you light incense and candles, bow and pray to your ancestors. ", For Cung, "it was incredibly important to us to get married in a Buddhist temple with all of the rituals, prayers and to honor our parents. Today, it is possible to see men wearing these at celebrations like weddings in Vietnam or around TET (New Year). These boxes often include items such as cakes, wine, fruits, and even a roasted pig. Silk is smooth and soft feeling with a lustrous finish and chiffon is sheer and gauze-like. 3. The groom then presents his dear with a bouquet, and the couple finds themselves on their way to the altar for the Tea and Candle Ceremony. The average price of a suit ranges from 2,500,000 VND to 6,000,000 VND. Grooms can also wear suits and white dress shirts. For those coming to teach English in Taiwan, the dress code for teachers is going to be modest, but not too formal. What present should I give to the couple? You will find bottles of the most expensive Cognac, stick rice, luxury teas, desserts, fruits and items that symbolize prosperity, wealth and luck. Per tradition, these are stored in red tin baskets, otherwise known as Mam Qua, further covered by red pieces of cloth. What to Say During Your Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony. Upon arrival the highly professional staff explained to me that it's unusual to show up early but I did not cause any difficulties anyway. We were only four non-Vietnamese and sat next to some close relatives of the groom, (brother, uncle, niece IIRC), who all spoke English fluently. They will go table by table, giving toasts and paying respects to the most important person sitting at each table. In the businesses that are engaged in tourism, government offices, or banks, Ao Dai can also be seen regularly. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? Brides usually wear a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress or modern ao dai, and the most popular colors are white and red. I know virtually nothing about Vietnam, I'll be there for the first time in my life. Today, o dis are worn mostly by women and are worn for high school, traditional festivals, and (you guessed it!) You don't want to come off as impolite to the bride! If on the wedding day, the bride is required to wear a traditional Vietnamese dress ao dai, for the groom, the clothing element is much simpler.