The wedding of Thinh Ky Ngo and Quyen Thanh Le

We were invited by our friend to attend a Vietnamese wedding in the province of Dinh Quan. We left HCMC on Monday at 1 Pm on a deluxe bus, the difference being the larger seats that recline and a movie is shown and water and wipes given. We even had a 10 minute stop in which to eat, drink or go to the WC, water closet. The trip was 3 hours and we were dropped off by the natural rock formation on the road, no bus stop, you just have to know where they drop off and pick up. Our friend wanted to know why I had a large suitcase? It was only a carry on size but larger than their back packs. I just have many things to take I replied, I am a woman !! Besides I had not been to a wedding here yet so I was not sure if there was a dinner the night before or how fancy their weddings were, besides I was also a girl scout and taught to always be prepared. We were picked up in a small truck that they use in their business, they were only expecting two people not four and not two foreigners. It was a short ride to the home of the groom where we would be staying. The father of the groom is in his late sixties and he and his wife have 9 children and 16 grand children. He owns a cashew business and also they sell pigs. He is quite well off and a very humble man and has just built a new spacious home. He greeted us in the traditional pajamas that older men where, I assume for comfort, it was only 4 PM. He still had them on the next morning so we wondered if he would wear them to the wedding. I told Mark I would buy him a pair. We were all shown to the only spare room left, especially since I do not think we were expected. So.... I bunked with two other men besides my hubby. Never done that before. That evening they had a dinner party with a live DJ and band. It went until around 11:30, we only stayed until 10:00 but because it was in a tent in their front yard we did not fall asleep for awhile. We were told that the wedding celebration goes on for several days. This was only the beginning. The next day we got in line to shower and dress, the wedding was set for 9 AM. A bit early but since we and the rest of the house were up by 4 AM, I guess 9 is good. People started arriving early from different places. The bride arrived around 9: 15 and was greeted by a loud pop and confetti announcing her arrival. She did not look very happy. She only smiled once twice during the ceremony and that is when Mark made some funny comments. Hopefully it was nerves and not because she did not want to be married. She did seem to enjoy the reception. Some observations about the ceremony, besides the confetti the bride and groom kneel and lay their hands on the bible and say their pledges. The fathers also raise their hands to give the bride and groom permission to wed. Then after the ceremony before they leave there is a gift giving time. People come up and give them things, it starts with the parents and then who ever has gifts, they both were given several rings, not sure the meaning of this. After the ceremony we were taken out to the tent and shown inside. The bride and groom stood out front and greeted people as they came through. All of a sudden a bus load of people came and then others by car, motor bike and vans. I guess it was a good thing they came just for the reception because all those people would not have fit into the church, the houses main room. In the space of two hours the bride changed into several other different colored gowns, I asked the meaning and all I got was tradition. She went from white to gold to green. We were served an 8 course meal, they also had a toast and cake. There was a family that we had previously met their six girls and one son sang in the ceremony and did a dance at the reception. Just before we had to leave to catch our bus back to HCMC a group of young guys did a break dance performance. That is a new one at a wedding for me. Our bus picked us up on the side of the road and our trip came to an end as pleasantly as it began. New experiences all the time. We love it.