Wedding Taboos in Western Vietnam

People in the Southern region believe in 'with worship comes sacredness, with abstinence comes blessing.' Therefore, the prohibitions in Southern weddings are not merely superstitions but originate from the traditions left by our ancestors.

Wedding Taboos in Western Vietnam

Avoiding specific ages

One of the prominent taboos in Western Vietnamese weddings is avoiding specific ages. This is considered a significant superstition in Western weddings. When introducing their partners to their families, both sides make an effort to ensure the couple is of suitable age and compatible destiny. Couples with harmonious ages or balanced destinies face no objections.

However, couples facing conflicting astrological elements or incompatible destinies encounter restrictions. When the fortune-teller warns of potential issues such as disharmony, breakup, or even spousal conflicts, parents become worried and often forbid the union.

Avoiding specific dates and times

Avoiding specific dates and times is also among the things to avoid in Western Vietnamese weddings. The auspiciousness of the wedding day largely depends on the age of the bride and groom, the year of the wedding, and the wishes of both families. Currently, choosing the wedding day and banquet date depends on various factors such as the schedule of the booked restaurant or the availability of friends and VIP guests for both sides.

For Western Vietnamese people, avoiding specific dates and times in weddings can significantly impact the future happiness of the family and may lead to various unfortunate events in marriage.

Avoiding taboos during ceremonies and bride escort

In the bride escort ceremony, according to the beliefs of Western Vietnamese people, certain precautions need to be taken to avoid encountering bad luck in marriage:

During the ritual offering, the groom should only tear the betel leaves with his fingers instead of using a knife.

When fetching the bride, the route to her house and the return route must differ; sharing the same path may lead to fractures. As the groom's family leaves the bride's home, the bride should look straight ahead, absolutely avoiding turning her head backward.

The main ceremony must take place at the ancestral altar adorned with sufficient 'incense, candles, and flowers'. The groom's relatives, upon arrival, should have someone leading the way. Offerings include fruits, cakes, betel nuts, and a pair of lamps matching the size of the lamp's base on the ancestral altar.

The wedding ring must be plain, and under no circumstances should it be worn before the wedding day.

The mother of the bride is not allowed to join the procession accompanying the bride to the groom's house, and the mother-in-law should not stand in front of the door to welcome the bride.

If the bride is pregnant when coming to the groom's house, she must not enter through the main door. It is believed that if a pregnant bride enters through the front door, it brings inauspiciousness; therefore, a pregnant bride must enter through the back door.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour