Marriage to a Vietnamese Bride – How Do They Celebrate Weddings in Vietnam?

Marriage to a Vietnamese Bride – How Do They Celebrate Weddings in Vietnam?

Multicultural weddings are about uniting the heritages of two backgrounds. In the case of Vietnamese & American union, it’s about blending typical white-gown-and-wedding-cake traditions with Dam Ngo, Ao Dai and Ao Gam, Le Vu Que, and many other beautiful and colorful customs.
Home » Marriage to a Vietnamese Bride – How Do They Celebrate Weddings in Vietnam?
5 min read

Don’t be afraid, this article will reveal the meaning behind these strange foreign words, suggest the best places in Vietnam that can serve as wedding venues, and cover the legal nuances of marrying Vietnamese brides. Keep reading!

Best Sites to Meet Vietnamese Brides

SakuraDate
4.9
  • Free to register and browse
  • Detailed profiles with lots of photos
  • 16 advanced search filters
  • No mobile app available
  • No live face‑to‑face video chat
20 free credits at signup + 10 for email verification; first 35 credits cost $2.99 instead of $12.99
LanaDate
4.0
  • Simple, bright, friendly design
  • Live chat, letters, media features
  • Verified members, authentic profiles
  • Credits may feel pricey
  • Match suggestions not always accurate
First 20 coins for $2.99 (usually $4.66)
NaomiDate
4.8
  • Fast, free account setup
  • Clean, modern interface
  • Many active profiles
  • No mobile app
  • No video calling feature
First 35‑credit package for $2.99 (usually $12.99)
GoldenBride
4.0
  • Serious‑relationship oriented
  • Live chat + translation support
  • Flexible coin payment system
  • iOS app not available
  • No video call feature
Small 20‑coin test pack for $4.99
GoChatty
4.3
  • Feels like social media
  • Videos and photos in profiles
  • Incognito browsing option
  • No free messaging
  • Auto top‑ups can catch off guard
20 credits for only $2.99 & first 2 media saving for free
MagnoliaDate
4.4
  • Detailed, authentic profiles
  • Responsive, easy interface
  • Secure communication environment
  • No mobile app
  • No live video chat
First 20 credits for $2.99 instead of $12.99

Top Vietnamese Wedding Traditions

Let’s start from the center of this article — wedding traditions in Vietnam. Since there are A LOT of such customs, we will talk about the most crucial ones, which every foreign man who’s planning to marry a Vietnamese bride should know.

  • Dam Ngo or a so-called family gathering. In some cultures, like Vietnam, the bride and groom’s parents should be introduced to each other officially. In Vietnam, it’s Dam Ngo, where relatives also discuss the couple’s pending engagement.
  • Ao Dai and Ao Gam. Those are traditional wedding attire for the bride and groom. Ao Dai (bride’s dress) is typically in a red color, while the groom’s attire is blue. They are decorated with embroidery, usually with symbolic elements, for example, the design of the year the couple was born in.
  • Tea ceremony at Vietnamese weddings — Le Vu Quy. Many Asian traditions are centered around tea, and Vietnamese weddings are no exception. During Le Vu Que, the couple presents parents with tea, and the latter should accept it, meaning they accept and bless the marriage.
  • Lion dancers will burn the party. This is quite a fun tradition — dancers dressed in lion costumes perform for the couple to bless their marriage with long happiness.

“A note: guests should never wear black to the wedding because it’s a symbol of death, and avoid bringing purple florals because they are associated with sadness.”

How do Vietnamese weddings differ from American ones? Well, as you guess, they differ in many ways, but the most noticeable differences are: a) bring money instead of gifts to the wedding; b) no officiant during the ceremony; c) no ring exchange during the ceremony.​

TAKE OUR DATING QUIZ
AND FIND YOUR MATCH
START

The Attitude Toward Interracial / International Marriages in Vietnam

It’s not prohibited to marry someone outside your religion or culture in Vietnam, but the attitudes toward such marriages vary across the country.

Thus, Reddit user say, “In my personal experience, I haven’t seen much approval for Vietnamese people that marry other ethnicities.

In my family, I see positive comments here and there about kids that are half Asian and half white, though. I guess because they are considered good-looking to my family…?”

“It was a shock at first when I brought my Hispanic gf home. They got over it quickly.”

“My family doesnt care. Am with a black man and no one in my family cares as long as am happy and he treats me well.”

By analyzing people’s responses, we concluded that if foreigners plan to marry Vietnamese brides, they can easily do it, since locals welcome foreigners. Yet, we still recommend exploring more progressive cities. Vietnamese mail order brides on international dating sites usually come from more liberal families, which will create no obstacles in the future when you and your Asian love decide to tie the knot.

What You Probably Don’t Know about Vietnamese Women for Marriage

Vietnamese women for marriage often make perfect partners for American men because of their femininity, caring nature, and devotion to relationships. Yet, statistics are another factor to consider when you decide which nation to marry in. Let’s look at facts about Vietnam mail order brides:

  • According to Statista, there are 10.1% of Vietnamese women aged 30-34 and 5.5% of those aged 35-39 single. Meanwhile, approximately 51.84 million women live in Vietnam.
  • The average marriage age increased in Vietnam for both men and women: for ladies, it’s around 25 years.
  • The total fertility rate in Vietnam has reached its historic low, the source states, but compared to many other countries, it remains high, at 1.91 births per woman.
  • Do Vietnamese women like American men? Yes! The popularity of international marriages has been spreading in the country since the 1990s, with “trends” in marrying men from the USA, South Korea, Taiwan, France, and Australia.

Legality of Marrying a Vietnamese Bride

Like in the USA, it’s absolutely legal to marry foreigners in Vietnam. Women must be at least 18 years old, while men must be at least 20 years old and meet other requirements. Nevertheless, American men marrying girls from Vietnam usually bring their loved ones to the States, which is why it’s crucial to learn about the basic steps toward getting a K-1 visa for your future Vietnamese wife.

Legal Aspects
How do you bring your Vietnamese mail order bride to the USA?Fill out Form I-129F with USCIS (your petition will be sent for approval to NVC and then to the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam).
Meanwhile, your Vietnam mail order bride submits the Form DS-160. If the authorities approve your application, they will invite you to the interview to check whether your soon-to-happen marriage is real. 
Once you get the visa, you need to bring your Vietnamese bride to the USA and marry her within 90 days after the arrival, so she can apply for the Adjustment of Status. 
Usually, couples wait several months to a year to get the visa approval.
Is it costly? When applying for the K-1 visa, you pay such fees: Form I-129F, Form DS-160, medical examination, translation and photocopying charge, Form I-485 (Application to register permanent residence or to Adjust Status), and others. Generally, applicants pay around $2,400.
What documents are must-haves for the visa? – proofs of relationship; 
– passports and birth certificates; 
– photos;  
– medical exam results;  
– background check results.

What cultural expectations will you face after you marry a Vietnamese mail order bride? These are usually the expectations to be a financial provider for a family, while your Vietnamese bride will be in charge of household staff. Additionally, Vietnamese mail order brides usually don’t understand friendships with the opposite sex, so there will be “requirements” from your lady to not hang out with other females.

What Obstacles Can Arise in a Vietnamese & American Marriage, and How to Overcome Them?

There is no need to panic when you hear about obstacles in a marriage with your foreign partner. Instead, be open-minded and learn how to handle them easily, so your marriage thrives!

  • Language barriers. Only around 10% of the Vietnamese population speaks English fluently, and even if your Vietnamese mail order bride is among these people, she still may get lost in translating jokes. Besides, you may not know Vietnamese and feel like an outsider during family gatherings. What can you do in such a situation? Just stay patient and learn each other’s languages either by joining language courses or becoming teachers for each other.
  • Gender roles. When you marry a Vietnamese bride, don’t expect her to be like a progressive Western woman who pays bills 50/50 with you. As you already know, in Vietnamese societies, men are breadwinners and women are responsible for homemaking. It’s a thing that you will either accept (voluntarily or not) or discuss before marriage and decide how you handle financial and other stuff together.
  • Lifestyle. Vietnamese society is about tight communication within the family, especially with parents; they are more relaxed and prefer life to be more about family building rather than career. Meanwhile, Americans are more about independence and punctuality. These differences can be felt more when it comes to personal space and hobbies, but instead of criticizing your partner for “differences,” learn to explore their way of living.

Success Stories

“Although They Are Separate, They Are All Connected”
SakuraDate

Linh has always been close with her parents, especially her mom, like many people in Vietnam. When she and John started living together in Hanoi, they immediately felt how the difference in attitude toward family involvement impacts their relationships. John believed that a couple is a separate system (like biological systems he studied when gaining a diploma in biochemistry): “although they are all connected, they are separate.”

Lihn got pregnant, but the problems in the marriage increased. Both Lihn and John wanted to save the marriage and decided to approach this issue seriously: they talked about what decisions should never be discussed with families, and what is allowed for the “public.” For example, John was against Lihn’s mom choosing the name for their future child, and Lihn agreed with him. Meanwhile, John agreed to pay visits to Lihn’s relatives every Sunday.

Don’t Be Afraid of Discussing Money
NaomiDate

Many couples face this uncomfortable conversation about finances, and Ahn and Mikkel were no exception. When they started living together, they didn’t discuss the money matter, which led to quite a big argument. Since Ahn comes from a society where all the finances are pooled together, and spending is carefully discussed with everyone in mind, and Mikkel is used to splitting bills evenly and spending freely on hobbies, they came to a turning point when Mikkel bought a new laptop and didn’t discuss it with Ahn. Mikkel felt he was being controlled, while Ahn felt her husband was not transparent with her. How did they handle such a difficult issue? They created a joint account for shared expenses and savings, alongside small personal accounts where each could spend freely without explanation. It seems logical and easy, but financial issues are very uncomfortable to discuss, and many prefer to avoid this topic until it’s too late.

You Will Have the Best Wedding Here…

A wedding is an important day in the life of almost every Vietnamese bride. Many dream of having it like a fairy tale. But where to spend the best day in Vietnam with your lovely Asian dove? These four places may become THAT place!

  • InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. The unspoiled nature and a private bay make InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort the most popular tourist destination. But people also choose it as a wedding venue that offers lavish spaces, private pools, and flawless cuisine to have an air ceremony in a cocktail style.
  • Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai. Offering access to three UNESCO heritage sites and being located on the country’s most famous beaches, this resort can become an excellent place for your wedding with a Vietnamese bride. On the menu — tranquil villas, spa, pools, and tropical gardens that will make a paradise-like wedding reception.
  • JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa. This lovely hotel is a wedding spot for couples who want access to spa, beachfront villas, and tasty cuisine, and get their romantic wedding kiss at the Kiss Bridge.
  • Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa. With 9.2/10 stars on Booking, this resort attracts young couples who want to enjoy the 17 villas with French architecture. The spa center will delight the guests with massage areas and steam baths, while the pine forest and an intimate setting of event halls will be perfect for your wedding reception.

Conclusion

Aspenweddingguide.com told you the most crucial aspects of a marriage with a Vietnamese mail order bride. Hopefully, the info on Vietnamese marriage customs and handling challenges, as well as the statistics about Vietnamese brides, will help you build a better relationship with your future Vietnamese wife. And if you are interested in learning about other nations, read other articles on our website!

Kelsey Stamps
Hey, I’m Kelsey! I studied Social Psychology at CU Boulder and now split my time between writing about dreamy Aspen wedding spots, clever planning hacks, and real talk on international marriages (yep, American guys and foreign girls). I also run a small psychology practice, helping couples navigate love, culture, and everything in between. Connection and honesty are my non-negotiables.
Related Articles
Our site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to personalize our content and analyze our traffic.