Marriage & Family in Vietnamese Culture

Описание: Vietnamese guy explains about marriage and family customs in Vietnam, about dowry expections, increasing divorce rates, and looking after parents into old age.

The groom’s family traditionally prepares a dowry, often wrapped in red, as a gift for the bride’s parents. This gift serves as a thank you for raising the daughter and symbolizes the groom’s commitment to bringing her into his home to care for his parents. It is common for Vietnamese couples to live with the husband’s parents after marriage. This tradition is partly due to the lack of old-age homes and pensions in Vietnam, meaning children are expected to care for their elderly or sick parents. While it depends on individual circumstances, many Vietnamese women still expect a dowry and a stable economic foundation after marriage, with men often expected to provide for the family if the wife is unemployed. Living with in-laws, particularly the mother-in-law, can lead to intergenerational conflicts. Combined with other pressures like economic hardship, this often results in high divorce rates among young Vietnamese couples, sometimes within months or a year of marriage. Younger Vietnamese generations increasingly prefer freedom, with many opting not to marry or have children.

Date: 08 Jul 2025
Huế, Hue City, Vietnam