French national Tiberghien Frédo, 48, has decided to live the rest of his life in Vietnam after marrying a Dao ethnic girl, 24 years younger than him, in the northern province of Yen Bai.

Born in Paris, Frédo is of mixed French and Vietnamese descent. He worked as a horse caretaker and a carpenter to earn a living.

Hearing stories about Vietnam, he aspired to arrive in the Southeast Asian nation one day, and his dream came true in 1994.

He attended a Vietnamese language course and then travelled the length and breadth of Vietnam by motorbike to discover the country. He then worked as a tourist guide to make ends meet.

Frédo later received a licence to open a travel company, arranging inbound and outbound tours for holiday-makers.

Living far from Paris for 20 years, the boss of the travel company says Vietnam is his second hometown and he will live the rest of his life here after marrying a Dao ethnic girl. 

 

 

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Dressed in a Dao costume, Frédo is excited about the wedding.

 

 

 

 

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His wife, Ly Kieu Xuan, a Dao ethnic girl, was born in 1990 in Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province.

 

 

 

 

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He is living and working at an ecological site in Yen Binh district where he falls in love with the Dao girl.

 

 

 

 

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The traditional wedding party lasts three days and two nights.

 

 

 

 

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Getting out of the house, Frédo is required to wear a new hat which is believed to protect the groom along the way. The groom’s group must stop over at the matchmaker’s house and move on to the bride’s house only when the clock strikes 17.00 – a prime time.

 

 

 

 

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The groom’s group must have 11 people, including group leader, groom, best men, and  youths who are good at duet singing.

 

 

 

 

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The groom brings to the bride's family gifts including a silver bracelet, betel and areca, salt, tea, a cake, wine, and 8 fish made of paper.


 

 

 

 

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After procedures are complete, the groom is allowed to step in with his left foot. The sorcerer then carries out the foot washing ritual.

 

 

 

 

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A small bamboo tube with 24 Dong leaves inside is burned to ash, and Dao people believe the couple will enjoy happiness with luck.

 

 

 

 

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The bride holds a BA degree in tourism. She falls in love with Frédo working in the same industry.


 

 

 

 

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 When the groom and his best men arrive, they are stopped by the bride’s friends, asking for duet singing.

 

 

 

 

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According to the tradition, the Dao bride must wear a large mask or she will receive bad luck.

 

 

 

 

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In Fedro’s wedding, the bride is allowed not to wear the mask

 

 

 

 

 

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When arriving in the groom’s house, the bride is only allowed to step in after 18.00

 

 

 

 

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A best man leads the bride up the ladder. The groom must not see the bride until the ancestral ritual is complete.

 

 

 

 

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The sorcerer carries out the foot washing ritual for the bride

 

 

 

 

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Wedding guests drink to the couple’s health and happiness.

 


 

Zing/VOV/VNN