VietNamNet Bridge – At the end of the year or the wedding season, we would like to invite you to attend a traditional wedding ceremony of Dao quan trang ethnic minority group in Yen Bai a northern mountainous province in Vietnam.

There are four groups of Dao people in Yen Bai province: Dao do, Dao quant rang, Dao quan chet and Dao lan tuyen. Dao people live in the four districts of Van Yen, Tran Yen, Yen Binh and Luc Yen.

Dao quan trang’s wedding ceremony takes place within a span three days and two nights. However, most Dao quan trang families have simplified the procedures.

Before the wedding, the two families have to prepare food,

worshipping items and ong mo, ba mo.

To bring the bride home the groom’s family must send a group of 11 people,

including a leader, the master of the wedding ceremony, the groom,

a groomsman and young men who can sing well. All must wear traditional attire.

After arriving at the bride’s home, the groom (yellow coat), will go

directly to the bride’s room and stay one night there while the bride is hidden somewhere.

Outside, the wedding ceremony continues on.

Preparation for the bride to come to her husband’s home.

At a fixed time, the bride will return to her room, covering her face with a fan.

She will wear the yellow coat that the groom wore the day before.

The groom’s group sings to welcome the bride.

At around 10 pm, the bride will be brought to her husband’s house.

The group will have to stop somewhere to wait for an appropriate good

time (5-6 pm) to enter the groom’s home.

A girl from the groom’s family will cover the bride with an umbrella, meaning the

groom’s family will protect the bride. The groom is not allowed to welcome or

look at his bride’s face until rituals are done.

PV