A recent engagement ceremony between a young woman from Khanh Hoa and a man from Mongolia has captured the hearts of netizens, thanks to its unique blend of Vietnamese and Mongolian wedding customs.
Photos and videos of the engagement, shared widely online, show the groom in traditional Mongolian attire, arriving with his parents and relatives to formally propose marriage.
In respect of Vietnamese customs, the groom presented ceremonial trays including betel leaves, areca nuts, and intricately prepared traditional sweets. The bride, dressed in a red áo dài, joined him in performing time-honored rituals such as ancestor offerings, the bride-request ceremony, and expressing gratitude to both families.
The video has garnered hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of likes. Many viewers left excited comments, such as: “I’ve seen many Vietnamese women marry Americans, Germans, Chinese, even Africans - but this is my first time seeing one marry a Mongolian!” and “Vietnamese and Mongolian cultures combine beautifully in this engagement ceremony.”
The groom (in white) leads his family in a formal proposal ceremony at the bride’s home.
According to the bride, Nguyen Hoang Bao Ngoc (born in 2001, from Khanh Hoa), and the groom, Khosbayar (born in 1999, Mongolia), the ceremony took place on December 29.
Bao Ngoc told VietNamNet that the groom traveled from Mongolia to Vietnam with 12 relatives including his parents, grandmother, uncles, and aunts.
The engagement was conducted in line with Vietnamese traditions but also included key elements of Mongolian culture.
The groom’s family prepared 12 ceremonial trays: six following Vietnamese customs (such as betel nuts and sweets) and six showcasing Mongolian elements, including dairy products, traditional Mongolian liquor, and symbolic handmade items representing the steppes. One standout tray was a luxury pair of designer shoes gifted to the bride.
The ceremonial trays prepared by the groom’s family.
Memorable moments from the engagement ceremony.
“At the bride’s home, a member of the groom’s family held a white scarf and a bowl of cow’s milk as a gesture of respect when asking my father for permission to receive the bride,” Ngoc recalled. “They also offered a bride price that included gold and cash.”
Before the engagement, Khosbayar and his family had carefully studied Vietnamese wedding traditions to ensure everything was performed properly. They also wanted to incorporate meaningful elements of their own culture to create harmony between the two families.
“With everything my husband and his family have done, I feel truly respected,” Ngoc shared. “They were also surprised at how formal and sacred the Vietnamese engagement ceremony was - with so many guests and rituals to follow.”
A love story built on patience and respect
Bao Ngoc and Khosbayar met in 2021 while studying in Japan. Initially attending different classes, they only knew each other in passing until a shared course brought them together - and Khosbayar fell in love.
“Mongolian men are very expressive when they fall in love. My husband was no exception,” said Ngoc. “He sat next to me in every class and made it obvious that I was the one he wanted.”
During their time together, Ngoc came to appreciate Khosbayar’s kindness, devotion to family, and thoughtful nature. After a year and a half of his tireless efforts, she accepted his love.
“Long-distance wasn’t a concern for us because we both planned to live and work in Japan,” she explained.
In August 2024, Ngoc visited Mongolia to meet his family. The trip left her in awe.
“People often associate Mongolia with vast grasslands and nomadic tents, but the reality I saw was a modern, developed country,” she said.
The couple after four years of courtship.The bride in a traditional áo dài during the engagement ceremony. Photos: Courtesy of the couple
Ngoc was welcomed with warm embraces from her future in-laws. Their openness and kindness quickly erased any sense of distance or foreignness.
“I felt like I had found a second home,” she said.
“Mongolian people are interesting - when they accidentally step on someone’s foot, they shake hands and laugh instead of getting upset. When we first met, Khosbayar stepped on my foot and immediately reached out his hand. That surprised me because we barely knew each other at the time.”
“When I first met him, he only weighed 50kg. After falling in love and eating all the Vietnamese dishes I cooked for him, he gained up to 80kg,” she laughed.
After four years of getting to know each other, the couple decided to marry. Their wedding will be held in the near future.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
