What Are Included in the Wedding Betrothal Gifts in the Mekong Delta?
Key Takeaways
- Wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam include what items? This issue attracts a great deal of interest. Because when people mention weddings in Western Vietnam, they become curious about the bride’s family’s...
Wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam include what items? This issue attracts a great deal of interest. Because when people mention weddings in Western Vietnam, they become curious about the bride’s family’s marriage demands. So is this true, and what are those gifts? In this article, we will share more clearly, let’s explore it now!
The custom of marriage demands in Western Vietnam
Marriage demands are a distinctive custom in the weddings of people in Western Vietnam. Here, the bride’s family requires the groom’s family to bring certain gifts in the wedding betrothal offerings. Usually, these include cash, gold, jewelry, … for the wedding ceremony.

Marriage demands are a unique custom of people in Western Vietnam
Marriage demands in Western Vietnam can be a specific amount or a specific gift. For example, the bride’s family may ask the groom’s family for 1 tael of gold, 15 or 20 million VND in cash, betel and areca, wine and medicine… along with jewelry for the bride.
There are even many places where the marriage demands are extremely “unique” and interesting. For example, in Cà Mau, the bride’s family requires a roasted pig weighing exactly 100kg, and the wedding jewelry for the bride must include earrings, a necklace ring, rings, bracelets, and a necklace.
This practice of marriage demands also often causes a lot of controversy. Some people believe this is an outdated custom that causes expense for both families. Others believe that marriage demands are a way for the bride’s family to show respect to the groom’s family.
Nowadays, many families in Western Vietnam have gradually abandoned the custom of marriage demands. Instead, the two families negotiate together to find suitable betrothal gifts. This helps avoid unnecessary expense and conflict between the two sides.
What items are included in wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam?
Betrothal gifts for engagement ceremonies or weddings in Western Vietnam specifically are not different from the Southern region in general. The wedding gifts also include 6 or 8 trays that the groom’s family needs to prepare for the bride’s family. Specifically, they include:

What items are included in wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam?
Betel and areca tray
Betel and areca are indispensable components in Vietnamese wedding betrothal gifts in general and those of Western Vietnam in particular. Betel and areca symbolize luck, reunion, and happiness. The betel and areca tray usually contains an odd number of areca nuts, commonly 105 areca nuts accompanied by 210 betel leaves.
Tea, wine, and candles offerings
The wedding gifts of tea, wine, and candles are used to offer to ancestors and deceased grandparents. This is meant to show the respect of descendants and usually includes 1 pot of tea, 1 bottle of wine, and 2 candles.
Fruit tray
Wedding gifts in Western Vietnam also cannot be without a fruit tray. This offering symbolizes the sweet and prosperous married life of the young couple. This gift usually includes fruits such as apples, mangoes, oranges, grapes, pears, tangerines…
Gac sticky rice tray
The gac sticky rice tray is a wedding betrothal gift in Western Vietnam symbolizing luck and complete happiness. This wedding gift usually includes 1 tray of bright red gac sticky rice along with 1 chicken.
Tea, wine, and ceremonial money
This is quite an important item in the wedding betrothal tray in Western Vietnam. Because the ceremonial money represents the dowry portion that the groom’s family prepares for the bride’s family. In addition, this tray also includes 1 pot of tea, 1 bottle of wine, and 1 tray of candies.
Wedding gold jewelry
The jewelry offering is also very important in wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam. The wedding gold is prepared by the groom’s family to present to the bride on the wedding day. This valuable gift shows respect and the wish for the couple to live together in lasting happiness.

Wedding jewelry is an important betrothal gift on the wedding day
In addition to the gifts above, wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam may also include other gift trays or cakes… Depending on finances and requirements, the groom’s family will prepare a suitable set of betrothal trays.
Why choose diamond jewelry as wedding betrothal gifts?
Wedding jewelry is an indispensable gift in wedding betrothal offerings in all regions of Vietnam. This is the gift prepared by the groom’s family to present to the bride during the wedding ceremony. Therefore, choosing jewelry is also extremely important.
Diamond jewelry, especially diamond wedding rings, is currently a new trend with a modern and luxurious style that many people choose today. So why is diamond jewelry so favored? It is because:
- It brings a proud, noble, luxurious, and classy beauty to the wearer.
- It brings spiritual and material value to the bride on the wedding day, showing respect and the wish for complete happiness for the young couple.
- It demonstrates financial capability and care for the bride when she goes to her husband’s home.
- Diamond jewelry can be passed down to future generations and increases in value over time. Therefore, it is also a gift that helps young couples have additional savings for the future.

Figure 4: Luxurious, elegant, and trendy diamond wedding jewelry
>> Wedding betrothal gifts are high-end luxurious diamond jewelry
Some questions about wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam
What are marriage demands?
Marriage demands are a custom of people in Western Vietnam, in which the bride’s family asks the groom’s family to bring betrothal gifts according to their requirements. Marriage demands can be cash, gold, jewelry, or other requested items…
Are wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam still suitable in modern society?
Wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam are still suitable in modern society, but appropriate adjustments are needed. Specifically, the number of gift trays should be reduced, and too much emphasis should not be placed on marriage demands,…
What is the meaning of wedding jewelry in wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam?
Wedding jewelry in wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam symbolizes prosperity and wealth for the new life of the young married couple. Gold is a symbol of preciousness and durability.
Wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam have some differences compared to other regions. Although the custom of marriage demands still exists in some places, the betrothal gifts still need to include important offerings. Hopefully, you now understand more and have learned additional information about wedding betrothal gifts in Western Vietnam. If you are looking for beautiful, meaningful, and high-quality wedding jewelry, please explore more at Jemmia.vn!