Marriages not only reflected the lovers' but also had to meet the interests of the family lines, the village;

thus, the choice for future bride or bridegroom was done very carefully, which had to go through many formalities from the plighting ceremony, the official proposal to the bride's family, the wedding to the marriage tie, the ritual of sharing bridal cup of wine, the newly-weds' first visit to the bride's family.

There are two wedding celebrations, one party given by bride's family and the other by the grooms. In the past, families enlisted the help of matchmakers to choose marriage partners.

Couples also consulted fortune-tellers to see if their horoscopes were compatible and to choose auspicious days for ceremonies.

Ceremonies for the proposal and the engagement ceremony may now be held two weeks before the wedding.

The Vietnamese wedding ceremony consists of two parts.

On the first day the groom with his parents and a small group of family members or friends-goes to the bride's home to seek her parents' permission to marry her.

Often, the groom presents the traditional offering of betel leaves and areca nuts to the bride's family.

After the groom has made this formal proposal of marriage, the bride's family makes a similar request to its ancestors at the family altar.

On the second day, there is a celebration after the bride and groom performed certain rituals at an altar set up for the occasion. Traditionally, at this ceremony held at the groom's house, the tutelary god of marriage, the Old Man in the Moon, is asked to bless and protect the couple.

Three tiny cups are filled with rice alcohol. The elder who leads the ceremony bows before the altar, takes a sip from one of cups, and passes it to who does likewise.

The groom then takes a piece of ginger and rubs it in salt, and both bride and groom eat a little of it to signify their lasting love. Only then are they ready to exchange wedding ring. These days, the two ceremonies are often held on the same day.

Once the solemnities are over, it is time for a feast with family and friends.

If the couple can afford it, the wedding feast is celebrated at a restaurant and a wedding car is hired for the occasion.

Most Vietnamese have adopted Western attired-a bridal gown for the woman and a suit for a dowry before he was permitted to marry a Vietnamese woman.

Traditionally, the groom wears the Traditional Dress (blue ao-dai - Vietnamese Traditional Wedding Dress) and the bride has to wear the Traditional Dress (red and yellow aodai).

This practice is not formally observed these days, but men are still expected to give jewelry and other gifts to the bride.

It is traditional for a married couple to care for the man's parents; subsequently, it is very important to have a son!

If there is only one son, he and his wife must live with his parents.

Family continuity is accorded highest consideration.

And for a family without boys there is sadness and serious concern.

It is not unusual for parents, seeing that the only son has not chance of having male heirs to carry on the family's name, to try and try.

And it necessary, to succeeding tremendous pressure on a son and daughter in-law to find another woman for their son, even at the risk of creating a family rupture.

The parents control almost all of the children's life, even though they are over eighteen years of age.

1.A photocopy of the applicant's birth certificate. In case the birth certificate is in languages other than English, proper translation into English must be submitted.

2.A photocopy of applicant's passport.

3.A letter by the local vital statistics office certifies that no marriage license or marriage certificate of the applicant is found within the state where the applicant is residing in. The search period must be started from the year when the applicant was 18-year-old up to date. In case the applicant was divorced, or the spouse has been deceased, this period must be started from the year when divorced or death occurred.

4.Affidavit of single status, notarized and authenticated by the Office of Authentication at the Department of State, where applicant is resided. A notarized and authenticated photocopy of the divorce decree with former spouse must be submitted if the applicant has been divorced. In case the former spouse is deceased, a certified photocopy of death certificate must be submitted.

5.A certificate of a medical organization or a doctor confirming that the person concerned is not mentally ill or infected with disease or HIV. Results of HIV and PRP test must be included, this document also must be duly notarized and authenticated by the Office of Authentication at the Department of State, where applicant is resided.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1.All above mentioned papers should be sent to the Vietnam Embassy for notarization and legalization in consistent with Vietnamese regulations.

2.A service fee will be applied for the authentication and translation . This fee must be paid to the "Embassy of Vietnam" in forms of MONEY ORDER or CHECK; cash is not accepted. You can check with the Vietnam Embassy for the current fee schedule.

Overseas Vietnamese born in Vietnam must enclose two 4cm by 6cm (2"x2") photographs; all other foreigners must enclose one photograph. Enclose all forms and photographs with the passport and the visa fee. The pictures should be of the head and shoulders only, taken without a hat.

These pictures have to be no older than a year before the date of filing application. The paper works must be sent to a Vietnamese diplomatic representative office (the embassies), or consulate general of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in the most convenient country. The remaining form with photographs should be carried by the applicant and handed to the tourist agency on arrival at the first point of entry in Vietnam.

Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax. Travelers' luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed or given as gifts. Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs forms. Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping.