Around Ho Chi Minh

Today we hung out at the house watching movies until about noon. We really needed some rest and relaxation to recover from the trip.

Today we went to the local grocery store where we purchased rice wine to take back with us. It was interesting to see the different types of foods displayed in the grocery store. The store also sold clothing. I tried finding a pair of dress pants, but they fit really differently in the thighs. I found a nice pair of beach shorts for two dollars.

Today we went to get back massages at a local massage parlor. Hong's dad took us and treated us to the massage. It was really relaxing to get massaged and then to sit in the steam room. We where relaxed and ready for the rest of the day. The roughness from the roadtrip really wore us out!

Today has been one of the most rewarding days of the trip. We went to Hong's friend's Vietnamese Wedding Reception. The 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. It is traditional for a married couple to care for the man's parents; subsequently, it is very important to have a son!

The wedding reception is the portion we got to attend. The bride and groom greet each in attendance at the door. Guests present, instead of gifts, red envelopes containing Vietnamese Dong. Hong, Charles, and I presented the gift to the couple and where welcomed to the reception. Talk about being the only two white people in the crowd! We sure did get our fare share of stares when we entered the room.

The Bride and Groom sat at the back of the room facing the stage where the MC started the show. The Brides Maids and Grooms Men all participated in a choreographed stage dance dedicated to the couple. It was an amazing presentation, and I've decided I am having my wedding party do a stage dance like the one I saw.

Next the bride and groom join the wedding party on stage. The runway, where the bride and groom stood, slowly moved towards the main stage area. The MC introduced the couple and balloons exploded with confetti around the reception. The respected Mother and Father of each the bride and groom took their opportunity to say a few words to the crowd. Wine is then poured into glasses that are arranged in a pyramid where the wine filters into each glass from the top down. The couple then serves each of the parents and they toast to a successful marriage. The cake is then cut, but not served for reasons unknown.

Following these festivities a large traditional Vietnamese dinner is served. We had fried squid, pig tongue, salad, Mekong Spicy Soup, Fried Baby Pig, and jelly. Throughout dinner friends take turns singing songs to the couple. Tiger Beer is served and plenty of celebration occurred! It was really hard to keep up with eating and drinking as much as the table of Hong’s friends where doing. 1-2-3 YOOO! or Cheers is heard throughout the room! Glasses are clicked together and someone yells 50%, 100%, or whatever is preferred. Whatever is yelled is how much you must drink from your glass. I don't think that I have ever been that full in my entire life!! The Vietnamese people, I'm convinced, have bottomless pits for stomachs. They eat and eat and eat and eat. I usually stop 3/4s of the way through the meal. I just can not each that much! It’s really hard to say no to them also!

The bride and grooms family where really appreciative of our attendance at their special occassion. They got us to take pictures with the family and where eager to talk to us. We felt really welcomed by the family.
Following the reception we went to a coffee shop where Hong and his friends chatted about good times in high school.