The ceremony for the new bride in the Thai community of Nghe An.

In other communities, after the wedding ceremony, the bride goes to her husband's home, officially becoming a member of his family, and only then do many important events begin. However, in the Thai community of western Nghe An province, the bride continues to be welcomed by her husband's relatives with several traditional rituals and customs. These aim to create a bond of unity and closeness, helping the new bride feel confident as if she is returning to her own home. The tradition of "Hăng vắn" (a traditional custom) and giving gifts to the new bride is a cultural practice that embodies this meaning.

Thai brides and grooms have a "hăng ngắn" ceremony after their wedding. Photo: Luong Nga

Since ancient times, in the wedding ceremonies of the Thai people in mountainous districts such as Que Phong, Quy Chau, and Quy Hop (Nghe An province), when the bride comes to her husband's home, she always brings dowry gifts such as mattresses, pillows, blankets, and colorful embroidered Thai dresses... which she herself wove to give to her husband's family. These gifts, although not of high monetary value, express the daughter-in-law's gratitude and appreciation to her husband's family.

In the past, Thai girls as young as 13 had to go into the forest to gather reeds, dry them, and strip the flowers to use as raw material; they also had to find other plants to dye their brocade fabrics. Young women also had to learn weaving and embroidery. The more skillful a girl was, the more attention she attracted from the young men in the surrounding villages. Parents also looked at her behavior, hard work, and the items she created when choosing a daughter-in-law for their family.

Each item the girl made before getting married was intended as a gift for different members of her future husband's family. Skirts embroidered with dragon and sun motifs, crafted from silk, would be given to her mother-in-law and her husband's sisters. Cushions, pillows, and other items would be given to her husband's grandparents and aunts and uncles. If, by the time she got married, she hadn't finished preparing everything, relatives could pitch in to help or donate one or two sets of bedding and other items. And when a relative's child got married, they would reciprocate the favor.

Thai girls weave their own brocade fabrics to use as dowry when they get married. Photo: Nguyen Sach

After the wedding ceremonies are completed, the bride goes to her husband's home. Three to four days later, her husband's relatives will choose an auspicious day to welcome her to their home for the "Hang Van" ceremony (a ritual to honor the newlyweds). The bride will bring gifts to the host family to express her gratitude to her husband's relatives. Following this, the host family invites a shaman to perform the "Hang Van" ceremony. The offering tray is placed in the main room of the house, containing boiled pork, chopped into small pieces and arranged around the tray. In the center is white sticky rice, while the pig's feet, tail, and head are left intact and facing the ancestral altar.

This offering tray symbolizes the prosperity and well-being of the husband's family, with the hope that the young couple will feel more secure about their future life. Beside it are two lit beeswax candles neatly placed on the tray. The candlelight seems to say that, despite the rain and sun, the bond of their love will never fade; the couple should support each other and overcome life's difficulties together. The tray also includes two bowls: one containing white salt, and the other filled with meat and sticky rice, reserved for the young couple by the shaman. Two plates are also placed: one with two pieces of betel nut, and one empty plate for receiving gifts from relatives. The tray also contains six pairs of chopsticks and two cups of wine. All items on the offering tray must be in even numbers.

After the shaman finishes the ceremony, the young couple will drink two cups of white wine together, eat a portion of sticky rice and pork from a bowl, and then receive two pieces of betel nut to put in their mouths. At the same time, relatives from the groom's side will come to bless and give gifts to the bride. Gifts include cash, new fabrics, or silver bracelets. While giving the gifts, the bride's mother-in-law will introduce each person's position so that the bride can gradually get acquainted. Next, everyone will take the young couple's hands to tie a lucky thread and offer their best wishes to the young couple. Finally, each person will go to the offering table, take a little sticky rice and pork, dip it in white salt, and put it in their mouth, tasting a little spicy wine as if to share with the young couple the difficulties and wishes for a prosperous future.

A bride preparing to go to her husband's home. Photo: PV

After the ceremony concludes, everyone gathers around the table for a meal, toasts, and talks about the young couple's future plans. The warm family atmosphere makes the bride feel comfortable and at ease as she becomes a daughter-in-law in her husband's family.

Nowadays, while the wedding ceremony of the Thai ethnic group has become simpler and less elaborate, the essence and beautiful values ​​of those customs are still preserved. The gifts given to the groom's family have also decreased. The gifts are prepared according to the actual circumstances of both families. To avoid wasting time and money on the traditional "long and simple" ceremony and gift-giving, people now usually hold the ceremony at the groom's house instead of bringing the bride to each relative's house as before.

Although life has changed, the "Hang Van" ceremony expresses the gratitude of children to their ancestors, grandparents, parents, and other family members. It reflects the love and unity of the Thai community. It also serves as a lesson from parents to their children for a better life.