TEA CEREMONY

The Vietnamese tea ceremony is an essential part of a traditional Vietnamese wedding. It consists of two main events: the engagement ceremony and the wedding ceremony.

During the engagement ceremony, the groom’s family visits the bride’s family bearing gifts such as tea, fruits, nuts, cake, and wine. This visit serves as an introduction of the two families and is followed by a celebratory lunch where both families come together.

The wedding ceremony involves the groom’s family presenting gifts to the bride’s family and requesting to receive the bride. A candle and incense lighting ceremony symbolises the unity of the two families, followed by the couple serving tea to the bride’s family. This gesture is reciprocated with advice and blessings from the family members, along with the exchange of gifts such as jewellery and red pockets.

The tea ceremony is a significant part of the wedding and involves the participation of the bride, groom, parents, relatives, elders, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. Traditional Vietnamese attire called Ao Dai is worn by the couple during the ceremony, and various rituals take place, including door games and the offering of tea to family members.

The entire process of the Vietnamese wedding tea ceremony can take a substantial amount of time, often lasting an entire morning. It is recommended to start the ceremony early in the morning or the day before. While rings can be exchanged during this ceremony, some couples may choose to have a separate ring ceremony in a church or civil setting.

The Vietnamese tea ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a strong and unified relationship, and its significance is deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture.