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Column[Global Series: Marriage and Assets] Vietnam: Preparing for Marriage
- Release date: Feb 07, 2023
- Update date: Oct 14, 2025
- 3897 Views
Vietnam, a country with a population of approximately 100 million, an average age of 31, and rapid economic growth, has drawn global attention. In recent years, trends and lifestyles have undergone significant changes. This article introduces the necessary preparations for marriage and the financial circumstances during and after marriage in contemporary Vietnam, featuring the story of Mr. Tin (28, self-employed), who married in 2018 and lives in Ho Chi Minh City, a southern Vietnamese city.
About Assets and Betrothal Gifts to Prepare When Getting Married
In Vietnam, there are no set requirements for assets prepared by the groom or bride's family when obtaining marriage permission. While there is a culture where the groom's family presents a dowry to the bride's family, some families may not have a dowry. When a dowry is paid, the standard amount ranges from 35,000,000 to 51,500,000 dong (approximately 200,000 to 300,000 yen). Furthermore, while in Japan the betrothal money is often paid about six months before the wedding ceremony, in traditional Vietnamese weddings it is common practice to present it during the ceremony itself as part of the proceedings.
Regarding assets prepared for marriage and marriage itself, according to Ms. Tinh, who married in 2018, "If marrying a foreigner, betrothal money is essential (*), but among Vietnamese couples, it isn't considered very important. While some families may prioritize assets like land, most Vietnamese focus more on the wedding expenses. Both my husband and I work in Ho Chi Minh City, so we held two weddings: one at my family home in a rural area of central Vietnam and another at a wedding venue in Ho Chi Minh City for friends and work colleagues. This pattern is common among people from rural areas working in the city.
This is also intended to prevent sham marriages, serving as proof of income and verification of financial circumstances.
The assets of the bride and groom Weddings typically invite around 300 to 500 guests, and couples tend to spend money on the ceremony itself, wedding photos, and other aspects to maintain the family's and their own prestige. Recently, the variety and quality of wedding-related services have increased, and with economic growth, the wedding industry is expected to continue expanding.
Vietnam, where interest in marriage is high.
(Question) Q5 Please select all life events that interest you.
(1) Marriage
(2) Having children
(3) Retirement
(4) None of the above
Source: Inteage Independent Survey (Survey on Life Events and Assets in 9 Countries)
URL: https://www.global-market-surfer.com/report/detail/152/
*Survey overview is provided at the end of this document.
Regarding Home Purchase After Marriage
In Vietnam, many people commute from rural areas to work in urban centers. Consequently, it is common for them to purchase a detached house when they return to their hometowns for life events such as marriage, having children, or retirement. It is also not uncommon for them to simply inherit their family home from their parents and live together there.
Regarding transportation, a key consideration when purchasing a house or apartment, while public transport infrastructure like trains is not well-developed, many Vietnamese own motorbikes. Consequently, there tends to be less emphasis on living in the very heart of the city center. In Vietnam, the scarcity of parking spaces for cars and the widespread use of ride-sharing apps like Grab mean many Vietnamese feel they don't need to own a car themselves.
One reason many people avoid purchasing homes in central areas is concern over air pollution, a significant issue within Vietnam. According to a March 2022 air pollution survey by IQAir, a Swiss company selling medical and industrial air purifiers, Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, ranked third globally in the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures pollution levels. Consequently, when choosing a place to live for themselves, people tend to opt for areas outside the city center with less environmental pollution, seeking a secure environment for marriage, raising children, and retirement.
When purchasing a home in Vietnam, people prioritize factors such as “good public safety” and “good air quality.”
Source: Intage Independent Survey (Survey on Life Events and Assets in 9 Countries)
URL: https://www.global-market-surfer.com/report/detail/152/
*Survey overview is provided at the end of this document.
Meanwhile, a significant apartment construction boom is underway, particularly in the city center. It is not uncommon for apartments to sell out before construction even begins. Investment property and home purchases are thriving in Vietnam, with a growing trend of people buying apartments and single-family homes, mainly in the city center, to generate real estate income.
Regarding the assets (gold) held
In Vietnam, the 10th day of the first lunar month is known as “God of Wealth Day (Ngày Vía Thần Tài).” It is believed that buying gold on this day ensures a prosperous year in business and financial security. Consequently, many Vietnamese purchase gold at jewelry stores on this day. Purchases are often made by parents or grandparents, and it is not uncommon to see children under the age of five wearing gold accessories like necklaces. On celebratory occasions like birthdays, children sometimes give gold to their parents.
In addition to high gold holdings, investment property purchases have been booming in recent years.
Source: Intage Independent Survey (Survey on Life Events and Assets in 9 Countries)
URL: https://www.global-market-surfer.com/report/detail/152/
*Survey overview is provided at the end of this document.
According to Mr. Tin, “Many people, especially the elderly, prefer to keep their money at home rather than deposit it in banks. While Vietnam's economy is growing, you never know what might happen. That's why I carefully hold onto the gold my parents and grandmother passed down to me as an asset. This is also part of our culture, so when I have children, I plan to give them gold too.” This reflects a tendency to value gold as a stable asset.
What is Consumer Life Panorama?
This is a website-type database that has accumulated visual data on more than 1,000 sei-katsu-sha from 18 countries around the world. The database includes many 3D models of living environments and 2D data of items owned by each sei-katsu-sha, and is useful for understanding overseas sei-katsu-sha, which is difficult to grasp using only letters and numbers.
Using visual data such as those cited in this column,
Compare the differences in the attributes of overseas consumers
To get a realistic understanding of the actual usage of each category
To understand the overall lifestyle of target consumers
etc., can be utilized as a “no-go” home visit survey.
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Author profile
TNC Lifestyle Researcher
Lifestyle Researchers, a network of 600 Japanese women living in 100 regions across 70 countries worldwide, operated by TNC Co., Ltd., uncovers trends invisible in statistics and captures authentic voices from consumers. Based on this raw information, we provide proposals for solving corporate challenges and develop product concepts. https://www.tenace.co.jp/
Profile: Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for about 12 years. I observe daily life and changing trends in Vietnam. Compared to 10 years ago, flashy weddings and luxury cars are becoming increasingly common. While survey results show Vietnam still lags behind other countries in terms of money and assets, I expect this trend to continue rising steadily.
