Groom Lâm Tuấn Anh, 25 and bride Mỹ Loan, 20, both residing in Đông Phú District decided to dispense with beer and serve bottled water and soft drinks at their wedding. — Photo thanhnien.vn

Weddings across the world are normally boozy affairs, and Việt Nam is no exception.

You can expect to down more than a few shots of rice wine to toast newlyweds up and down the country, but one couple in the southern province of Bình Phước have bucked the trend and opted for a dry wedding.

Groom Lâm Tuấn Anh, 25 and bride Mỹ Loan, 20, both residing in Đông Phú District decided to dispense with beer and serve bottled water and soft drinks at their wedding.

Many guests at the party were stunned, expecting to be in for an evening dulling their senses with alcohol only to be met with water.

Some were upset initially, but apparently the happy couple’s desire for everyone to stay awake and drive home in one piece was accepted, presumably grudgingly.

Trần Văn Vinh, chairman of Đông Phú District People’s Committee, said it was the first healthy wedding party in the locality, adding that authorities have encouraged couples to limit the use of alcohol at weddings.  

Drink-driving has become a hot button issue in Việt Nam at last, so maybe suffering through a wedding or two sober is worth it to reduce traffic chaos. — VNS