Cousin's wedding in hometown - 11/25

We went back to Thao's hometown again, for her cousin's wedding. This time we took the 60km trip by bus. Actually in the beginning Thao didn't want to go back again because she was afraid of the long trip and that is not good for Katie. But I love to see weddings in hometown because it is lots of fun and so many people there, many kinds of food and people always are busy cooking and eating. And the most important is that every time when Thao comes back to her hometown she can eat a lot, not like in Hanoi where she doesn't eat much because as long as she is cooking the smell already makes her full. So this time taking the bus wasn't too bad because it was during the week so not too many people.

When we finally arrived, we both were very hungry and Thao asked me to go to her cousin's house to eat first. But it seems that there was nothing to eat there because it's late now and people are busy cooking for dinner. The wedding is for 2 days, but now it is the first day like engagement day, and already people have been here for a few days to come to help and eat. So we both have to wait for people to cook.




At the back of the house in the garden, people are busy making roasted pork. I tried this before in other cousin's wedding, and it tastes really good when it is still hot. I think I helped more at this wedding than for my own wedding! ;))




It's good to wait near the workers, because you can grab the meat as soon as its ready! Good that the hungry pregnant girl also remembers to feed her husband...




Yummy... tastes really good. And I love to see Thao eat alottttttttt.... I know she loves this kind of cooking very much...




This is the fire where they get the hot coals ready.




Then they cook the pork like this.






Of course it wouldn't be a Vietnamese wedding without the wine! Yes, the workers get thirsty too! About 10 guys making meat like this, they must eat at least 5 kg of meat already.




Little boys in the wedding. The boy in the middle is the bride's youngest brother.




This is the beef getting ready. It was amazing to see how much food they were cooking!




And here is the ham, we tried some before it really like it.



Roasted pork. Good job guys. Thats why they look so happy;))







Looks nice.




The old women are making their chewing tobacco leaves... In the wedding the old men and women like to eat this. Also in engagement day the groom's family has to bring those to the bride's house. It is a symbol of happiness.




They carve the fruit by hand with a small knife.




Another different kind of food made from beef....




Here is where all the women are helping... This wedding is a bit different from our wedding because Thao parents rented people from a restaurant to come and cook, but here all people from the village and people from family come to cook... It's fun when a lot of people do things together.











Many different kind of pots for, rice, sticky rice, soup, boiled chicken...






With all that food, you can imagine how many people will come to eat in this wedding!




hahahah.... here is my dad's drinking buddy from our wedding! Nooooo, I won't be kissing him goodbye!! :))




Ladies in ao dai, preparing to greet the guests.




My mother in law




There is a pregnant girl, she is not in ao dai but still looks the best ;)




Pose with niece




I love Vietnam because I always feel so tall! :)




This girl looks so beautiful in pink.




Another niece. She was my friend and played with me when Thao was busy talking to everybody.










Thao's sister (#4) with her son Tom.




Uh oh, after so many guests, it's time to do the dishes!




This girl is very good and ate her food by herself. Thao said it was because her parents are divorced and she only lives with her mom, so she has to learn to take care of herself. Oh, poor her...




Many kinds of food for dinner but we were already full since we ate too much meat in the afternoon!








Oh cute girl. She is Bong, Thao's sister's daughter (#2). She is growing up very fast. And her hair is really growing fast and looks thick like her sister Chip.




I look tired today. Since I woke up very early in the morning to take the bus and also drank too much today...



The next day of the wedding. More people, more food, more drinking!








Toasting with the bride's father (sitting down in the middle). Many people c0me to cheer with me because I'm the new son/cousin/brother in law...




Chip and Bong. Bong likes to try to talk a lot, like "YAK YAK YAK YAK!!!"




Now it's time for the bride come out to pour tea for the guests.




They have live music too




The people from the groom's family are here already. So it's time to prepare to leave to go to the groom's house.




Thao's mom and aunt.




The bride and her mom and father... Oh wait! No, that guy is the groom!




They are the happy bride and groom.







We wanted to go to the next party at the groom's house, but already we were so tired after a long day...




The guests are leaving but the family stays to eat more and then help to clean up. I heard that there was 180 tables x 6 guests per table... Wow that's a lot of people!






So cute Bong, with Tom's dad.




Done with wedding, so we went back to Thao's parent's house. Here is some fruit in the garden.




Red hot chili peppers




Vegetables in the garden.

We stayed a few more days and when we went to Hanoi we took soooooo many different kinds of food that Thao's mom prepared for us. Chicken, beef, vegetable, fruit...
This time we got a really slooooow bus on the way back, and very full. One girl was vomiting the whole way ughhh! But we had a very nice time visiting hometown and going to the wedding, so it was worth it.

And there are still 2 more weddings coming up in the next two months! But we don't know if we will come back or not. I like to go back there of course, but it depends on how Thao and Katie are feeling...