I will be going to VN in December for my first time to meet my future fiance face to face for the first time.

We were introduced by her sister who lives here in the US. We have been video chatting for almost a year. I will be there for 5 weeks.

Does anyone have any advice???

keep copy of Visa, boarding passes, hotel bills...etc...and have fun!!!

And takes LOTS of pictures together, including her family. Other than that, have a great trip.

I'm also heading back in Dec. but can only stay for a week.

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Yes, Id o plan on saving all the above, and taking many pictures. We will also have many pictures of the Dam Hoi (Engagement Ceremony) and Party. there are supposed to be about 500 guests at the party.

Her being the oldest daughter in the family, makes it a very special event for the whole family. Plus I will be the 2nd American Son-in-law in this family as well.

I really wanted to take some time to spend with her, so I decided to go for 5 weeks. I will be there for Christmas and New Years (not TET).

500 guests -- that's more like a wedding to me

Take lots of pics and I second the Imodium AD!!!

Anyone familiar with the Kien Giang Province or Rach Gia in the South????

We plan on visiting Phuquoc - Dalat - and Nha Trang........

It is looking to be a fun filled trip. Her family has 3 restaraunts in Rach Gia.

I've never been to Phuquoc or Dalat, but Nha Trang (my hometown) is very nice.
We stayed at the Sofitel Vinpearl Resort. Very nice place!

Yes, it's going to be quite an experience. My Lễ Ăn Hỏi (never heard it called a Dạm Hỏi--maybe it's a regional difference) was to the uninitiated, a complete free-for-all, kind of like standing in the middle of a tornado. If her family is anything like mine, prepare to eat waaaaaaay too much (you have no choice in this matter, by the way), and you'll gain about 10-15 pounds easy in 5 weeks.

Don't panic when she takes you places by motorbike, you'll live.

Maybe your family speaks English. Mine doesn't, so I've had to do my best learning Vietnamese. I would learn a little bit of Vietnamese to honor those who don't speak English, if you don't speak already. Memorize all the forms of "you." There are many. You will be using ALL of them if you have 500 guests. Pimsleur is also very useful for learning greetings and small talk, although Pimsleur uses the Hanoi dialect, which may get you some comments if your sweetie is from down south (which I'm guessing she is).

Prepare to have the best time of your life, Vietnam is the best, and Vietnamese are very friendly people!

Good luck

Hey Bill, If you're visiting Nha Trang, I must recommend you find this street vendor which sells king prawns. These suckers are the biggest shrimps I ever saw, in the 2-3 pound range (that's ONE). She'll cook it up right there and you can sit on kiddie-sized chairs and eat while you watch the night life on the main drag there in Nha Trang, drinking a warm Bia Sài Gòn with your honey. Life just doesn't get any better than that.

This lady parks herself on the SW corner about 1/4 mile south of the small amusement park there. I can't remember the name of the cross street. She doesn't come out until about 8 or 9 o'clock. It's worth a stop if you find her.

James

And a side order of Pepto Bismol.

I would assume you guys are not eating enough dog meat and live, raw, still-beating snake hearts . I never had any digestive problems at all the 2x I was there, other than TOO MUCH of everything. Just lucky, I guess. I did carry Immodium, by the the way.....Just In Case.

I got sick only once when I was there, but it was bad enough to make me not wanting to eat it again. I think it was those pesky shellfish. I love those when I was a kid.

Your future father in-law owns 3 restaurants in Rach Gia, interesting....

You'll probably be doing some work, don't forget your apron

Rach Gia is a transit point: Phu Quoc boats, to/from buses going up north and to Ha Tein.

I went to Phu Quoc last Tet, It's OK..it'll be romantic for you, unfortunately, you can't "legally" stay in the same room together

I liked the "Kim Hoa" resort 88/2 THD Street (best value)

PQ: laid back and slow
NT: more commercialized, more $, etc...

Good luck, you've never been to Vietnam and never met her in person, please keep us posted...

I talked with my tình yêu last night, and found out some information about terminology. I guess lễ ăn hỏi is a term used mostly in the North, particularly in and around Hanoi. In the southern parts, it would be called a dạm hỏi. The meaning is precisely the same. I seem to be in the minority, marrying a Northern gal.

If you have blood like mine bring bug juice and hydrocortazone.

Baby wipes, lots of them

Dalat is a realy nice city. We got our bus tickets from a travel agency called Sinh Cafe at De Tham Street, Saigon. It was easy for us to get hotels overthere. They have a nice restaurant on Xuan Huong Lake (Ho Xuan Huong).
I wish you a nice trip!

yes, i have loads of advice for you.. the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh is very very particular about the method of the marriage proposal and also the traditional vietnamese engagement celebration. if during this trip in December you intend to ask her to marry you, then there are several things that i strongly advise. first, keep the sales receipt of the engagement ring. remember that exact time and location of the proposal (name of restaurant. ect). and have a huge engagement celebration including atleast 20 or 30 photos of the celebration. honestly speaking, it would be wise to hire a professional photographer for this occasion. services in Vietnam are very inexpensive, so it would only cost you a small price. Also, make sure to keep evidence for all airline tickets (including your credit card statements). obtain receipts for the hotels that you stay in.
while you are in Vietnam, it is a good time to gather important infomation that you will need when applying for the visa. such as copies of her birth certificate, a few standard size passport photos of her, when and where her parents were born. her prior work experience and current occupation (although i doubt it matters whether she is currently employed or not).
keep in touch, i would be happy to answer more of your question. ..and best of luck ~

Actually, her and I have been video chatting for almost 1 year. I asked her sister and her sister's husband to introduce me to her (they live in the US). Her and I have either emailed or chatted almost every day since. I was visiting her sister and brother-in-law. They were showing me pictures and video from their wedding. I asked who this girl was, and she said, her sister.

I will be staying for 38 days. We are getting engaged on December 19th. I have saved everything. emails, chat logs, receipts, pictures, and we will be having a Dam Hoi (engagement ceremony and party). She is the oldest daughter, so I guess it is supposed to be a pretty big party. her family is expecting about 500 guests at the party.

There are 3 restaraunts in the family. Her Father doesn't own all 3 restaraunts. Between her parents, aunts, and uncles, they own 3

500 Guests!

Dude, you're a Rock Star.........

Now, you have to go to every table in the party and toast.

Remember one thing: Mot, Hai, Ba.....Yo! = 1,2,3....Cheers! (drink), now, 100%, eyes are watching you, bottoms up...........:-)

These are Rach Gia Folks, it's not everyday a special event like this happens?

Good Luck and we want pictures.

3 days to go......

Any other advice or suggestions???

Anyone in VN between December 14th and January 20th???

Have a great time back there!!!

I'll be there from the 20th to the 27th.