Although funerals are usually known as a time of lament, these occasions can be boisterous celebrations in the commune of Thong Nhat, located in the northern province of Thai Binh.
Bringing wreathes as offerings to funerals is a good tradition in Vietnam
In most places in Vietnam, funerals remain simple and solemn affairs, with only relatives attending, and family friends quickly stopping by to pay tribute or bring a small offering, usually lasting for two days, including all rituals and funeral processions.
But when a person in the village of Hung Ha District dies, all local people along with relatives come to share part workload or to pay tribute by bringing offerings for the deceased person.
All villagers are invited to a funeral meal that can last two or three days.
Ms. Nga, a resident of the village, said that funeral banquets are often very elaborately prepared, and often have the feeling of a wedding, serving six main dishes, including boiled chicken, pork-pies, fried beef, and buffalo meat.
Today, those who come to pay tribute to the deceased often use cash as offerings instead of fruits, flowers, incenses and banquets as they did in the past.
After the mandatory rituals have been completed, everyone in attendance stays for the funeral meal. This, she said, also gives jobs to chefs.
One recent funeral in the village, that of an 82-year old man, was attended by more than 100 people.
“Over 100 guests stayed for the meal, and this was in addition to the numerous relatives and villagers. The people working in the kitchen were busy for three days. We had to use five pigs, who probably weighed 250 kilos altogether, and there was also a lot of chicken, buffalo meat and other food. It was around the same amount of food that you would see at a wedding party," Nga shared.
Not only did she help with the clean-up, washing dishes, but her husband was a member of the funeral organising board. She said that they were both exhausted after the event.
Money is a large factor in organising any such event in Vietnam. She said that people from her village often borrow money to prepare extravagant banquets, and also hope that their guests pitch in with money offerings, something quite unique to the funeral customs of the village.
In fact, other villages in this particular district share similar customs. Mrs. Mien, of Tran Xa Village, said that their funerals have the same atmosphere as those in Truy Dinh Village, in the same district.
Mrs. Van from Bo Village, also in the same district, said guests with close relations usually bring offerings of around VND200,000 (USD9.57), while neighbours might bring about VND100,000 (USD4.79).
“I've spent up to VND900,000 (USD43.1) in one month on weddings and funerals. People who don't make so much money can find it hard to keep up with the cost of these occasions," Van added.
