A young bride in central Vietnam was blissfully escorted to her groom’s home last weekend in a traditional bride-fetching ritual by a motorcade of nearly 40 Minsk motorcycles.

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Phan Thanh Tam and Vu Thi Ut Thin, both 26, who reside in Krong Pak District in Dak Lak Province, tied the knot on Sunday.

Most couples in Vietnam opt for cars, including limousines, for their bride-fetching ritual, which is traditionally held prior to the wedding reception in the morning of the big day and involves the groom, his family, relatives, and friends visiting the bride’s home and escorting her to his home.

Some can also choose to ride in cyclos (three-wheel taxis), horse-drawn carriages or even on buffalos to make their experiences unique and memorable.

Tam and Thin decided to perform the ritual on a motorcade of nearly 40 Minsk bikes to add an unforgettable highlight to their day and cut the costs for hiring a bridal car. 

The motorcade was led by a Minsk which was driven by Tam, the groom.

A tank where the bride sat on was added to the modified, florally-decorated bike.

The couple’s bike was followed by nearly 40 richly-adorned Minsk motorcycles, which were driven by members of the provincial Minsk Club.

The procession slowly rode past dusty roads spanning over 10 kilometers from the bride’s home to the groom’s.

Tam said that the two fell in love when they were in high school and then both landed jobs in the southern province of Binh Duong.

Phan Thanh Tam is pictured driving his bride, Vu Thi Ut Thin (both leading the convoy) during their bride-fetching ritual held in Krong Pak District in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on April 5, 2015 in a motorcade of nearly 40 Minsk bikes. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A Minsk motorbike in the bridal procession. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Minsk’s precursor was produced after World War II in Moscow under the M1A brand, according to http://minsk-moto.com.

M1A became the basis of simple and reliable classic Minsk models.

Minsk motorcycles quickly gained in popularity both in the USSR and in foreign markets.

Since the early years the Minsk brand has been actively involved in motorsport, especially in motocross and circuit racing, the website said.

By the early 1990s the motorcycle’s production was raised to 220,000 units per year.

In 2014 Мinsk won People's Brand Award in Belarus.

Minsk is the only mass motorcycle brand on the market today which has the state quality mark of the USSR, the site said.

Minsk bikes first made their way to Vietnam in the 1970s and are currently in use by farmers or “xe om” (motorbike taxi) drivers to carry bulky loads of goods over rugged terrain in mountainous areas across the northern and north-central regions.

The bike has also been a favorite collectible among a number of bike enthusiasts in different cities and provinces, who form clubs to indulge in their hobby.

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