In Ho Chi Minh City, it is common for people to arrive late at wedding parties, which inconveniences the host family, including the bride and groom, and leaves punctual guests regretting their timeliness.

Nguyen Hoang, 32, from neighboring Long An Province, narrated a story about attending a relative's wedding party in the city.

Although his relative had the main wedding in Long An, he organized another party in Ho Chi Minh City for his colleagues and friends.

"After taking a 17-seater bus from Long An to the city, my group arrived at my house at 3:00 pm. We didn't eat at home since the party was scheduled for 7:00 pm at a restaurant," Hoang recounted.

Hoang and his group arrived at the restaurant at 6:45 pm, just as the bride and groom began receiving early or on-time guests.

However, more guests trickled in slowly, and around 7:00 pm, many tables were still empty.

Hoang's group began to feel hungry, as they would have normally eaten by then if they were still at home in Long An.

Despite being advised to wait a bit longer, the wait stretched to over an hour. Even at 8:00 pm, there still were not enough guests for the party to start.

Tip: Have a light meal before parties

Thao, 27, from Binh Thanh District, advises guests to eat something light before heading to a wedding party.

"When I first started working in the city, I was always punctual for wedding parties," Thao shared.

"I remember the first time I attended a city wedding. I left work an hour early to prepare and arrived at the restaurant on time, only to wait a long time for the party to begin.

"It was frustrating, but I realized I could only blame myself for being on time."

Le Danh, a 31-year-old man, found himself in the same predicament as Thao.

Most hosts of evening wedding parties struggle with guests arriving late, partly because many people finish work and leave their offices around 5:30 pm or 6:00 pm, Danh noted.

"It usually takes about an hour to get home, shower, and change clothes," he explained.

"Plus, traffic jams during rush hour in Ho Chi Minh City can make you late even if you don't go home first."

Danh mentioned that he attends weddings mainly to maintain and foster relationships with the invitees or the bride and groom, not for the food and drinks.

"So, before going to a wedding party, I eat something to avoid being hungry in case I have to wait a long time," he said with a smile.

Punctuality means respect for others

Latecomers at wedding ceremonies not only force on-time guests to wait but also make the host family, bride, and groom uncomfortable as they have to delay the start of the party, Danh said.

At the wedding of Hoang’s relative, the bride and groom were anxious as they waited for their guests to arrive, with the invitation time long past and only a few attendees present.

"Some guests even double-checked their invitation cards, wondering if the time was incorrect," Hoang recalled.

At another wedding, the parents of the bride and groom urged the couple to go on stage to start the ceremony, but they lingered, waiting for a close group of friends who had promised to arrive early to perform a dance at the beginning of the event.

"In the end, you should be on time for any appointment, including wedding parties, as punctuality demonstrates respect for others," Danh advised.

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