The Random Vietnamese Wedding

You know how every great story has that one twist that changes everything? Well, our twist came in the form of mud—a lot of it. But let me backtrack a little.

We had been on the road to Sapa, that beautiful, misty town perched in the northern mountains of Vietnam. I didn’t mention it in the last chapter, but before Sapa, there’s this town called Lao Cai, a bustling place about 60 kilometers away. It’s big enough to make you think you’ve wandered into a mini-metropolis, with shopping malls that practically beg you to stop.

The rain had been our persistent travel companion. Even when we reached a massive petrol station in Lao Cai to fuel up, the rain was on—seriously, it was like a bad romantic drama where the rain never lets up. The idea of checking out that shopping mall was incredibly tempting, especially since it was pouring, but the rain was too heavy, and, let’s face it, shopping in drenched clothes isn’t fun. So, onward we went—into the mountains.

Once we crossed Lao Cai, the road started climbing. The view? Absolutely unreal. Rice fields sculpted into the mountainsides like nature’s very own amphitheater, mist-covered villages that looked straight out of a postcard, and the temperature dropping just enough to remind us we were in the mountains of northern Vietnam. It was perfect... except for the mudslides.

Somewhere along this mountain road, I saw it—a slow-moving avalanche of mud, tumbling down from the hillside. You know that moment in action movies when the hero thinks, "I can totally outrun that explosion"? Well, I had one of those moments. Instead of stopping like a sane person, I gunned the motorbike. I thought, "We’ll make it past the mudslide!" And guess what? We did. But not before the mud decided to throw us a parting gift. A huge clump bounced off the ground and landed on us—face, raincoats, everything. Thankfully, the raincoats did their job, and our clothes were saved, but I wasn’t looking so fresh by the time we reached Sapa.

Sapa

When we finally arrived in town, looking like muddy adventurers fresh out of the jungle, the first thing we noticed was a massive lake in the town center. Sapa is stunning—let me say that right away. The whole town feels posh, with sleek hotels and upscale cafes scattered around. Speaking of hotels, I ended up walking into a massage parlor, asking the woman inside (with a baby on her hip) if it was the hotel. She said yes—apparently, the hotel and massage parlor shared an entrance. Multi-tasking, Vietnamese style.

The room was priced at 300,000 dong—more than what we’d paid the night before, but still a steal when you convert it into Indian Rupees or US Dollars. Around $13 USD for a warm, cozy room in the middle of the mountains. Not bad, right? Especially when I discovered the mattress could be electronically heated. My mind was blown. I’ve never had a mattress that could warm itself like a giant, comforting hug.

Once we freshened up—because, yes, we were still covered in mud—we decided to explore. Our first stop? The lake. Picturesque doesn’t even begin to cover it. It was like something out of a dream. We also found a barbecue place for lunch that had every kind of meat imaginable. Missy, adventurous as always, ordered octopus. Spoiler alert: neither of us could eat it. Octopus, as it turns out, is not our thing. But the smoked pork? Heavenly.

Post-lunch, we wandered through the local markets, where I picked up a jacket—a black, knockoff Lacoste for just 500,000 dong (about $21 USD). Honestly, it looked great and kept me warm during the chilly Sapa night.

As we wandered through the town, I heard music in the distance—traditional Vietnamese music with an exotic, captivating melody. Intrigued, we followed the sound and stumbled upon an open area, almost like an amphitheater. It wasn’t quite one, but the space had a sunken ground with steps leading down to a performance area.

There, we saw a traditional dance in progress, and I later learned that it was a reenactment of a Vietnamese folk tale. In this particular performance, a boy plays the role of a rooster, dancing energetically as he tries to woo two girls, who represent hens. The girls carried umbrellas as they gracefully twirled and stepped in sync with the rooster’s lively moves, all of it symbolizing the rooster's playful attempts to win their affection.

The dance was both humorous and artistic, blending swift, exaggerated movements with soft, flowing gestures. The rooster’s vigorous leaps and the girls' elegant sways made for a delightful contrast. It was a beautiful expression of local culture, filled with meaning and symbolism.

We wrapped up the day by making a shopping vlog and recording The Mad Show (our show on Missy's channel) episode in a café.

Vietnamese Wedding

As we made our way back from Sapa, weaving through the lush, rural landscape dotted with rice paddies and small houses, the roads began to slow down. Vehicles were gathered around a particular spot, causing a bit of a bottleneck. To our surprise, even in this seemingly quiet countryside, there was quite a crowd. Out of curiosity, I glanced over and noticed a lively scene—a house bustling with activity, music, and laughter spilling out into the street. Something festive was definitely going on.

Before I could process it, a man standing by the entrance waved enthusiastically in our direction. I paused, turned to Missy, and asked, “Do you think we should go in?” She was hesitant, unsure if it was appropriate to just barge in on a local celebration, but then the man waved again, this time with even more urgency, clearly inviting us in. “Look, he’s calling us!” I told her, smiling. Missy, a little unsure but willing, nodded. And just like that, we decided to take the plunge.

We parked the bike, strolled over, and as soon as we stepped inside, it hit us—it was a wedding! A Vietnamese wedding, and we had somehow become guests of honor. The warmth with which we were welcomed was nothing short of incredible. The bride’s family ushered us to a table almost immediately, insisting we sit down and join the feast. Plates of fruits, grapes, and traditional dishes were placed in front of us, followed by a small glass of what I thought was a potent local liquor.

Missy, being more adventurous, didn’t hesitate and downed two shots while I had just one, thinking it might be too strong. A young boy nearby laughed and explained that it was Vietnamese wine, not as strong as I had imagined. I could have easily had more, but I still decided to play it safe since I was driving.

The excitement around us grew as more family members gathered to greet us. People were genuinely thrilled to see foreigners at their wedding, and it felt as though we had become part of the celebration. The bride, glowing in her beautiful traditional attire, caught sight of us and waved, making her way over to say hello. She was accompanied by her bridesmaids, all equally radiant. We asked if we could take some pictures, and not only were they happy to pose for us, but the bride herself insisted on a selfie with us!

As we prepared to leave, the whole group—including the bride and her family—walked us to the gate, smiling, waving, and thanking us for joining their celebration, as if we had been lifelong friends. It was one of those surreal travel moments where you stumble into something so unexpected, yet so heartwarming, that it stays with you forever. We waved back, wishing we could stay longer, but feeling incredibly lucky to have experienced such genuine hospitality.

And then, as if to add a cherry on top, we managed to avoid another flood on the way back. No mudslides, no waiting for water to clear. It was smooth sailing—or riding—all the way to Hanoi, where we wrapped up the most thrilling adventure we could have imagined.

Stay tuned for more adventures. I have a feeling Vietnam’s not done with us yet.