The impact of cognitive factors and economic conditions on the custom of xem tuoi of some rural intellectual couples in the Mekong Delta

Abstract

Vietnam is a country with historical traditions and a rich and diverse culture in all aspects. Vietnamese people possess good customs and beliefs for a long time. Xem tuoi – to study age compatibility of the couple – is a necessary pre-marriage custom; however, nowadays, this custom faces many controversial opinions. Even the majority of the rural couples in rural areas in the Mekong Delta said that Xem tuoi is no longer an important factor affecting their marital happiness because there is no difference in the economic and material conditions along with the age groups (appropriate, normal, unsuitable age). The study surveyed 48 couples who are teachers in Hung Khanh Trung B commune, Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province, then conducted a statistical analysis to show this situation. If the definition of marital happiness includes financial security, well-being, the degree of job and life satisfaction of the couple, from the traditional viewpoint, couples with “age compatibility” will have a higher happiness rate than other couples. Nevertheless, the study results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the economic and material conditions of the couples in all age categories. Love, sympathy and sharing are the key factors leading to a successful happy marriage.