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NDTV
7 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Unique Wedding Gift: Vietnamese Bride Gets 100 Civet Cats Worth Rs 60 Lakh
A bride in Vietnam received an extraordinary dowry from her parents--100 civet cats valued at approximately $70,000. Notably, these animals are prized for their role in producing Kopi Luwak, one of the world's most expensive coffees. The dowry also included substantial assets, such as 25 gold bars, $20,000 cash, company shares worth 300 million dong, and multiple high-value properties, as per the South China Morning Post. The 22-year-old bride from southwestern Vietnam received the lavish gifts upon her marriage last May. The groom's family reciprocated with a bride price consisting of 10 taels of gold, 200 million dong in cash, and diamond jewellery. In many Asian cultures, dowries are a significant tradition, representing family wealth and parental commitment to supporting their daughter's new life. The bride's father, Hong Chi Tam, explained that his children, all university graduates, have taken over the family business. He gifted his daughter assets that could generate income, giving her the freedom to decide whether to raise the civet cats or sell them, and promising to support her choice. "My daughter is a business school graduate. She is fully capable of managing these assets. No matter the method, it ensures her financial independence," Mr Chi Tam said. About Civet Cats In Vietnam, civet cats are highly valued. A female civet that has given birth can be worth around $700, while a pregnant one can fetch up to $1,050. Their value stems partly from their role in producing Kopi Luwak, one of the world's most expensive coffees. The unique production process involves the animals consuming ripe coffee cherries, and the beans are then collected from their digestive system, cleaned, processed, and roasted. Additionally, civet meat is considered a luxury food in China and Vietnam and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, further contributing to the animal's value. According to World Animal Protection International, the civet cat trade often involves cruel practices. Wild civets are captured using harmful methods like box traps and snares, then sold to farms where they're kept in tiny cages and subjected to poor living conditions, inadequate food, and stress.


Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Ensures financial independence': Vietnam bride gets unusual dowry; gift includes 100 civet cats
AI-generated image A 22-year-old Vietnamese bride received a bizarre dowry featuring 100 civet cats and substantial wealth in various forms, with her father claiming it will ensure her financial independence. The wedding, which took place last May in southwestern Vietnam but recently reported by the South China Morning Post, saw the bride receive breeding-capable female civet cats valued at 1.8 billion Vietnamese dong (US$70,000). H er parents' endowment also encompassed 25 taels of gold, 500 million dong (US$20,000) in cash, corporate shares worth 300 million dong, seven properties and additional valuable items. The groom's family reciprocated by gifting the bride price of 10 taels of gold, 200 million dong in cash and diamond ornaments. In many Asian societies, dowries continue to serve as a significant custom, claiming to be a representation of familial prosperity and parental support for their daughter's future. Hong Chi Tam, the bride's father, explained that his children manage the family enterprise after their university education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Device Made My Power Bill Drop Overnight elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo He aimed to provide his daughter with income-generating assets. He expressed support for his daughter's autonomy in deciding whether to maintain or sell the civet cats. "My daughter is a business school graduate. She is fully capable of managing these assets. No matter the method, it ensures her financial independence," Hong said. In Vietnam, civet cats represent a significant investment opportunity. A female civet that has reproduced can sell for approximately 18 million dong (US$700), whilst expecting females command up to 27 million dong. These animals are particularly valuable for their contribution to Kopi Luwak coffee production, amongst the world's costliest coffee varieties. The process involves the civets consuming coffee cherries, with the beans later collected from their droppings, sanitised, processed and roasted. Civet meat is considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam, with additional uses in traditional Chinese medicine. World Animal Protection International reports that civets are frequently captured from their natural habitat using harmful traps. They are subsequently sold to farms where poor conditions and stress lead to self-harm and premature death.


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Vietnam bride's lavish dowry includes 100 civet cats, gold, property and shares
KUALA LUMPUR: A 22-year-old woman in Vietnam has turned heads online after receiving a dowry worth millions, including 100 civet cats, gold, cash, property and shares from her family. South China Morning Post reported that the young bride, whose identity has not been disclosed, hails from the southwestern region of Vietnam and tied the knot last May. Her dowry, which has sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms, was reportedly valued at around 1.8 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately RM330,000) for the civet cats alone. The unusual wedding gift included female civet cats with breeding potential, along with 25 taels of gold, 500 million dong (about RM91,000) in cash, shares worth 300 million dong (RM55,000), seven properties and other high-value assets. In return, the groom's family presented a bride price comprising 10 taels of gold, 200 million dong (around RM36,000) in cash, and diamond jewellery. The bride's father, Hong Chi Tam, said his daughter, a business graduate, was fully capable of managing her assets and achieving financial independence. "Whether she decides to breed the civet cats or sell them, I will support her. The important thing is she has control over her future," he was quoted as saying. Tam said all his children have assumed roles in the family business after completing university, and this dowry was meant to serve as a stepping stone for his daughter's continued financial growth. In Vietnam, civet cats are considered a lucrative asset, especially for their role in the production of Kopi Luwak, one of the world's most expensive coffees. The coffee beans are collected from the faeces of civets that consume ripe coffee cherries, producing a distinctive flavour profile after undergoing the animal's digestive process. Apart from coffee, civet meat is regarded as a delicacy in parts of China and Vietnam and is sometimes used in traditional medicine. A breeding female civet can fetch around 18 million dong (approximately RM3,300), while a pregnant one may be worth as much as 27 million dong (RM5,000). Despite their high market value, the civet trade has come under scrutiny. Animal welfare organisation World Animal Protection International has raised concerns about the inhumane treatment of civets, highlighting the use of traps to capture them from the wild and the poor living conditions they endure on farms. The story, initially reported by Taiwan's ETtoday, has drawn mixed reactions online. Some lauded the dowry as a progressive move to empower the bride with assets and income-generating potential. "This is how you raise a daughter – by giving her the tools to succeed," one user commented. Others, however, questioned the ethics behind using wildlife as part of business dealings or marital arrangements. "Behind the glamour lies animal exploitation. We need to reflect on whether this is a practice worth celebrating," another wrote.


The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam bride gifted lavish dowry of 100 civet cats worth US$70,000 to generate future income
BEIJING (SCMP): A Vietnamese woman who received a lavish dowry from her parents of 100 civet cats, gold bars, cash, company shares and several high-value properties has shocked social media. The unidentified 22-year-old comes from southwestern Vietnam and was married last May. As part of her dowry, her parents gave her 100 female civet cats, all capable of breeding, with an estimated total value of 1.8 billion Vietnamese dong (US$70,000). It also included 25 taels of gold, 500 million dong (US$20,000) in cash, company shares worth 300 million dong, seven properties and other valuable assets. In return, the groom's family offered a bride price of 10 taels of gold, 200 million dong in cash and diamond jewellery. Dowries remain an important tradition in many Asian countries, symbolising family wealth and the parents' commitment to supporting their daughter's new life. The bride's father, Hong Chi Tam, said that all his children have taken over the family business after graduating from university, and he wanted his daughter to own assets that could generate income. He said he would fully support her decision, whether she chose to raise the civet cats or sell them. 'My daughter is a business school graduate. She is fully capable of managing these assets. No matter the method, it ensures her financial independence,' Hong said. Civet cats are a valuable asset in Vietnam. A female that has given birth can be worth around 18 million dong (US$700), while a pregnant one can fetch up to 27 million dong. Their value partly comes from their role in producing Kopi Luwak coffee, which is considered one of the most expensive coffees in the world. The animals eat ripe coffee cherries, which then pass through their digestive system, producing beans that are collected, cleaned, processed and roasted. In addition to their role in coffee production, civet meat is also seen as a luxury food in China and Vietnam and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, according to World Animal Protection International, civet cats are often captured from the wild using harmful methods such as box traps and snares. To fuel the industry, they are then sold to farms, where they are kept in small cages and fed poorly in stressful conditions, leading to self-harm, injury and an early death. The story, reported by ETtoday, drew a mixed online reaction. One online observer said: 'While people in China are still competing over cash dowries, Vietnamese tycoons are already giving away entire industry chains as dowries.' Another said: 'This is the real way to raise a daughter. Teaching her to fish is better than giving her a fish.' However, a third said: 'Behind the luxury is animal exploitation. We should reflect on the ethics of using wildlife in business and marriage transactions.' - South China Morning Post/ANN