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New Straits Times
9 hours 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
2 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
