Vietnamese Bride Receives 100 Civet Cats and Lavish Wealth as Wedding Gift, Raising Eyebrows and Questions
In an extraordinary and conversation-sparking wedding gesture, a 22-year-old bride from southwestern Vietnam was gifted a truly unique dowry by her family: 100 civet cats, animals best known for their role in producing the world’s most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak. Valued at around $70,000 (approx. ₹60 lakh), the civets were part of a much larger package of wedding gifts that included 25 gold bars, $20,000 in cash, corporate shares worth 300 million Vietnamese dong, and multiple high-value properties.
The bride, a business graduate, received the assets from her father, Hong Chi Tam, who expressed his trust in her ability to manage the wealth. “My daughter is capable and independent. These gifts are meant to empower her financially—she can choose to raise the civets or sell them,” he said, emphasizing her freedom to decide.
On the groom’s side, the family reciprocated with their own generous contribution: 10 taels of gold, 200 million dong in cash, and diamond jewellery as part of the traditional bride price.
While such extravagant dowries may seem surprising, they are still an important custom in several parts of Asia, symbolizing familial support, status, and the importance of marriage alliances.
About the Civet Cats
In Vietnam, civet cats are considered valuable not only for their meat and medicinal properties but more famously for their role in creating Kopi Luwak, a rare and costly coffee. The process involves civets eating ripe coffee cherries, which then pass through their digestive tract. The beans are collected from their waste, cleaned, processed, and roasted, giving Kopi Luwak its distinctive flavor and sky-high price tag.
A female civet that has already given birth can be worth around $700, while a pregnant civet may fetch up to $1,050.
The Controversy
Despite the luxury image surrounding civet coffee, animal rights advocates have long raised concerns about the cruelty behind the scenes. Organizations like World Animal Protection International report that wild civets are often trapped inhumanely, caged in poor conditions, and subjected to extreme stress and malnutrition on farms.
The bride’s unusual dowry has not only gone viral across social media but also sparked a wider debate about the ethical implications of commodifying animals in wedding traditions and business ventures.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
