VietNamNet Bridge - This child bride is Dang Ngoc H. (born 22/03/2000), in Binh Thoi village in Binh Phu commune, Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province. Her engagement ceremony was held on April 6.

 

The engagement ceremony of the 13-year-old bride Dang Ngoc H. 

The engagement ceremony was held with the participation of the two families. According to a source, over one month ago, the little girl’s father caught in the act--his daughter having sex with her boyfriend named Mai Van Chi (born 1988), from My Hanh Dong commune, Cai Lay district.

The next day, H. was taken to the hospital by her mother. Doctors confirmed that H was no longer virgin. Some advised H’s parents to take the hospital’s verification to Chi’s family, asking for virginity compensation. But then her parents urgently held the engagement ceremony for H and Chi.
 
Reporters met H. at the police headquarters of Binh Phu commune. H quit school after the lunar New Year. The former 7th grader was a little girl with a petite body, only about 1.5 meters tall. She was in puberty.

H. said after the lunar New Year, Chi worked for her parents. “We loved each others so they were engaged, with the permission of our parents,” she said.

Last July, H’ 16-year-old sister - Dang Thi Ngoc X – got married. She now has a one-month-old baby.

H’s mother said her family was poor and they did not understand the law so they married their daughters to the ones they loved.

It is worth mentioning that local authorities knew the marriage but they did not prevent it.

The local authorities on April 9 talked with the two families and asked them to cancel the engagement because the bride is a child.
 
Mr. Ly Van Cam, Vice Chairman of Cai Lay District, said the district government had directed the Department of Labor and Social Affairs and district police to verify the case.

NLD