A few days ago, two female students from Na Loi Semi-Boarding Ethnic Primary and Secondary School in Na Loi commune stopped attending classes to marry. They were taken to the groom's home according to the local "wife-snatching" custom.

On 1/3, a representative from the Nghe An Department of Education and Training stated that this phenomenon, while once common in some mountainous communes, is now rare. The department has requested a detailed report from the school to coordinate with local police on a resolution.

Wedding invitation of an 8th-grade female student in Na Loi commune. *Ngoc Anh*

Nguyen Tan Phuong, the school principal, explained that the incident occurred at night, preventing teachers from intervening promptly. He added that the two girls and their boyfriends already knew each other and had prior feelings, making the "wife-snatching" voluntary.

Their families organized weddings in accordance with local customs. Following efforts by teachers, the students are expected to resume their studies from 3/3.

Na Loi is a remote, mountainous border commune in western Nghe An. Its vast area and challenging terrain mean residents, primarily Hmong, Thai, and Kho Mu people, live scattered across villages. Their livelihoods depend on swidden farming and small-scale livestock, contributing to a high poverty rate.

In some Hmong villages, the "wife-snatching" custom has persisted for many years. Traditionally, when a couple developed feelings, their families would agree, and the young man would "snatch" the girl to his home before wedding rituals were held. However, in practice, this custom sometimes becomes distorted, leading to school-aged girls dropping out to marry.

According to the Law on Marriage and Family, women must be 18 years old and men 20 years old to marry.

Duc Hung