The Cham are also called the Chiem Thanh and the Hroi. The Cham has a population of about 99,000, 60 percent of whom live in the central provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. Another part of the Cham population lives in the southern provinces of An Giang, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Cham people nowadays still maintain many of their original traditions, customs and distinctive festivals, which are closely linked with Islamic ritual celebrations. Luong Van Dzung, Director of the An Giang Provincial Culture Centre said, "The Ministry of Culture and Information has chosen the wedding ceremony of Cham people in An Giang province to include in their project of Cham intangible culture. The Cham ethnic people in An Giang province are all Muslims who worship Allah, thus their wedding features Islamic elements which follows matriarchy and the Koran."

Cham weddings usually take place from January to May when the harvest is finished and prior to the rainy season. As a matriarchy, the woman’s family marries the groom for its daughter. After marriage, the groom comes to live in his wife's house, thus the wedding ceremony is organised in the bride’s home with assistance from the groom’s family. A traditional wedding lasts three days with elaborate rituals including an engagement, bathing for the bride and groom, hair cutting, the groom’s procession to the bride’s house, entering the bride’s room and scattering areca flowers.

A matchmaker, also called Mrs. Uot, on behalf of the bridegroom’s side keeps in touch with the bride’s family to arrange the wedding. Mrs Uot, a blessed woman, married to only one man should have both son and daughter, sufficient wealth and is in good health. The idea is that the young couple will have a happy life like Mrs Uot.

"When a man wants to marry a woman, his family asks Mrs. Uot to visit and consult with the bride’s family," said Mr Dzung. "She will arrange a good day for the engagement ceremony, during which the two sides will agree on the wedding day, offerings and expenses. The offerings often include betel and areca, tea, money, gold and cloth. To prepare for the young couple’s new life, their parents will provide them with daily necessities. The bridegroom’s side will bring all those things to the bride’s family."

A Cham wedding ceremony usually takes place in three days, according to Islamic law. In the first day, the bride and the bridegroom are bathed with fragrant water to wash away all bad luck while dignitaries will perform religious rites to drive away evil spirits, which may follow them. The groom has his hair cut to begin a new life. Both families go to the Mosque and present offerings in accordance with religious rituals.

Relatives make wedding cakes called Grapti and Grapghe, with sweet and salty flavours respectively to show a harmonious combination of Yin and Yang.

The second day is for assembling the wedding bed and the mat spreading ceremony. The bridegroom’s family lay the bed while the bride’s family decorates the wedding room. Four senior dignitaries sit on the bed to pray for the young couple’s happiness. The wedding room should then be carefully guarded to avoid hostile people casting spells.

The third day is the busiest day as the groom is taken to the bride’s house in a solemn procession and a wedding party is held with the participation of all relatives and neighbours. At the bride’s home, Mrs Uot decorates the bride with a special fragrant powder and paints the crescent and a star symbols of Islam on her forehead and dyes her nails red. The bride and groom are both dressed up to look like princess and prince.

The bride wears glamorous jewels, a three-layer dress and a traditional Cham scarf, called the Thun scarf. In the past, only the daughter of a wealthy family had a Thun scarf because its sophisticated decorative patterns are very difficult to weave. Her hair is tied in a knot and pinned with a brooch. The bridegroom puts on a white sarong with a shoulder-strap, white head –scarf and a sword in a scabbard at his waist. Wedding clothes are made of natural silk."

The bride is taken to the bridegroom’s house in a beautifully decorated palanquin. The groom cannot walk into the wedding room, instead, he is carried by his relatives to sit on the bride’s bed. The groom presses his finger to the bride’s forehead as a signal that they have become husband and wife. Dignitaries burn aqualaria wood and expose the bride and groom’s feet over it while praying for their health. Then they tie the hands of the young couple with a red silk thread, a token of being close together forever. Areca flowers are scattered around the couple to wish them ever lasting happiness. The room is scented with the sweet-smell of aqualaria and pure areca.

All relatives and guests are invited to the main hall to enjoy the wedding party, which is similar to the wedding party of Kinh people. The couple eat Grapti and Grapghe cake, wish for harmonies between them and eat bananas while wishing for many children.

The wedding ceremony now takes only two days, one day less than before. However, it still maintains the major elements of a traditional wedding.