by Andrew Doan Thanh Phong
Hanoi - “Marriage cannot last longer if it is not nurtured every day said by Father Peter Nguyen Van Truong to the participants of the 92nd Course of Marriage Renewal, held at Sam Son Parish, Thanh Hoa Diocese, Central Vietnam, from November 21 to 23, 2025, with the presence of 50 Catholic and non-Catholic couples from various places inside and outside of the country.
Up to date, 92 courses of "Marriage Renewal" were organized specifically for married couples regardless of religion, by Diocesan Committees of Pastoral Marriage and Family in parishes throughout Vietnam. These courses aim to help couples rediscover marriage as a sacred gift and a Sacrament established by God. The sessions often address challenges that families in modern life face as well as the role and mission of the family in the life of faith
Through that, the marital couples listen to vivid experiences in daily life, exchange ideas in an open spirit. Many couples have shed tears while listening to stories shared from other families.
These pastoral activities are essential in response to the rapid change in our modern society as it is said by experts on marriage and family in Vietnam: "In the context of globalization, urbanization together with technological development, and the shift in perception in the new generation - Mr. Truong Van Thom, a participant after the course at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Danang explains - the value of marriage in Vietnam is undergoing big changes. Previously, divorce was considered to lose the opportunity to find new happiness, but now many people could have a better life after divorce. This view makes people willingly end their present marriage life in order to seek their new happiness”.
The result from the census on population and housing in the mid-term of year 2024 shows that the rate on divorce/separation accounts for approximately 2.6% of the total population in the current time aging from over 15 years old, an equivalent of about 2,225,000 people living in the status of separating and devorcing nationwide. Among them, the two largest cities in the country like Ho Chi Minh City with 263,300 people and Hanoi with 146,400 people rank the highest rate of divorce in Vietnam.
“This is an alarming figure, reflecting the fragility of marriage in our modern life,” stated by Mrs Nguyen Thi Tam, National Assembly representative, at the Assembly Session on the morning of December 9, 2025.
According to the experts on marriage and family, the roles of husband and wife in the structure of Vietnamese families have changed considerably today, the ideal image of wife and husband is completely different from the past. Previously, the wife focused mainly on household work and took care of her family while the husband was the main breadwinner. Today, wife has more opportunities to work and have more social relations. There are more conflicts and tensions on traditional and modern family values. Furthermore, many members of families spend too much time on phones and social media instead of caring for their loved ones.
In terms of preventing crisis in married life and reducing negative consequences, particularly to the children from divorced couples, the experts advise that marital couples need to prepare carefully before marriage such as taking part in the courses of pre-marriage. In addition, they need to balance the growth between social life and family life in an equal way. Importantly, they should stay on the marriage life rather than seeking the solution of divorce.
In the article "Cultural and Ethical Values of Catholic Marriage and Family in Vietnam Today" published in the Journal of Religious Studies by Dr. Do Thi Ngoc Anh, there is a passage saying: "In the context of complex changes in marriage and family life today, it must be affirmed that the Catholic concept on marriage as a bond in free and voluntary way between two people of opposite sexes who wish to live together for life is positive and widely accepted." She continues: "Vietnamese Catholics, with their reverence for God, maintain their marital bond and consider it a grace bestowed by God. Besides their own feelings, husband and wife must also pay attention on educating their children, thereby carefully choosing their words, behavior, and lifestyle, setting an example and lesson for their children and grandchildren to follow." For that, Catholic marriages in Vietnam are more stable and less divorces compared to non-Catholic marriages, as affirmed in [Mt 19:6]: "What God has joined together, let no man separate"
