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The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Clan remains a dominant organizing force in Hmong society. There are about eighteen Hmong clans that are known in Laos and Thailand. Clan membership is inherited upon birth or occasionally through adoption. All children are members of the father’s clan, through which they will trace their ancestors. Women become members of their husband's family upon marriage but will retain their clan name of their father. Members of the same clan consider each other to be"brothers" or "siblings," and they are expected to offer one another mutual support.

Clan groups are exogamous: that is, Hmong may not marry within their own clan group; a marriage partner must be found from another clan. However, they are allowed to marry blood relatives from their mother side. Traditionally, when a boy wants to marry a girl, he will make his intentions clear, and will "snatch" her during day light or night at any opportunity that is appropriate. This is traditionally only a symbolic kidnapping.

Before kidnapping her, the boy must first give a gift to the girl whom he wants to marry. After a couple of days, the boy can then kidnap the girl. If the boy has never given a gift to the girl, she is allowed to refuse and go back home with any family member who comes to save her. It should be noted that this is an old tradition that is rarely practised today. The parents are not notified at the time of the kidnapping, but an envoy from the boy's clan is sent to inform them of the whereabouts of their daughter and her safety. This envoy tells the girl's family the boy's background and asks what the girl's background is. Before the new couple enters the groom's house, the father performs a blessing ritual, asking the ancestors to accept her into the household. The head of the household moves the chicken in a circular motion around the couple's head. The girl is not allowed to visit anyone's house for three days after this.

After three days or more, the parents of the groom prepare the first wedding feast for the newly-wed couple. The wedding is usually a two-day process. The couple returns to the house of the bride's family at the end of the first wedding feast and spends the night in preparation for the next day. On the second day, the family of the bride prepares a second wedding feast at their home, where the couple will be married.

Hmong marriage customs differ slightly based on cultural subdivisions within the global Hmong community, but all require the exchange of a bride price from the groom’s family to the bride’s family. The bride price is compensation for the new family taking the other family's daughter, as the girl's parents are now short one person to help with chores. The elders of both families negotiate the amount prior to the engagement and is usually paid in bars of silver or livestock. Today, it is also often settled in monetary terms. The usual price of a Hmong bride today in America would just depend on the parents or the value of the bride up to $5,000 USD.

Muang Xay is the capital city of Oudomxai Province, Laos.