Vietnamese hold first ever gay pride rally

Dozens of people stream through the streets of Hanoi on Saturday in Vietnam's first-ever gay pride parade.

The march comes as the Vietnamese government considers allowing same-sex marriages.

If its goes ahead with the plan, Vietnam would be the first country in Asia to allow gays and lesbians to wed.

That is something welcomed by parade participants.

(SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) NGUYEN TRAN DAI HAI, UNIVERSITY STUDENT, SAYING:

"Homosexual people in society have a legitimate demand to be treated as any other Vietnamese. I hope everyone will be treated equally in the future."

Although the government is exploring same-sex marriages, a stigma surrounding homosexuality remains in Vietnam, a conservative country.

Andrew Raven, Reuters