A cross-border love story

In October 2024, during a trip to Vietnam, Lubos, 30, a Czech national, tried to make friends through a dating app. Lubos said he found Vietnamese women beautiful and attractive, so he wanted to “try his luck.”

Unexpectedly, a random “right swipe” led him to Huyen Trang, 32, from Xuan Hoa Commune, Dong Nai province, a woman who stands just 1.52m tall.

Trang and Lubos first met on a sunny day. She was impressed by the foreigner's gentle appearance, soft voice, sincere manner and warmth.

Their first date lasted seven hours. They had lunch together and went for a walk, feeling as close as if they had known each other for a long time. Although it was already late, Lubos suggested going out for dessert, but Trang declined because, after all, it was still their first meeting.

The two kept in touch afterward. Before heading north to travel with his friends, Lubos met Trang once or twice more. Before leaving Vietnam, he promised to return to see her at Christmas, two months later.

“I took it at face value and didn't have high hopes. Words can easily be forgotten, and we had only met a few times,” Trang recalled.

However, Lubos kept his promise.

Right around Christmas that year, he returned to Vietnam. Trang went to the airport to pick up her boyfriend, feeling both nervous and emotional. The visit lasted only a few days but was enough to convince Trang that the Czech man was serious and sincere about their relationship.

Trang realized that she had fallen for him.

“Later, I once asked him, ‘When did we officially become a couple?’ His answer is something I will always remember: ‘For me, our first meeting was already official. From that first meeting, I knew you were the person I wanted to spend my life with,’” Trang said.

Trang lives in Dong Nai, while Lubos lives and works in New Zealand. The couple began a long-distance relationship, but the geographical distance did not weaken their feelings for each other.

Nearly a year later, at Lubos' suggestion, Trang moved to New Zealand to live and work with him. They are still together in New Zealand.

A love with a 42cm height gap

Trang is 1.52m tall, while Lubos stands at 1.94m. They are 42cm apart in height. Whenever they stand together, the difference naturally draws attention.

Trang never thought their height difference would become a “problem” in their relationship until they began living together. After more than a year as a couple, they have encountered quite a few amusing situations caused by the difference.

Trang loves taking photos to preserve beautiful moments, but for a couple with a 42cm height gap, taking what seems like a simple photo can sometimes require a little ‘technique’.

Sometimes Trang has to sit down to get the right angle or stand on a rock or step, while Lubos has to bend his back or crouch down to get a photo they are happy with.

The same goes for showing affection. When they want to hug or kiss, Trang has to stretch up while Lubos has to bend down quite deeply.

“One of us gets a sore back, the other gets a stiff neck, but we still feel very happy,” Trang said.

Whenever they go out, their height difference attracts curious looks.

Trang said that sometimes they look like a giant walking alongside a tiny person, and some people even joke that Lubos looks like a parent taking his child out.

Instead of feeling uncomfortable, the couple sees it as something amusing and unique about their relationship.

Their home is also arranged with both of their heights in mind. Items Trang uses frequently are placed in lower positions, while Lubos' belongings are kept on higher shelves.

Whenever something is placed too high for Trang but within easy reach for Lubos, he simply gets it for her. For items kept at a lower level, Trang can handle them herself.

The two have gradually developed a natural division of tasks: the taller partner handles things up high, while the shorter partner takes care of things within her reach.

Lubos is quite familiar with Vietnamese cuisine. He knows how to cook bo kho and pho, and he also loves Vietnamese dishes prepared by his girlfriend, such as banh xeo, braised fish and southern-style beef noodle salad.

Thanh Minh