A short video titled “My father lived with my husband’s family” recently gained 1.8 million views and nearly 50,000 likes just days after being posted. In the clip, the daughter recalls a moment in her life when her father made a decision that she would forever be grateful for.

She had married far from home, and six months after giving birth to her first child, she found herself in a bind - unable to find reliable childcare as she prepared to return to work.

In response, her father packed his bags and traveled 1,500 kilometers south to help raise his grandson. More remarkably, he agreed to live not with her, but in the home of her husband’s family, despite the potential discomfort such an arrangement could bring. He did it solely so that his daughter could continue pursuing her career.

She describes her father’s act as "a love so great it overcame the pride of a man," adding: "No matter how turbulent the world is out there, I know I always have a strong shoulder to lean on."

The video sparked over 2,000 comments - some deeply moved, others more critical. While many praised the father's devotion, others questioned the decision:

"A father must love his daughter dearly to agree to live with her in-laws."

"If it were me, I couldn’t let my father travel thousands of kilometers and live in someone else’s home just to take care of my child."

"Couldn’t you have asked the paternal grandparents for help or hired a nanny? That choice must’ve put your father in an awkward position."

A story from six years ago

The woman who shared the video is Le Thi Dung, born in 1993 and originally from Thanh Hoa. She said the story actually took place six years ago but decided to post about it on her father’s birthday to express her deep gratitude for his quiet sacrifice. She didn’t expect the post to go viral.

Dung married in 2018 and moved to Dong Nai, where her husband’s family lives. By late that year, she gave birth to her first son. By mid-2019, as her maternity leave ended, she faced the daunting question of who would care for her young child.

"My son was on baby-led weaning, and managing his meals wasn’t easy. I didn’t feel safe leaving him with a hired nanny," she said. "My father-in-law worked full-time. My mother-in-law was not in good health. My own mother had to juggle her job and take care of my younger brother, so she couldn’t come either."

It was then that her father offered a solution: "I’ll come help you."

Dung was stunned - and deeply grateful.

Her father, Du (born in 1969), is a slender man but quick and efficient in everything he does. He seamlessly took on the role of caregiver - tending to the baby and keeping the house in order. With him around, Dung could go to work with complete peace of mind.

Her in-laws welcomed the gesture warmly. When he arrived, her mother-in-law expressed sincere thanks and urged him to consider their home his own.

For more than a year, Mr. Du lived with his daughter’s in-laws. Far from awkward, the arrangement blossomed into a warm bond between both families.

Each day, Dung and her husband would leave for work early alongside his parents. Mr. Du took sole charge of the child throughout the day. In the evenings, the family gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories from their day.

After putting her son to bed, Dung’s father would relax with a cup of tea or coffee, often joined by her father-in-law. Sometimes, the two men would go out for a drive together, exploring the area or simply enjoying the breeze.

"In the beginning, my dad wasn't used to the food in the South. So I adjusted our cooking, made dishes he liked, and he gradually got used to everything," Dung shared.

A bond strengthened by kindness

Dung’s in-laws went out of their way to make Mr. Du feel welcome. Every time he returned to Thanh Hoa to visit family, her mother-in-law would send gifts for him to bring home.

On one occasion, when Mr. Du fell ill, her father-in-law bought medicine and cooked him nourishing porridge. During regular dinners, her mother-in-law would often say: "Thanks to you, our grandchild is growing strong and healthy."

Simple words, but they warmed his heart.

When her son turned 19 months old, Dung enrolled him in preschool so her father could return home. On the day he left, both sides of the family were emotional.

"My mother-in-law kept thanking my dad for everything he had done," Dung recalled.

Years have passed since then. Her son is now seven years old, but the memory of that time still fills Dung with gratitude - for her father’s quiet, unwavering support, and for her in-laws’ generosity and warmth that made everything possible.

"I know this story stirred up different opinions, but I’m not bothered," she said. "Every family has its own circumstances and choices. What matters most is that each member feels loved and respected."

Thanh Minh