Thuy Trang, born in 1984, from Tay Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa, and Upendra Nath, born in 1963, an Australian national working in information technology, had both gone through failed marriages, with their children now grown up.

Their past did not discourage them from seeking happiness again, giving them the chance to build the happy marriage they have today.

The couple met in December 2025 through a dating app. Upendra said he had learned about Vietnam since he was a student, but it was not until he became an IT professional that he had the opportunity to visit Vietnam and explore many interesting places there.

After spending a long time single following the breakdown of his marriage, he hoped to find a beautiful, affectionate life partner from the S-shaped country, for which he had long held warm feelings.

The first time he saw Trang’s profile on the app, he felt something special was about to happen.

He took the initiative to message her and from then on devoted all his free time to the woman.

For her part, Trang was impressed by his warm smile and thoughtful attention. Upendra made a great deal of time for her and took a deep interest in every aspect of her life.

Despite a demanding work schedule, he prioritized daily text messages and phone calls. She was particularly struck by something he told her early in their relationship: “Call or message me whenever you want, even when I’m asleep.”

Even when they were still getting to know each other online, Upendra had already drawn up specific plans for their future. That made Trang willing to overlook their age gap and gave her greater confidence in the relationship.

In early 2026, after two months of online dating, Upendra came to Vietnam as promised to meet Trang. She traveled from Khanh Hoa to HCMC to pick him up, but his flight was delayed by six hours, so instead Upendra was the one who picked her up at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

When they saw each other in person for the first time, both felt an immediate sense of familiarity. Upendra was moved and embraced his girlfriend, expressing his love for her.

“Trang was well dressed, polite and truly beautiful. From our first handshake and embrace, I thought she was the only person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

“The past is not that important to me, as long as the two of us share the same goals and vision for the future,” Upendra said.

Proposal after one day together

On that trip, Upendra came to Vietnam with a list of things he wanted to do with his girlfriend. One of them was to propose to her.

The day after they reunited at the airport, he invited her to a resort, prepared flowers and a ring, and proposed in a romantic setting.

“He knelt down and said, ‘My darling! I love you very much. Will you marry me?’ No one witnessed the proposal; it was just the two of us, but I still felt it was completely fulfilling,” Trang recalled.

Upendra stayed in Vietnam for two weeks before returning to Australia for work. He promised that he would return two months later to meet her family and hold their wedding.

Through video calls, Upendra spoke with his girlfriend’s family many times. Their support, especially that of Trang’s child from her previous marriage, gave him greater motivation to build the relationship.

Upendra’s family situation was simpler. His parents had passed away, while his siblings had stable lives in other countries. His happiness was his own decision.

In April 2026, he kept his promise and returned to Vietnam. This visit was particularly special as he traveled more than 6,000km alone to Khanh Hoa to become a groom and take the woman he loved as his wife.

Holding a deep affection for Vietnamese culture, Upendra chose to wear a traditional ao dai on his major day. He felt pleasantly surprised by the solemn rituals and warm atmosphere at his wife's hometown wedding.

Following the wedding, Upendra returned to Australia for work while Trang remained living in Vietnam. To maintain their affection, he arranged to visit his wife every three months.

According to plans, in 2027, following official retirement, Upendra will move permanently to Vietnam to live with his wife.

Thanh Minh