A video capturing memorable moments of the couple's wedding in Can Tho has attracted significant attention on social media in recent days.

The foreign bride, dressed in a traditional red ao dai with a matching ceremonial headdress, received countless compliments for her elegance and beauty.

Held in accordance with Vietnamese wedding traditions, including the engagement gift ceremony and ancestral rites, the celebration delighted viewers. Within just one day of being posted, the video amassed 1.5 million views and more than 80,000 likes.

The newlyweds are Hoang Thinh, 26, originally from Can Tho and a German citizen, and Medine Halili (born in 2001), who is also a German citizen. They had been together for six years before tying the knot.

Thinh said he was born and raised in a small town in Germany after his parents immigrated there in 1990.

In 2020, while studying and working in Hanover, he happened to meet Medine through social media. Although they were complete strangers, a brief conversation quickly revealed an unexpected connection.

"For the first month, we exchanged messages almost every day. The more we talked, the more we realized how similar our outlooks on life were. Even though we had only been texting, there was a very natural connection between us," Thinh recalled.

In February that year, they went on their first date. Both left with wonderful first impressions. Thinh even found himself thinking, "One day, I'm going to marry this woman."

When he was with Medine, he felt completely at ease, as though they had known each other for years. Medine, meanwhile, was drawn to the handsome and gentle young man of Vietnamese heritage.

After only a few dates, they officially became a couple. Their relationship grew through simple everyday moments: daily conversations, thoughtful gestures, and the comfort of always having someone to rely on.

"I've never met anyone like Medine. She's incredibly thoughtful and genuinely cares about other people. She notices the smallest details and always looks after those around her with sincerity," Thinh said.

From the very beginning, both viewed the relationship as a serious commitment with marriage in mind. Whenever challenges arose, they chose to face them together rather than avoid them.

Although Thinh's parents had lived in Germany for more than 30 years, they had always hoped their son would marry a Vietnamese woman.

Medine's parents shared similar expectations, believing their daughter would be better off marrying a German man to avoid potential cultural and lifestyle differences.

However, the couple's genuine love gradually won both families over.

After spending time with Medine, Thinh's parents came to appreciate her kindness and caring nature. Likewise, Medine's parents recognized Thinh's sincerity and character.

In the end, both families reached the same conclusion: "What matters isn't where you come from, but who you are."

A wedding exactly as they had hoped

With the full support of both families, the couple decided to marry. In July 2026, after Thinh graduated and Medine completed her professional training, they traveled to Vietnam to hold their wedding.

Rather than choosing a Western-style ceremony, they decided to fully embrace traditional Vietnamese wedding customs, from the engagement ceremony to the bridal procession.

It was the first time Medine's family had visited Vietnam. Her parents, brother, sister-in-law, sister, and brother-in-law all traveled from Germany to celebrate with the newlyweds.

For them, every ceremony was a fascinating new cultural experience. The bride's family especially appreciated the warm atmosphere, the careful attention to tradition, and the hospitality shown by everyone throughout the celebration.

Among all the experiences, their favorite was wearing Vietnam's traditional ao dai.

Medine's sisters praised the outfit for its elegance, comfort, and timeless beauty. The bride herself admitted she was disappointed that she would have few opportunities to wear an ao dai after returning to Germany.

"She told me that whenever she gets the chance, she'll wear an ao dai in Germany," Thinh said with a smile.

"I knew Medine would look beautiful, but I never imagined she'd look this stunning in an ao dai. Seeing everyone welcome her as an official member of our family made me incredibly happy," he said.

Hoang Thinh works in the software business, while Medine works as an after-school student support specialist for children aged six to 10.

Thanh Minh