When talking about herself, Lien jokes that she has "thick lips, a wide mouth, and stands at only 1.5 meters." She believes that the key to her lasting marriage with Anton is not her looks, which she modestly claims are limited, but her distinctly Vietnamese qualities that her husband respects and cherishes the most.

Born into a traditional family, Tran Thi Kim Lien (born in 1955) was raised to embody the traditional virtues of Vietnamese women.

Though she did not consider herself beautiful, she believed she had charm. In her youth, she had many admirers and was in love. However, illness robbed her of the ability to become a mother. By her forties, she was still single. She understood the stigma of being a childless woman in 1970s Vietnam but did not let it affect her or succumb to self-pity.

Determined to find a family, she carved her own path. From Hanoi, Lien went to Germany, where she worked in a Chinese restaurant and as a babysitter for various families. Knowing she wanted to marry, her friends introduced her to several German men. Among them, Anton Ernst stood out for his calm demeanor and perpetual smile. “Although he had fair skin and blue eyes, he never made me feel like I was talking to a foreigner,” she said.

During their second meeting, Anton showed her a video of familiar scenes from Vietnam, which she found to be a touching gesture.

When Anton decided to introduce her to his family, his father initially opposed their relationship, insisting they live together for a trial period before making any marriage decisions.

On her first morning living with Anton, she woke up early to prepare his lunch for work, something he had done for himself for many years. That small gesture spoke volumes about her genuine affection. When visiting his father, she offered to cook as a polite gesture, not forgetting to make an extra portion for his sister who lived nearby. These actions impressed Anton’s father, who saw her as a meticulous and caring woman. Eventually, he urged Anton to marry her quickly, fearing she might leave.

At 46, Lien became a wife for the first time, and Anton, at 48, became a husband. Neighbors noticed the positive changes Lien brought to the household, from the aroma of home-cooked meals to the warmth of a lived-in home.

Longing for a family life, Lien used the traditional values ​​taught by her mother to care for her new home. She insisted on hosting dinner parties at home rather than at restaurants, showcasing the home-grown produce and Vietnamese dishes she prepared herself. Even large gatherings of up to 120 guests were managed by her alone.

Lien transformed her garden into a lush space, growing Vietnamese herbs and flowers, despite her lack of agricultural experience. Friends and neighbors admired her ability to cultivate such a garden, filled with plants like cilantro, basil, and Vietnamese perilla, as well as flowers typical of Vietnamese New Year.

Despite being generous with friends and neighbors, she was frugal in her own household, following practical habits akin to those of a true German.

Lien shared that Anton, after their first visit to Vietnam, would only choose to travel back there. Every 15 months, they would return to Vietnam, exploring and experiencing the country together. Anton's deep affection for Vietnam grew over the years.

During their first trip to Vietnam, Anton humorously asked why so many people came to greet them at the airport. On one memorable drive, he mistook a street vendor's display of roast dogs for toys, leading to a funny exchange that Lien fondly recalls.

Anton embraced Vietnamese culture wholeheartedly, from getting haircuts on the sidewalk to appreciating the hospitality extended by Lien’s family. His love for Vietnam was evident in his actions and stories shared with friends back in Germany.

As their marriage matured, the couple’s expressions of romance evolved into everyday gestures of care and companionship. Lien attributes the success of their marriage to mutual respect, understanding, and maintaining personal spaces within their relationship.

Despite expectations and personal challenges, their love story continues to thrive, bringing together two cultures in a harmonious blend of affection and respect.

Nguyen Thao