Waking up in a warm-toned house in the coastal city of Fano, Italy, Lien, 45, from Ca Mau Province, opens all the doors to welcome the morning sunlight. After getting ready, she starts her day by cleaning the house and caring for the elderly person on a full-time basis.

Lien took up the job a few years ago after going through a difficult period in her life back home. Before that, Lien had suffered a setback in business and then went through a divorce. Deeply distressed, she left her hometown for Phu Quoc, where she worked as a nurse at a clinic. To earn extra income, she also took nursing shifts outside regular working hours.

One day, while working overtime, she suffered a traffic accident that injured her leg, forcing her to take temporary leave from the clinic while attempting to maintain her part-time work. During this time, she met an Italian man named Franco (now 78 years old), who also had a leg injury.

Knowing Lien was a nurse, he hired her to care for his injury. From their very first meeting, Franco developed a fondness for the enthusiastic nurse with the bright smile.

He asked for her phone number and began texting to chat with her. Once his injury healed, he invited Lien out to dinner as an expression of gratitude. From then on, he visited her every day to invite her out for meals.

She recalled: "We met in October 2022. He told me that his wife had died 20 years earlier. He had children, but they were grown and living independently. Through our interactions, I found him to be gentle, trustworthy, and very romantic.

“After three years, our affection deepened. When he proposed marriage and wished for me to settle in Italy with him, I agreed. In March 2025, we got married.

“In his homeland, he is not wealthy and still works part-time after retirement. Before getting married, we clearly agreed on how our assets would be divided. Should he pass away in the future, I will only receive a small portion of his pension, without receiving any other assets."

Upon arriving in Italy, Lien began learning the local language and using translation applications on her smartphone to communicate more. Despite being retired, Franco continued working every night as a security guard at a beach resort to generate additional income.

Domestic work

Unable to speak fluent Italian, Lien faced challenges applying for jobs. With Franco's support, she secured work as a full-time domestic helper and elderly caregiver.

She stays at her employer's home throughout the week. Her working day starts at 6 am and ends at 10 pm. During that time, she gets only three hours off, when her employer leaves the house, and one full day off a week.

Her day begins by making coffee or a cup of warm water with honey for her employer early in the morning. She then prepares a simple breakfast.

After that, she starts cleaning the house: folding sheets, pillows and mattresses; cleaning the bedroom and bathroom; tidying the kitchen; vacuuming; and mopping the floors until everything is clean and orderly.

Lien said elderly people in Italy can be demanding and meticulous, so when cleaning the house, she has to pay attention to every small corner.

She then moves on to a long list of other chores, including washing and hanging clothes out to dry, ironing clothes and bed sheets once they are dry, caring for pets, watering plants, and sweeping and cleaning the hallways.

Throughout the day, she has to constantly stand, sit, bend, move around and carry things. On particularly busy days, her body quickly becomes exhausted. At times, she feels as though she has no energy left and has to encourage herself to keep going.

Fortunately, although Lien's employer is elderly, he has simple eating habits. He also eats rice and enjoys Vietnamese food, so she does not have much difficulty preparing his meals. 

"Every profession is noble, and every job carries its own hardships,” she said. 

“I have a happy marriage and a husband who loves and respects me. I have overcome my emotional pain and am looking forward to a happier, more comfortable new life,” Lien said.

Ha Nguyen