Nikitina Anasstasiia, born in 1999 and from Moscow, Russia, previously worked in an office for a Russian construction company. In 2025, she left the job to search for a field she was passionate about and hoped to turn into her own business.

Before beginning that new chapter, Nikitina decided to spend a year traveling and exploring the world. She chose Vietnam because of its sizable Russian community, reasonable cost of living and other attractions.

After arriving in Vietnam, Nikitina visited Hanoi, Da Nang and a number of other well-known destinations. But when she reached Nha Trang, an unexpected romance changed her plans for starting a business, where she would live and ultimately the course of her life.

The man she met was Tran Nguyen Anh, born in 1998 and from Vinh Xuan Commune in Vinh Long Province. Nguyen Anh worked as a technician for a South Korean company headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, installing and repairing electrical, plumbing and refrigeration systems.

In 2025, Nguyen Anh was assigned to work in Nha Trang. He happened to meet Nikitina through a dating app and was delighted to discover that she was staying just 30 kilometers away.

After chatting for two weeks, Nguyen Anh asked to meet her. His first impression of the Russian woman was her fair complexion, charming smile, striking height and distinctive style. Nikitina, meanwhile, was drawn to the Vietnamese man’s shy yet endearing expression.

They began messaging and meeting regularly. After work, all Nguyen Anh wanted was to get on his motorbike and go see Nikitina, whom he found confident and cheerful. Yet because of their differences in language, culture and plans for the future, he never imagined he would fall in love with her.

“She was only traveling in Vietnam for a while before returning home, and I wasn’t going to be working in Nha Trang for long either. There was nothing connecting our paths that made me think we could have a future together.

“One day, she suddenly asked me, ‘Do you like me?’ I stayed silent. She asked several more times before I finally found the courage to say, ‘Yes, I like you.’ But by then, she rejected me because she felt I hadn’t been clear about my feelings,” Nguyen Anh recalled.

They stopped contacting each other, although neither had truly moved on. A few days later, Nguyen Anh checked his messages and discovered that Nikitina had sent him many texts. She told him she was ill and badly needed someone by her side. They could simply be friends, she said, and there was no need to make love or a long-term future into something complicated.

After reading the messages, Nguyen Anh got on his motorbike and went to see her, even though it was already dark and he was far away. He brought a bag of food with him.

When he saw Nikitina’s pale face, so different from her usual bright and cheerful appearance, his heart sank. In that moment, he realized he could not walk away from her.

Building a home by the sea

Putting their differences aside, the couple decided to build a future together. For the 2026 New Year holiday, they planned a trip to Da Lat, a place Nikitina had long wanted to visit.

Their plans ran into trouble when Nha Trang was hit by flooding and Nguyen Anh’s company urgently asked him to return to Ho Chi Minh City for safety reasons.

Nikitina insisted on going with him, but things in Ho Chi Minh City were still unsettled, so Nguyen Anh could not take her along. They agreed that Nikitina would travel to Da Lat first as planned, while Nguyen Anh would join her once he had taken care of everything.

“I was worried that Nikitina would feel lonely in Da Lat by herself, so I constantly texted and called to reassure her. Nikitina was also a little anxious and afraid that I might be deceiving her.

“After two weeks apart, I went to Da Lat and celebrated the New Year with her. Because I kept my promise, she trusted and loved me even more,” Nguyen Anh said.

Nikitina had originally planned to spend about a year traveling and exploring Vietnam before returning to Russia to start her own business. But after falling in love with Nguyen Anh, she decided to make Vietnam her long-term home.

The couple chose to build their life together in the coastal city of Da Nang, somewhere Nikitina had long wanted to live and experience.

Nguyen Anh continued with the work he already knew, while Nikitina began learning how to make cakes and yogurt with the aim of starting a business. They live in a small house with a loft, where Nguyen Anh personally bought and installed everything according to his girlfriend’s preferences.

Nikitina finds happiness in even the smallest things he does for her, from installing a mirrored bathroom cabinet and storage shelves to buying a new mattress.

Every morning, they leave home for work. In the afternoon, they return and spend time walking together, swimming in the sea and cooking. On weekends, they head out together to explore new places.

In July 2026, the couple officially registered their marriage. They plan to hold their wedding next year once they are financially ready.

“I’m happy that after so many years of struggling through life on my own, I’ve finally found someone to walk beside me. She supports me in everything, takes great care of me and always encourages me whenever I happen to have a bad day. We have each other every day. That is the most wonderful thing,” Nguyen Anh said.

Thanh Minh